Latest news with #ShaziaMirza
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
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
A controversial comedian bagged herself a role on EastEnders after pleading with BBC bosses for a whopping 37 years. 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.
Scottish Sun
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Controversial comedian lands part in EastEnders – 37 years after begging bosses for role
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) 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. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 2 Shazia Mirza has landed a role on EastEnders - 37 years after first trying Credit: BBC 2 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.'
The Sun
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Controversial comedian lands part in EastEnders – 37 years after begging bosses for role
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. 2 2 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. 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.'
