Controversial comedian bags role on EastEnders after pleading with BBC bosses for a whopping 37 years - gushing 'it's an honour' ahead of Walford debut
Funny woman Shazia Mirza, 50 - who has made jokes about ISIS in the past - has gushed that 'it's an honour' to appear on the soap ahead of her Walford debut.
Shazia appeared on Thursday's instalment of the BBC show as a doctor talking to Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) and Peter Beale (Thomas Law) about her son Jimmy's condition Optic Nerve and Chorioretinal coloboma.
Little did some know that the star has been desperate to take part in the programme for a number of years.
After her debut, she took to Instagram to share a picture of a letter that the Beeb had sent her after applying for a role on the show.
It said: 'We get so many young people wanting parts on EastEnders, that it is our policy to have to say no.
'We are obliged to use only 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.'
The next picture of the post was one of her recently starring in the BBC soap.
Shazia 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.'
Many rushed to the comments section to share their support.
'Wow and the fact that you still have the letter makes it even more brilliant!!'
'you're incredible mA & indefatigable. SO inspiring.'
'Oh my! I LOVE that you wrote asking for a part!!! This is beautiful! Congratulations (and also, a part on Eastenders has always been my dream but thankfully I am hiding my jealousy-to-the-point-of-insanity pretty well).'
'NEVER GIVE UP! Congratulations! I actually thought while watching what a beautiful lady.'
'You were a sensation.'
Shazia shot to fame in 2000 and has made a string of controversial jokes over the years.
Back in April 2016 Loose Women viewers were left outraged after she joked about ISIS terrorists.
Shazia appeared on the ITV panel show to talk about her upcoming tour, which addressed a number of politically-charged issues including terrorism and jihadi brides.
When asked about why she thought young girls were leaving the UK for Syria, she jokingly suggested they were fleeing because they thought the male jihadists were 'a bit of alright'.
Back in 2023 Shazia hosted a major Labour diversity event after she branded branded ex-Home Secretaries Sajid Javid and Priti Patel 'coconuts' for showing a lack of loyalty to their ethnic communities.
The star is a stand-up comedian, but also writes for The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph.
Not only that, she's also appeared on The Wright Stuff and F*** Off and I'm A Hairy Woman.
Shazia has also dipped her toe into the reality TV realm, appearing on SAS: Who Dares Wins, MasterChef and Celebrity The Island with Bear Grylls.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
8 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Myleene Klass sets pulses racing as she strips off to recreate Princess Margaret's famous steamy bathtub snap to commemorate her MBE honour
Myleene Klass channelled the late Princess Margaret on Thursday as she shared a steamy bathtub photo to celebrate receiving her MBE. The presenter, 47, was honoured for her services to women's health, miscarriage awareness and charity at an investiture ceremony on Wednesday. And after being presented with the medal by King Charles at Windsor Castle, Myleene took to her Instagram to mark her achievement in a very racy way. She stripped down to pose in her lavish clawfoot tub, wearing nothing but a sparkling tiara on her head - in a mirror image of Princess Margaret's iconic bath snap. The younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II was famously photographed by her then-husband Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1962, wearing the dazzling Poltimore tiara while soaking in the tub. Captioning her recreation snap, Myleene quipped: 'Morning! Rinse and reign.' Following Wednesday's investiture ceremony, she took to her Instagram to admit she was 'utterly overjoyed and humbled' to receive the honour. The former Hear'Say star was joined by her fiancé Simon Motson, their five-year-old son Apollo, and her two daughters, Ava, 17, and Hero, 13, who she shares with ex-husband Graham Quinn. Myleene has campaigned for paid bereavement leave to be extended to those who experience a miscarriage. The mother-of-three suffered four miscarriages and has spoken openly about the psychological effects of baby loss on women. She is an ambassador for the pregnancy and baby charity Tommy's and fronted the Bafta-nominated documentary Myleene Klass: Miscarriage And Me in 2021, in which she met women around the UK to hear their experiences. Sharing a slew of photos from Windsor Castle, Myleene wrote: 'Having my family there and our rainbow baby boy was extra magical in what has at times been a very dark journey for us all.' While she concluded her post: 'Before this and my (bafta nominated) documentary Myleene Klass: Miscarriage and Me, it did feel like no one really mentioned the dark secret of Miscarriage, the shame, the taboo, now, it's said loudly in the walls of the Palace and around Westminster. Sharing a slew of photos from Windsor Castle, Myleene wrote: 'Having my family there and our rainbow baby boy was extra magical in what has at times been a very dark journey for us all' 'For the voices that were never heard, i promise you, this is just the beginning…..' Talking to the BBC earlier this year, Myleene said she is 'so proud' of how far she has come and reflected on how she had battled back 'from a very dark place'. She said: 'When I think back to how all of this started, it all came from a very dark place, and I certainly didn't have it in mind to become a campaigner at the time. 'Anyone who has experienced baby loss will know how personal and difficult it is to vocalise this level of trauma.' She has championed changes to the Women's Health Strategy, advocating for earlier support for women rather than waiting until they have experienced three miscarriages. Her efforts have focused on improving miscarriage care and raising awareness about the emotional and heartbreaking toll of baby loss. The musician has used her platform to push for government reforms and has played a key role in ensuring baby loss is addressed as a critical health issue. She added: 'If you suffered three heart attacks, you wouldn't only be offered support after the third one, and so it shouldn't be the same with baby loss'. The singer's work has been widely praised for its impact on breaking the silence around miscarriage and offering hope and support to other women. Myleene has been working with MP Sarah Owen, MP Olivia Blake, Miscarriage Association, and Tommys for a law to be introduced so that women and their partners would be able to take leave. In March, the star fought back the tears on Loose Women as they congratulated her on her MBE. Myleene explained: 'It's for my services to miscarriage. So it feels really important, but because it is that subject matter, all that work understandably feels really sad and really heavy.' While she admitted she was close to tears, as host Christine Lampard then praised her highly for all she's achieved, gushing: 'Your work has been amazing. To hear all of these big names, including The King, seeing the word miscarriage and know it something you're working on and that we're dealing with. It's fantastic'.
Daily Mail
8 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Tess Daly's quirky health and fitness regime from trampolining to skipping - after Strictly star revealed she still fits in the same jeans she wore in her 20s
For the last 20 years, Tess Daly has dazzled British TV screens and is often credited as looking just like she did two decades ago. But the 56-year-old Strictly Come Dancing host insists a quirky fitness regime is to thank for her ageless beauty - not dieting. Tess revealed on Thursday that she still fits into the same size jeans she wore in her 20s in an interview with The Mirror. She told the publication: 'I'm wearing the same size jeans I was wearing in my 20's, but that's not from dieting - it's from maintaining.' And the former model has previously given fans an insight into the varied ways she achieves her impeccable figure, from running on the treadmill while she watches her favourite Netflix shows and morning skipping circuits to trampolining in her back garden. Tess has also credited daily yoga for both keeping her physically fit and maintaining her mental wellbeing, and shared her love for swimming. She told MailOnline in 2021: 'For me personally, I do an online yoga class every morning, 20 minutes, which is a little act of self-love as well. 'A game changer for me has been doing yoga. It keeps you young, it keeps you flexible, it keeps away the aches and pains – and it's free online on YouTube! 'I have been into fitness for quite a while and I work out a couple of times a week, an online session with a trainer and that's great because it strengthens your body physically but mentally, as well as physically keeping your flexible, yoga is brilliant because it forces you into the moment. In the moment there is no anxiety and uncertainty.' But it's not just yoga that Tess includes in her fitness regime - as she revealed her secret tip to guilt-free Netflix-watching. She told Women's Health UK in 2021: 'I've got a treadmill, where I've realised I can watch Netflix and run 5k at the same time. 'I would never sit down and watch TV in the day but, on the treadmill, I can justify it.' As well as running, Tess is also a big fan of swimming, trampolining and skipping - which she says is a 'joyful' exercise and reminds her of being a child again. Speaking to Health & Wellbeing in 2020, Tess said: 'I do really enjoy swimming, and I like skipping and trampolining. We've got a little trampoline at home outside, and that's great for getting your lymphatic system moving and for your circulation. 'Sometimes I'll do five minutes of skipping at the start of the day – one minute on and one minute off, and it's great, it really wakes up the system. If you're feeling a bit sluggish in the morning, it's a brilliant way to wake up – better than a cup of coffee I'd say! And it's cheap and cheerful – just buy a skipping rope from Amazon, it's there the next day for a couple of quid. 'You can skip inside if the weather is bad, it's an all-weather exercise that really gets your circulation going, it wakes you up, and it keeps you trim. I like skipping, it's a joyful exercise that puts a smile on your face. 'I recommend it to everyone I know because it's easy and it reminds you of being a child again. It gets part of the body moving that you haven't moved for a while. Everything is moving at the same time, it feels good, it boosts the endorphins and it's quick.' Tess has also credited a health diet, telling MailOnline in 2021: 'For me, food is sugar fuel. We either use it or abuse it. I will not pretend to be some kind of dietary saint, yes I love chocolate and I have a sweet tooth and no afternoon is complete without sitting down with a cup of tea and a sweet treat. 'But the meals I cook for my family, they're healthy, whole foods, gut friendly, vegetable rich, protein balanced meals. I am into that and I love cooking. Yes, we have a tuck drawer during home schooling full of treats, which they're allowed one off towards the end of the day when they've done seven hours of online schooling, they deserve a treat. 'But treats aside, we eat healthily as a family and I enjoy creating those healthy meals.' Tess shares daughters Phoebe, 20, and Amber, 16, with Radio 2 DJ husband Vernon Kay, 51. Posing in pieces from her own NAIA Beach swimwear range on Thursday for her interview with The Mirror, she said she believes she's cracked the formula to both feeling and looking great. She said: 'I will do planks in my living room every day because core strength is really important to me at my age now, plus I'm also very tall and do a lot of running around in heels, so I need to support my back.' The star added that although she's now in her 50s, she feels as energetic as she did in her 20s.
Scottish Sun
8 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
EastEnders cancelled tonight as soap schedule chaos continues
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EASTENDERS has been cancelled tonight as the soap schedule chaos continues. More sport will air on the BBC as viewers were forced to switch to iPlayer to catch the latest goings-on in Albert Square. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up EastEnders usually airs around 7:30pm every Monday through to Thursday on BBC One. 5 EastEnders was kicked off the bBC One schedule Credit: BBC 5 BBC One will show extended coverage of the 2025 Women's Euro's Tournament instead Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 5 Gabby Logan will take to the airwaves live from Zurich for the quarter-final Credit: Getty Four episodes a week of the long-running soap opera are shown on terrestrial TV. However, extended sports coverage has meant that bosses were forced to make sweeping changes to the schedule. Previously, EastEnders episodes were shown to viewers early on iPlayer due to coverage of the 2025 Wimbledon tennis tournament. Even though Jannik Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the tense final, more sport will be shown on the corporation's flagship channel. Tonight at 7pm, Gabby Logan, 52, will take to the airwaves live from Zurich until 10:15pm. She will front coverage of the latest match at the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 tournament as England take on Sweden. The BBC News at 10 bulletin will actually start later at 10:15pm due to the extended coverage. This means that bosses at the publicly funded broadcaster were forced to make changes for one the nation's favourite soaps. Two episodes of EastEnders were shown on Tuesday night (15th July) as the serial drama was knocked off the schedule for the 17th July. EastEnders legend quits Walford in emotional scenes - leaving close friend devastated Viewers got to see a double bill of episodes staring at 7:30pm for a full hour of Walford action. This comes as an EastEnders legend quit Walford in extremely emotional scenes this week. Nigel Bates returned to the square last year, after a 26-year absence from the long-running soap. Fans found out that Nigel was battling early onset dementia as his friend Phil Mitchell took care of him in his home for months. Jay Brown was worried about the strain this is putting on Phil, so he contacted Nigel's wife Julie - who'd reported him missing. It later transpired that Nigel lied to Phil about his split, as he had actually walked out on his marriage to protect Julie from eventually seeing his deteriorating condition. Both Phil and Julie fought their case for Nigel to stay with them, but he elected to return to Scotland. 5 England will take on Sweden in what could be a tense face-off Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 5 This comes as viewers recently tuned in to watch Nigel Bates quit Walford in emotional scenes Credit: BBC EastEnders continues on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer.
