Controversial comedian lands part in EastEnders – 37 years after begging bosses for role
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A CONTROVERSIAL comedian has landed a part in EastEnders - 37 years after begging bosses for a role.
Shazia Mirza - who has appeared on Celebrity SAS and Celebrity MasterChef - is best known for her boundary-pushing stand-up tours.
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Shazia Mirza has landed a role on EastEnders - 37 years after first trying
Credit: BBC
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Shazia Mirza is best known for appearing on Celeb SAS
Credit: Channel 4
In 2015 she was forced to rename her tour because of fears ISIS would attack venues over her fearless mocking of the terror group.
But she's also an EastEnders superfan who begged bosses for a role on the show back in the 80s when she was a child.
And while she was rejected then, now she's finally achieved her dream.
She wrote on Instagram: '37 years ago I wrote to @BBCEastEnders asking for a part and 37 years later I got one.
'EastEnders is working with advice from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) on a storyline where Lauren and Peter's son is diagnosed as severely sight impaired.
'Having struggled to settle baby Jimmy in recent weeks, Lauren becomes concerned by his lack of ability to focus as he struggles to latch during breastfeeding.
'Determined to follow her mother's instinct, Lauren takes Jimmy to the hospital for further tests where the doctors confirm that Jimmy is severely sight impaired.
'The storyline follows Lauren and Peter as they attempt to navigate life with a newborn, the symptoms that Lauren picks up on which leads her to seek a diagnosis, and how the diagnosis will impact Jimmy and their family as a whole.
'It has been an honour to be part of such an important storyline.'
She also shared her original rejection letter from 1988.
Comedian Shazia Mirza jokes about ISIS on Loose Women
The letter reads: 'Dear Miss Mirza. Thank you very much for your letter.
'We get so many people wanting parts on EastEnders, that it is our policy to have to say no. We are obliged only to use Equity members in the making of EastEnders.
'We are sorry we have not been able to assist you, but hope you will continue to enjoy the programme.'
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