The Omid Djalili Show is a British sketch comedy/stand-up comedy television series produced by Hat Trick Productions in which multi-award-winning stand-up comedian Omid Djalili is unleashed as a performer and writer in a show that mixes energetic stand-up with sketches and characters, taking a swipe at modern life in a multicultural society.
The series aired in the UK on BBC One from 17 November, 2007 to 25 May, 2009. There are 12 half-hour episodes in two seasons.
The Omid Djalili Show premiered in South Africa on DStv's BBC Entertainment channel on Tuesday 15 May 2012, at 22h00. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 2 premiered on BBC Entertainment on Tuesday 26 February 2013, at 22h00. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are six episodes in the second and final season.
Season 1
One of Britain's best-loved and multi-award-winning stand-up comedians is unleashed as a performer and writer in his own comedy sketch show that mixes energetic stand-up with memorable sketches and characters.
The show takes a grown up swipe at modern life in a multicultural society. It reflects and builds upon Omid's hugely successful stand-up persona: part political, part social commentary, part plain silly.
Each episode has a strand of features and characters that flow in and out of the show, including running jokes, sight gags, and a number of high impact one-off and returning sketches.
In his stand up, Omid talks about subjects that include Muslim fundamentalists, the environment, multi-tasking mums and marriage. Sketch characters include a wannabe actor desperate to impress anyone he meets, a bouncer who releases his own instructional videos and a confused mafia boss.
Omid is joined in the sketches by a number of familiar faces throughout the series. Having performed in movies such as The Mummy, Gladiator and the Bond film The World is Not Enough, getting his own show seems the ideal opportunity for Omid to call in one or two favours from his famous friends.
Celebrity guests include Alison Steadman (Gavin and Stacey, Secrets & Lies), Freema Agyeman (Doctor Who) and Jill Halfpenny (EastEnders).
Season 2
The London Olympics, a completely new take on Henry VIII, the credit crunch and darts players' wives are just some of the targets of the multi-talented actor, stand-up, writer and "Iran's answer to Carol Vorderman", in this new season of The Omid Djalili Show.
In a season stuffed full of sketches, songs and stand-up, the country's best-loved British-Iranian comedian takes a uniquely adult look at contemporary issues such as race, religion, football and lad culture.
In Episode 1, the comedian gives some TV favourites a Middle-Eastern makeover as Sheiks In The City and Jihad's Army get the "Look Eastwards" treatment.
Next, Omid dons facial hair and hose to bring Henry VIII to life in his own inimitable style, as he campaigns to be divorced from his feisty Spanish wife, Catherine of Aragon.
The comic returns as bouncer, broadcaster and Londoner Steve "The Dragon" Thompson, presenter of a video guide to the "real" London Olympics – with sports including "sitting on a man in a fight" and "eel-fencing".
The facial hair continues as Omid plays the part of a heavy-metal bailiff in Credit Crunch – The Rock Opera.
Finally, the comedian's stand-up routine takes the audience on a flight of fancy involving Somalian pirates, Gordon Brown doing the lottery and Egyptian taxi-drivers.
Seasons
Series exclusive to BBC Entertainment
Season 1 (6 episodes)
Premiere: 15 May 2012 | Finale: 29 May 2012 | Tuesdays, 22h00 (double bill)
Season 2 (6 episodes)
Premiere: 26 February 2013 | Finale: 2 April 2013 | Tuesdays, 22h00