Jeff Mirza: Difference between revisions

| image_size = 200

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1964|2|3}}

| birth_place = [[East London|East]] London, England

| medium = Stand-up, television, Film

| nationality = British

| genre = [[Observational comedy]],<br>[[Character comedy]]

| website = {{URL|jeffmirza.com/}}

'''Jeffrey Mirza''' (born 3 February 1964) is an English stand-up comedian and actor of [[British Pakistani|Pakistani]] descent.

Mirza was born and raised in [[East End of London|East End of]] London, England<ref name="bbc">{{cite news |last= |first= |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-14607882|title=Fringe comedian in Gaddafi costume attacked with bottle|location= |work= |publisher=''[[BBC News]]''|date=21 August 2011|accessdate=1 January 2013}}</ref><ref name="stv">{{cite news |last= |first= |url=http://local.stv.tv/edinburgh/267124-fringe-comedian-in-gaddafi-costume-attacked-with-bottle/|title=Gaddafi comic Jeff Mirza attacked at Edinburgh Fringe|location= |work= |publisher=''STV''|date=21 August 2011|accessdate=1 January 2013}}</ref> to Pakistani parents.<ref name="podcast">{{cite news |last= |first= |url=http://podcast.is.ed.ac.uk:8080/Podcasts/Alwaleed/2011-10-06/Jeff_Mirza_interview-audio.m4a|title=An interview with comedian Jeff Mirza|location= |work= |publisher=''Alwaleed Centre''|date=6 October 2011|accessdate=1 January 2013}}</ref>

He had his first stint at comedy when he told anecdotes about his summer holidays at the age of 14 for assembly at his Ilford Comprehensive School. After graduating from the [[University of London]] with a Master's degree in Civil Engineering,<ref name="podcast"/> he formed two groups: ‘The Men from ChaCha’ and a dance parody of the [[Chippendales]] called 'The Chappattidales.'<ref name="jongleurs">{{cite web |url=http://www.jongleurs.com/act/jeff-mirza/|title=Jeff Mirza|publisher=Jongleurs|date= |accessdate=1 January 2013}}</ref>

==Career==

===Stand-up===

In 1993, Mirza won the [[Hackney Empire]] East West Quest and he went solo into stand-up and since then has not looked back. He has written pieces for magazines and is well known on the London comedy circuit.<ref name="jongleurs"/> In 1995, he was a finalist in the [[BBC]] Open Mic Award for The Stand up Show at the Edinburgh festival.<ref name="comedycv">{{cite web |url=http://www.comedycv.co.uk/jeffmirza/index.htm|title=Jeff Mirza|publisher=Comedy CV|date= |accessdate=1 January 2013}}</ref> Since that initial success he gave up his job as a structural engineer and began work as a full-time stand-up comedian. In the Asian comedy field he has worked with and for the 'One Nation. ..lnnit! ' Team based at Watermans in Brentford and has also played all the major comedy clubs and is a regular at [[Jongleurs]] Comedy Clubs.<ref name="comedycv"/>

In 2003, he performed his show, 'Walking With Muslims,' at the [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe]].<ref name="chortle1">{{cite web |url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/shows/edinburgh_fringe_2003/j/834/jeff_mirza%3A_walking_with_muslims|title=Jeff Mirza: Walking With Muslims|publisher=Chortle|date= |accessdate=1 January 2013}}</ref> He has played the circuit in London including Jongleurs and [[The Comedy Store (London)|The Comedy Store]].<ref name="wamshow">{{cite web |url=http://www.wamshow.biz/wam-jeff-mirza|title=Jeff Mirza|publisher=Whatever Artists Management|date= |accessdate=1 January 2013}}</ref><ref name="thecomedyclub">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecomedyclub.co.uk/comedians/jeff-mirza.html|title=Jeff Mirza|publisher=The Comedy Club|date= |accessdate=1 January 2013}}</ref> He has performed all over the world, and is the first British comedian ever to perform stand up comedy to sell out shows in [[Saudi Arabia]]. He is regularly involved with interfaith dialogue between different communities and often called in to lighten-up and moderate contentious debates between multi-faith conservatives.<ref name="usurp">{{cite web |url=http://www.usurp.org.uk/event/jeff-mirzas-jihad-heresy-or-hearsay|title=Jeff Mirza|publisher=Usurp|date=27 July 2011|accessdate=1 January 2013}}</ref>

In July 2011, Mirza toured four UK cities<ref name="muslimness">{{cite news |last= |first= |url=http://www.muslimness.com/2011/07/british-muslim-comedy-tour-in-your-city.html|title=British Muslim Comedy Tour in Your City, "Innit Bruv"|location= |work= |publisher=''Muslimness''|date=20 July 2011|accessdate=1 March 2013}}</ref> in the Peace Youth and Community Trust's (PYCT) first Muslim Comedy Tour, alongside [[Humza Arshad]], [[Prince Abdi]] and [[Nabil Abdul Rashid]].<ref name="croydonguardian">{{cite news | last=Dakin|first=Melanie|url=http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/archive/2011/07/14/theatrenews/9141269.Humza_Arshad_and_Jeff_Mirza_head_up_charity_comedy_tour/|title=Humza Arshad and Jeff Mirza head up charity comedy tour|location=Croydon|work= |publisher=''[[Croydon Guardian]]''|date=14 July 2011|accessdate=1 January 2013}}</ref><ref name="watfordobserver">{{cite news |last=Dakin|first=Melanie|url=http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/leisure/theatre/cfutheatrenews/9141269.Humza_Arshad_and_Jeff_Mirza_head_up_charity_comedy_tour/?ref=twtrec|title=Humza Arshad and Jeff Mirza head up charity comedy tour|location=Watford|work= |publisher=''[[Watford Observer]]''|date=14 July 2011|accessdate=1 January 2013}}</ref><ref name="harrowtimes">{{cite news |last=Dakin|first=Melanie|url=http://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/leisure/theatre/theatrenews/9141269.Humza_Arshad_and_Jeff_Mirza_head_up_charity_comedy_tour/|title=Humza Arshad and Jeff Mirza head up charity comedy tour|location=Harrow|work= |publisher=''Harrow Times''|date=14 July 2011|accessdate=1 March 2013}}</ref> From 4 to 28 August 2011, he presented the world's first interfaith game show called 'Faith Off' on the [[Islam Channel]] at the [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe]] in [[Underbelly (venue)|Underbelly]], [[Cowgate]], Edinburgh.<ref name="usurp"/> He also performed his show 'Jihad: Heresy Or Hearsay.’<ref name="chortle2">{{cite web |url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/shows/edinburgh_fringe_2011/j/19045/jeff_mirzas_jihad%3B_heresy_or_hearsay|title=Jeff Mirza's Jihad; Heresy Or Hearsay|publisher=Chortle|date= |accessdate=1 January 2013}}</ref><ref name="comedy">{{cite web |url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2011/jeff_mirzas_jihad/|title=Jeff Mirza's Jihad: Heresy Or Hearsay|publisher=British Comedy Guide|date=27 July 2011|accessdate=1 January 2013}}</ref>

===Acting===

Mirza's film credits include [[Bend It Like Beckham]], [[Tomb Raider]],<ref name="wamshow"/> [[It Was an Accident]]<ref name="thecomedyclub"/><ref name="chillistars">{{cite web |url=http://www.chillistars.com/ArtistDetails.aspx?id=68|title=Jeff Mirza|publisher=Chilli Stars|date= |accessdate=1 January 2013}}</ref> and [[Desi Boyz]].<ref name="usurp"/>

His television appearances include[[White Teeth (TV serial)|White Teeth]], [[Chuckle Vision]], [[Murder in Mind (TV series)|Murder in Mind]] and [[Doctors (soap opera)|Doctors]].<ref name="usurp"/>

“The sharpest Asian stand up on the alternative comedy circuit,<ref name="artsdepot"/> but also Britain's best loved Asian comedian" – ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]''.<ref name="croydonguardian"/><ref name="watfordobserver"/><ref name="the-drum">{{cite web |url=http://www.the-drum.org.uk/event/jeff-mirza|title=Jeff Mirza at The Drum|publisher=The Drum Jongleurs|date=25 September 2012|accessdate=1 January 2013}}</ref>

“Excellent" – Andrew Martin, ''[[London Evening Standard]]''. "Europe's Top Asian Comedian" – Andy Beckett, ''[[The Guardian]]''.<ref name="wamshow"/> "Sharp witted rising star" – William Cook, ''The Guardian''.<ref name="wamshow"/> "Comedy jihad. His warm, incisive, wit-strewn comedy celebrates the absurd" – The Guardian.<ref name="artsdepot"/>

In 2001, Mirza won the 'Best Comedian' award in the BT Emma Awards.<ref name="mcb">{{cite news |last= |first= |url=http://www.mcb.org.uk/features/features.php?ann_id=148|title=Jeff Mirza|location= |work= |publisher=''The Muslim Council of Britain''|date=1 September 2003|accessdate=1 January 2013}}</ref> In 2003,<ref name="wamshow"/> he won the [[Ethnic Multicultural Media Academy]] Comedy award which was held at London's Dorchester Hotel where the chief guest was Sir [[Richard Attenborough]]. The other nominees were [[Richard Blackwood]], [[Felix Dexter]] and [[Gina Yashere]].<ref name="thecomedyclub"/>

Mirza is a [[West Ham United]] football fan.<ref name="metro">{{cite news |last= |first= |url=http://metro.co.uk/2009/10/27/jeff-mirza-635769/|title=Jeff Mirza|location= |work= |publisher=''[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]''|year=2003|accessdate=1 January 2013}}</ref>

| 1 episode: Finding Hypnotist

| 1 episode: Hidden Agenda

| 1 episode: Shop Manager

| 1 episode: Zero Tolerance

| 4 episodes: The Return of Magid Iqbal, The Trouble with Millat,<br>The Temptation of Samad Iqbal, The Peculiar Second Marriage of Archie Jones

| 1 episode: Cornershop

| 1 episode: Lee's Dinner

| (TV film)

| 1 episode: The Lovers: Part 2

| 1 episode: Off the Cuff

| (TV film)

| 1 episode: Making a Splash

| 1 episode: Adha Cup

| 1 episode: Unkindness of Strangers

| 2 episodes: #1.5, #1.3

| rowspan="1"| 2013

| ''Hummingbird''

{{reflist|2}}

*[http://www.jeffmirza.com/ Official Website]

| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Comedian and actor

| PLACE OF BIRTH = East London, England