Discovering People: @ShappiKhorsandi

Join us for this conversation with comedian, broadcaster and author Shappi Khorsandi as she explores how geography has shaped her thoughts and influenced her life. Shappi will share significant events and reflect on turning points in her life, providing an insight into some of the issues – gender, political correctness, religion, family, freedom and multicultural society – she addresses in her literary and stage work.

Shappi will be interviewed by Martine Croxall (BBC).

About Shappi Khorsandi

Born in Tehran, Shappi was brought up in West London following the publication of a poem composed by her satirist father Hadi Khorsandi, which was seen as critical of the revolutionary regime in Iran. The family fled in exile, death threats ensued and, unable to return, the family gained asylum, with London becoming their unexpected permanent home.

Shappi’s bestselling literary debut A beginner’s guide to acting English describes her experiences on coming to England; it received the prestigious James Joyce award from Dublin University. Published in 2016, her first novel Nina is not OK tackles heavy issues, including addiction, and explores coming-of-age, the power of social media and the fragility of friendships.

Shappi started her comedy career in 1997 and describes feeling like she’d “walked on the moon” following her first gig. She has taken part in BBC comedy shows Live at the Apollo, Michael McIntyre’s comedy roadshow, Quote… unquote and Just a minute. Her solo stand-up shows include Asylum speaker, Distracted activist and Oh my country, which she describes as “reclaiming patriotism” and “a love letter to her adopted land.”

She has also contributed to several factual programmes for BBC television and radio, including Question Time, QI and Shappi talk, which explored growing up in a multi-cultural family.

As current President of the British Humanist Association, Shappi comments that “morals, principles, ideas and philosophies are not exclusive to believers”.