Shaparak Khorsandi

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Shaparak Khorsandi
Shappi Khorsandi 02 (cropped).JPG
Khorsandi at Glastonbury Festival in 2015
Born (1973-06-08) 8 June 1973 (age 48)
Tehran, Iran
MediumStand-up, television
NationalityBritish
GenresBlack comedy, observational comedy, deadpan
Subject(s)Everyday life, Iranian culture, British politics
Spouse
Christian Reilly
​
​
(m. 2005; div. 2011)​
Children2
Parent(s)Hadi Khorsandi (father)
Notable works and roles
Websitewww.shappi.co.uk Edit this at Wikidata

Shaparak Khorsandi (Persian: شاپرک خرسندی‎, born 8 June 1973), formerly known as Shappi Khorsandi, is an Iranian-born British comedian and author. She is the daughter of the Iranian political satirist and poet Hadi Khorsandi. Her family left Iran for the United Kingdom following the Islamic Revolution.

In January 2016, she became president of Humanists UK, and became vice-president in 2019. Her second book and first novel, Nina is Not OK, was published in 2016.

Background and early life[]

Shaparak Khorsandi (Persian: شاپرک خرسندی‎) was born on 8 June 1973 in Tehran, Iran.[1][2]

The daughter of Hadi Khorsandi, she was born in Iran and says her earliest memory is 'riding on a bicycle in Tehran, on my uncle's lap at dawn, to get chocolate milk'. She and her family were forced to flee from Iran to London after the Islamic Revolution following the publication of a satirical poem her father composed which was seen as critical of the revolutionary regime.

Khorsandi graduated from King Alfred's College, now the University of Winchester, in 1995, with a degree in Drama, Theatre and Television. After graduating, she worked in various roles including at a community theatre, in a sandwich shop, as a telephone fundraiser and as a nude life model, whilst starting her career as a stand-up comedian. In 2010, the university awarded her an honorary doctorate.[1][3][4]

Khorsandi was raised without any religion,[5] and identifies as an atheist and a humanist.[6] She later became a patron of Humanists UK, which appointed her as its President for a three-year term from January 2016, succeeding Jim Al-Khalili.[7][8] She became vice-president of the group in 2019.[9] Her second book and first novel, Nina is Not OK, was published in 2016.[8]

Until June 2021, she was known professionally as Shappi Khorsandi.[10][11] Khorsandi explained in The Independent about her decision to revert to using her full name, Shaparak, professionally. Having had her full name mocked and mispronounced when she was a child, she decided to be known as "Shappi" from the age of 16, but eventually decided that this was an attempt "to bend in a direction which would make my foreignness more comfortable for other people" and to revert to using her original name.[11]

Career in comedy[]

Khorsandi performs comedy, having been a performer at Joe Wilson's Comedy Madhouse throughout 1997. She has appeared on many BBC Radio 4 programmes, including Quote... Unquote, Loose Ends, You and Yours, Midweek, Just A Minute, The Now Show and The News Quiz, as well as BBC Television's Have I Got News For You and QI. In July 2009, she hosted her own four-part series, Shappi Talk on BBC Radio 4, examining what it is like growing up in multi-cultural families.[12] She also writes an occasional column for online magazine Iranian.com.[citation needed] Her Iraninan heritage and reactions to it are frequently referenced in her comedy performances.[4]

In 2007, Khorsandi made her first trip to Australia and the Melbourne Comedy Festival with her show Asylum Speaker. She also appeared live on the Australia comedy talk show Rove. Later, she was nominated for best breakthrough act at the 2007 Chortle Awards. In December 2008, she appeared on the BBC stand-up television show Live at the Apollo alongside Russell Kane and Al Murray.[13] She also made an appearance on Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow on 20 June 2009, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross on 26 June 2009 and 8 Out of 10 Cats on 10 July 2009. She performed her show, The Distracted Activist, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 6 to 31 August 2009.[14]

Khorsandi was a panellist on Question Time in 2006, and returned on 14 January 2010. During that show, she mentioned that she supports Labour.[citation needed] She performed "Mickey" on the second episode of Let's Dance for Sport Relief 2010.[15]

Khorsandi performing at Latitude in 2009

In 2010, Khorsandi took part in Channel 4's Comedy Gala, a benefit show held in aid of Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, filmed live at the O2 Arena in London on 30 March. She appeared as a guest in Genius hosted by Dave Gorman on 31 October 2010.[16] In March 2012, Khorsandi appeared on Channel 4's The Celebrity Bank Job and won £59,000 for her chosen charities.

Topics in her 2011 show Me and My Brother in Our Pants, Holding Hands included her relationship with her brother, divorce, flashers, and her mother's low self-esteem. Tim Richards of The Age gave a positive review, writing that it was "not wet-your-pants material, but it's an absorbing hour".[17][18]

Khorsandi is a member of the Arts Emergency Service, a British charity working with 16- to 19-year-olds in further education from diverse backgrounds.[19]

In 2014, Khorsandi was a guest panellist on Loose Women, filling in for Jamelia.[20] She appeared on The Blame Game on BBC Northern Ireland hosted by Tim McGarry on 5 December 2014.[21]

In 2016, Khorsandi appeared with her son on Big Star's Little Star. Also that year, along with other celebrities, Khorsandi toured the UK to support Jeremy Corbyn's bid to become Prime Minister.[22][23] Khorsandi appeared as a contestant on the seventeenth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in November 2017 and was placed 11th in the competition.[24]

Books[]

Khorsandi's memoir, A Beginner's Guide to Acting English, was published by Ebury Press on 2 July 2009.[25] The book describes the way in which Khorsandi experienced England as a young girl.[26] The narrative begins with her attending nursery school, The Kings' International Nursery School, with her brother, Peyvand. Throughout the book, she explains the ways in which the Persian language differs from English: "They called me 'poppet'. Iranians said 'jaan' or 'azizam'." She also expresses pride in how her father took English classes and was praised for his affinity with the written word, though she also felt he was able to be more humorous in Persian.

Other themes include her experiences with English food and customs,[26] the war between Iran and Iraq, and the hostilities that she and her family encounter—she notes, for example, having been referred to as a terrorist.

Her second book and first novel, Nina is Not OK, was published in 2016.[8] The titular character is a teenager living with alcohol abuse. It was nominated for the Jhalak Prize, a literary award for Black, Asian and minority ethnic writers, but Khorsandi asked for it to be removed from consideration, telling an interviewer that "For once in my career I’d done something not about identity ... and I get a sticker for being brown."[4]

Khorsandi's first YA novel Kissing Emma, published on 2 September 2021, was inspired by the life of Emma Hamilton.[27]

Personal life[]

Khorsandi was married to fellow comedian Christian Reilly, with whom she has a son.[28] They divorced in 2011.[29] Her daughter was born in June 2013.[29] In a 2014 interview she said "I'm doing it all on my own, I have no contact with the father. But that's fine, I'm not angry or bitter."[29]

Her brother Peyvand also did stand-up comedy for a while but decided to pursue a career in journalism.[30][31][32] The siblings were raised bilingual and Khorsandi is fluent in Farsi.[33]

Khorsandi was diagnosed with ADHD in 2016.[34] In 2017, she came out as bisexual.[35][36] She is a keen runner and has participated in several half-marathons.[37]

Tours and live shows[]

Year Title Notes Ref.
2000 Pablo Diablo's Cryptic Triptych Edinburgh Festival Fringe. With Russell Brand and Mark Felgate. [18]
2001 Off The Kerb Roadshow Edinburgh Festival Fringe. With Angie McEvoy, JJ Whitehead, and Mark Felgate. [18]
2003 Shappi Khorsandi Edinburgh Festival Fringe [18]
2006 Asylum Speaker Edinburgh Festival Fringe [38]
2007 Carry On Shappi Edinburgh Festival Fringe [18]
2007 Comedy Gala 2007 Edinburgh Festival Fringe [18]
2009 The Distracted Activist Edinburgh Festival Fringe [18]
2009 Night of Comedy for Ray - Hosted by Michael McIntyre Edinburgh Festival Fringe [18]
2010 The Moon on a Stick Edinburgh Festival Fringe [18]
2011 Me and My Brother in Our Pants, Holding Hands Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Melbourne Comedy Festival [18][17]
2012-13 Dirty Looks And Hopscotch Edinburgh Festival Fringe and tour [18][39]
2013 Shappi Khorsandi: Live!
2014-15 Because I'm Shappi Edinburgh Festival Fringe and tour [18][40]
2014 Addison Cresswell Comedy Tribute Edinburgh Festival Fringe [18]
2016-17 Oh My Country! From Morris Dancing to Morrissey Edinburgh Festival Fringe and tour [41][38]
2017 Mistress & Misfit Edinburgh Festival Fringe [18]
2018 Skittish Warrior… Confessions of a Club Comic Edinburgh Festival Fringe [18]

Filmography[]

Television

Year Title Role Ref.
1999 But You Speak Such Good English on-screen participant [42]
2006 The Sunday Edition (17/12/2006) on-screen participant [42]
2008 The Secret Policeman's Ball 2008 on-screen participant [42]
2009 8 Out of 10 Cats (17/07/2009) on-screen participant [42]
2009 Friday Night with Jonathan Ross (26/06/2009) guest [42]
2010 Channel 4's Comedy Gala on-screen participant [42]
2010 The Culture Show at the Edinburgh Festival reporter [42]
2010 My Favourite Joke on-screen participant [43]
2010 Spice Britain presenter [44]
2012 Comedy World Cup on-screen participant [42]
2013 The Culture Show from Edinburgh: Funny Women on-screen participant [42]
2014 It Was Alright in the 1970s cast member [42]
2015 Channel 4's Comedy Gala cast member [42]
2016 Channel 4's Comedy Gala on-screen participant [42]
2016 My Worst Job (19/07/2016) cast member [42]
2017 Rules cast member [42]
2017 Fun cast member [42]
2017 Chaos cast member [42]
2017 I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (British series 17) on-screen participant [45]

Radio

Year Title Role Ref.
2008 Loose Ends guest [46]
2009 Front Row guest [47]
2009 Steve Wright in the Afternoon guest [48]
2011 And the Winner Is... guest [49]

Publications[]

Year Title Publisher ISBN Ref.
2009 A Beginner's Guide To Acting English Ebury Press ISBN 978-0091924775
2016 Nina is Not OK Ebury Press ISBN 978-1785031366
2021 Kissing Emma Orion (Hachette) ISBN 978-1510106994

Awards, honours and nominations[]

Year Award Result Ref.
2000 BBC New Comedy Award Nominated [50]
2010 British Comedy Awards, Best Female TV Comic Nominated [51]
2010 Honorary doctorate, University of Winchester Awarded [52]
2013 James Joyce Award Won [53]

Bibliography[]

  • Khorsandi, Shappi (2009). A Beginner's Guide to Acting English. Ebury Press. ISBN 978-0-09-192477-5.
  • Khorsandi, Shappi (2016). Nina is Not OK. Ebury Press. ISBN 978-1-78-503136-6.
  • Khorsandi, Shaparak (2021). Kissing Emma. Orion Children's Books. ISBN 978-1-51-010699-4.

See also[]

Notes[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Khorsandi 2009, p. Un-numbered page facing the inside front cover.
  2. ^ "Birthdays today". The Times. London. 8 June 2020. p. 27.
  3. ^ "Comedian Shappi Khorsandi to be honoured by the University of Winchester". The University of Winchester. 5 October 2010. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
  4. ^ a b c Thompson, Jennifer (21 July 2017). "Comedian Shappi Khorsandi on why she can't return to Iran". Financial Times. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  5. ^ Shappi Khorsandi (January–February 2007). "Diary: Comic timing". New Humanist:Articles, Volume 122 Issue 1. The Rationalist Association. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
  6. ^ Charlotte Higgins. "Shappi Khorsandi: the last laugh". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  7. ^ "Shappi Khorsandi named new President of the British Humanist Association". British Humanist Association. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  8. ^ a b c "Khorsandi's debut novel to Ebury". The Bookseller. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  9. ^ "Acclaimed scientist and broadcaster Alice Roberts appointed President of Humanists UK". Humanists UK. 11 November 2018. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  10. ^ Cain, Sian (6 January 2017). "Shappi Khorsandi withdraws book from Jhalak prize longlist". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Why I have decided to change my name from 'Shappi' back to 'Shaparak'". The Independent. 11 June 2021. Archived from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  12. ^ – 22:45 (19 October 2010). "Radio 4 Programmes – Shappi Talk: Series 1". BBC. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2011.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "BBC listing". BBC. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  14. ^ "Shappi Khorsandi: The Distracted Activist | Edinburgh Festival Guide". Edinburghfestival.list.co.uk. 21 August 2009. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  15. ^ "Let's Dance for Sport Relief". BBC. 26 February 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  16. ^ "Genius With Dave Gorman – Episode 2.6. Noddy Holder and Shappi Khorsandi – British Comedy Guide". Comedy.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  17. ^ a b Richards, Tim (2 April 2012). "Shappi Khorsandi - Me and My Brother in Our Pants, Holding Hands: Comedy festival". The Age. Melbourne, Australia. p. 13.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Shappi Khorsandi". chortle.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  19. ^ "Media Diversity UK". E-activist.com. Archived from the original on 23 December 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  20. ^ "Who is Shappi Khorsandi? I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! 2017 profile". Radio Times. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  21. ^ "The Blame Game". BBC Iplayer. 5 December 2014. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  22. ^ "#JC4PM". jc4pmtour. 28 July 2015. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  23. ^ Wilkinson, Michael (1 February 2016). "Celebrities to tour Britain in 'Jeremy Corbyn For Prime Minister' musical show". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 9 June 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  24. ^ "Meet your 2017 Celebrity Campmates!". Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  25. ^ "A Beginner's Guide to Acting English". Amnesty.org.uk. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  26. ^ a b "A Beginner's Guide to Acting English, By Shappi Khorsandi". The Independent. 3 July 2009. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  27. ^ "Kissing Emma". hachette.co.uk. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  28. ^ Budak, Bertan (21 May 2010). "My perfect weekend: Shappi Khorsandi". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 22 May 2010.
  29. ^ a b c Roz Laws (2 May 2014). "Comedian Shappi Khorsandi heads to the West Midlands for a run of shows". Birmingham Post. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  30. ^ Scott, Caroline (31 July 2016). "Relative Values: The comedian Shappi Khorsandi and her brother, Peyvand". The Times. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  31. ^ www.laughinghorsecomedy.co.uk http://www.laughinghorsecomedy.co.uk/edinburgh/performer.asp. Retrieved 13 November 2021. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  32. ^ Video interview of Khorsandi on Carpool https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL8V_VWMWT8 Archived 22 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine
  33. ^ Khorsandi, Shaparak (12 November 2021). "Does Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's British passport have meaning?". The Independent. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  34. ^ Babb, Francesca (6 October 2019). "How comedian Shappi Khorsandi finally conquered decades of clutter and chaos". YOU Magazine. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  35. ^ "Shappi Khorsandi: I'm bisexual". Chortle. 18 August 2017. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  36. ^ Allan, Vicky (4 February 2018). "Getting personal with Shappi Khorsandi – mistress, misfit, single mother ... and very funny woman". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  37. ^ Khorsandi, Shaparak (1 October 2021). "I've turned into one of those people who 'runs' – who even am I?". The Independent. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  38. ^ a b Greenstreet, Rosanna (18 February 2017). "Shappi Khorsandi: 'My worst job? Life modelling for a woman who made me recite Shakespeare as I posed'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  39. ^ Owens, David (19 March 2013). "Shappi Khorsandi show uncovers truth about love on the rocks and roll". walesonline.co.uk. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  40. ^ Kettle, James (8 May 2015). "This week's new live comedy". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  41. ^ Joseph, Emma (25 March 2017). "Comedian Shappi Khorsandi on why she's reclaiming patriotism". Bournemouth Echo. Archived from the original on 23 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  42. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Shappi Khorsandi". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  43. ^ "My Favourite Joke". BBC. 21 November 2011. Archived from the original on 26 December 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  44. ^ "Spice Britain". BBC. 28 August 2011. Archived from the original on 23 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  45. ^ Lawson, Mark (20 November 2017). "I'm a Celebrity returns – and Stanley Johnson makes it a must-watch". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 23 June 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  46. ^ "Loose Ends 02/08/2008". BBC. 2 August 2008. Archived from the original on 23 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  47. ^ "Front Row". BBC. 23 June 2009. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  48. ^ "Steve Wright in the Afternoon". BBC. 14 July 2009. Archived from the original on 18 July 2009. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  49. ^ "And the Winner Is..." BBC. 11 February 2012. Archived from the original on 23 March 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  50. ^ {cite web |title=BBC New Comedy Award |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/features_static/awards/bbcnew.php Archived 24 July 2021 at the Wayback Machine |website=chortle.co.uk |access-date=2 September 2012}}
  51. ^ "Winners 2010". britishcomedyawards.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  52. ^ "Preview: Shappi Khorsandi". 21 October 2019. Archived from the original on 23 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  53. ^ Kearns, Edward (5 February 2013). "Interview: Shappi Khorsandi". universityobserver.ie. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2012.

External links[]

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