The Omid Djalili Show. Omid Djalili. Copyright: BBC
The Omid Djalili Show

The Omid Djalili Show

  • TV sketch show / stand-up
  • BBC One
  • 2007 - 2009
  • 12 episodes (2 series)

Omid Djalili unleashes his own brand of comedy, poking fun at modern life in Britain, the war on terror and his multi-cultural upbringing in Britain. Stars Omid Djalili, Tom Goodman-Hill, Richard Katz, Stewart Scudamore, Davood Ghadami and more.

Press clippings Page 2

I'm afraid The Omid Djalili Show was not as good as the torrent of advance publicity suggested. In the past, Djalili has proved himself a fine comedian, neatly combining his Iranian background with his current status as a middle-class Englishman to explore the two cultures - and, more importantly, to be funny. Saturday's show, by contrast, was just a great big mess.

Going for a Dave Allen mix of sketches and gags, it ended up misfiring on both counts. The sketches were generally overlong, and often uninspired to start with. The stand-up stuff had its moments - but never seemed sure whether it wanted to play with stereotypes or simply rely on them. Djalili still came across as an interesting and likeable man, and as a good actor. Nonetheless, some serious script-editing is badly needed if the series is going to do him anything like justice.

James Walton, The Telegraph, 9th December 2008

A mixed gag - Omid Djalili interview

Djalili sounds pretty chipper and he's got every right to be. Watched by almost four million BBC1 viewers - and that was against X Factor and I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here - The Omid Djalili Show was a success.

Claire Black, The Scotsman, 10th March 2008

It's the final episode of the series and I know what you're thinking - will we get to see Omid's naked body just one more time? Of course! This wouldn't be The Omid Djalili Show without a weekly dose of bouncing, giant man-boobs, hairy back and wobbly belly.

It's like reliving the naked wrestling scene from the Borat movie over and over. As well as putting people off their dinners, Omid gives his unique take on the Iraq war and the execution of Saddam Hussein.

The sketches, which have been a bit hit-and-miss, include pushy parents trying to get their children into a religious school and Steve "The Dragon" Thompson teaching middle-class fighting.

We also have Donny Chicago (the Iranian detective) going undercover at a disco dancing competition. Doing his very best John Travolta impression, Omid ends up bouncing all over the dance floor, shaking his groove thang. But he keeps his clothes on for that bit. Thank God.

Jane Simon, The Mirror, 28th December 2007

Omid Djalili: I put the 'fat' into 'fatwa'

The charming, challenging British-Iranian comedian Omid Djalili has a new prime-time TV show.

James Rampton, The Telegraph, 16th November 2007

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