Tez Ilyas joins Channel 4 with brand new satirical news show

11 July 2019

‘Tez Ilyas’s political stand-up is candyfloss with a razorblade inside: sweet and familiar at first, then shockingly, painfully sharp. It’s the kind of manoeuvre that takes serious talent to pull off.’ The Telegraph

‘Ilyas has a slickness more reminiscent of US comics, and the gags to back it up, though his most prized asset could yet be his bold, subversive streak’ Guardian

‘Radiantly entertaining.’ The Times

One of the most exciting break out stars in British comedy, Tez Ilyas, joins Channel 4 this summer with The Tez O’Clock Show, a late-night satirical comedy show… that is TRULY anti-establishment – it’s hosted by a northern working-class British-Asian-Muslim.

Comedian Tez Ilyas presents a fast-paced mix of stand-up, sketches and studio antics. Filmed in Manchester with a combination of comedians and celebrity guests, this hilarious and subversive show will blow the cobwebs off TV satire and prove once and for all that it’s possible to joke about anyone and anything without getting cancelled.

The show is a topical mix of sketches and studio antics, including provocative monologues and celebrity interviews.

Crashing into the studio show will be parodies, sketches and news bulletins from the Pakistani Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), starring Man Like Mobeen’s Guz Khan and comedian Sindhu Vee, which will provide a satirical take on the news and show Britain (and the West) in a very different light.

The studio show sees Tez take part in a briefing room – just like the ones that happened when he worked at the Home Office - on the hot topics of the day. Here he’ll be briefed by his fellow fast rising comics and Uncivil Servants, Sophie Willan and Adam Rowe, who will each try and sway him to their way of thinking.

He’ll then be joined by his co-anchor Sindhu Vee, in the on set shisha café, where they’ll be joined by funny, opinionated, big name guests.

The fast paced 3 x 60’ show, airing at 11pm each Thursday from 25th July is made exclusively for Channel 4 by Expectation and Ilyas’ own company Pious Productions. It will be filmed each week at Manchester’s MediaCityUK in front of a live studio audience.

Tez Ilyas says: “OMA! This is proper surreal man.

"Thank you Channel 4 for this massive opportunity to follow in the footsteps of giants. Mama! We did it mama!

"I‘m can’t wait for everyone to see it.. I hope y’all are ready for my silly, smart and subversive take on the world <raising hands emoji>

"Seriously though... you don’t understand! This is the show I’ve always dreamed of doing (after Blue Peter obvs).”

Ben Wicks, Creative Director, Comedy and Entertainment at Expectation says: “Tez Ilyas is an extremely smart, wonderfully playful satirical comic and we should all be hugely grateful C4 have given him a series. Had they not he might have returned to his old job at the Home Office where - given the strength of his jokes - he’d have done untold damage. He is flanked by the ludicrously talented Guz Khan, Sindhu Vee, Sophie Willan and Adam Rowe. They are collectively wrestling satire from rich white people in a show that oscillates from sharp to silly in a fast-paced comedic blitz.”

Karen Murdoch, Commissioning Editor, Entertainment, Channel 4 said: “Tez Ilyas is an incredibly exciting talent, and we are thrilled to have him on Channel 4. With all the political shenanigans going on in the UK and the world in general, it feels particularly timely to be launching a brand new satire show, hosted by such a smart and fresh new voice.”

The Tez O’clock Show (3 x 60’ w/t) was commissioned by Syeda Irtizaali and Karen Murdoch, Commissioning Editors, Entertainment, Channel 4. Ben Wicks is the Creative Director, Comedy and Entertainment for Expectation. The series will air on Channel 4 every Thursday for three weeks from 25th July this year.

ENDS

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