Tez Ilyas is best known for starring in the BBC Three comedy, Man Like Mobeen and presenting the satirical comedy programme, The Tez O'Clock Show on Channel 4.
22 Facts About Tez Ilyas
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Tez Ilyas started his career as a civil servant after studying biochemistry at Lancaster University where he completed a master's degree.
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Tez Ilyas then got a graduate job in the civil service in London.
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Tez Ilyas fell into comedy after googling online writing courses and completing a week-long open mic workshop before becoming a comedian in 2010.
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In June 2015, Tez Ilyas made a short film, The Fast and the Fool as part of the British Muslim Comedy series- five short films by Muslim comedians commissioned by the BBC to be released on BBC iPlayer.
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Tez Ilyas goes through the day in the life of a fasting Muslim and shows how he copes with the stresses and strains of an ordinary day in the office during Ramadan.
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In July 2015, Tez Ilyas performed at an Eid Special Comedy Night at The Comedy Store in London.
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Tez Ilyas has performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe four times.
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Tez Ilyas' show is inspired by his life as a British Muslim, and deals with numerous misconceptions about Islam.
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Tez Ilyas's show is staged as an introductory seminar on becoming a convert to Islam with the audience playing the part of potential recruits.
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Tez Ilyas was awarded a place in the BBC's Writers Academy.
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Tez Ilyas has written and filmed his scripted comedy shorts for Sky.
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Tez Ilyas has appeared on both The Now Show and the Children in Need Comedy Gala for BBC Radio 4, and appeared on both Virtually Famous on E4 and Live From the BBC on BBC Three.
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Tez Ilyas has appeared as the recurring character 'Eight' on the BBC Three comedy series, Man Like Mobeen, alongside comedian and actor Guz Khan.
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In December 2018, Tez Ilyas featured in the comedy short, Bounty, a 'Comedy Blap' by Channel 4, which was set in his hometown of Blackburn.
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In January 2019, it was announced that Ilyas would host a new comedy programme on Channel 4, The Tez O'Clock Show, broadcast from dock10 studios in Manchester.
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In November 2019, Tez Ilyas was chosen to take over the Instagram of Jeremy Corbyn during the Labour Party leaders' debate with Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
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In January 2020, Tez Ilyas spoke at a 'No War on Iran' demonstration in Trafalgar Square, London organised by Stop the War Coalition and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament following the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and the subsequent Iranian missile attack on US bases in Iraq.
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In 2011, Tez Ilyas reached the final of the BBC Radio New Comedy Awards.
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In 2013, Tez Ilyas was a finalist for Leicester Mercury New Comedian of the Year and won The Pleasance showcase, The Comedy Reserve.
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Tez Ilyas cites television shows such as South Park, The Thick of It and Blackadder, but most importantly the dry humour of the people of his home town, Blackburn, and his father, as his biggest inspiration.
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In July 2022, Tez Ilyas announced on social media that he had married, sharing a photo of himself and his wife Shy wearing their wedding rings.