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Humza Arshad

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Humza Arshad
MBE
حمزه محمد ارشد
Arshad in 2011
Born
Humza Mohammed Arshad

(1985-06-03) 3 June 1985 (age 39)
Streatham, London, England
Comedy career
Medium
Years active2009–present
Genres
Subject(s)
Notable works and rolesDiary of a Bad Man, Badman
YouTube information
Also known asPakistani
Channel
Years active2009–present
Subscribers482 thousand[1]
Total views119.9 million[1]
100,000 subscribers2016[2]
Last updated: 28 March 2024

Humza Mohammed Arshad MBE (Punjabi: حمزه محمد ارشد; born 3 June 1985[3]) is an English actor, comedian and writer of Pakistani descent. He produces the web series Diary of a Bad Man (2010–2013) and Badman (2015–present). His homemade YouTube videos have been viewed more than 100 million times, which makes him one of the most popular online comedians in the UK.[4]

Early life

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Arshad was born on 3 June 1985 to a Punjabi Muslim family in the Streatham district of London, England. His parents were born in Pakistan.[5] His father, Mohammad Arshad, is from Jhelum, Punjab, Pakistan, and his mother, Noreen Arshad, is from Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.[6] He has two siblings; a younger sister, Hanna, and a younger brother,[7] Hasan.[8]

Arshad studied GNVQ in Performing Arts at Croydon College[5][9][10][11] and BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts at Kingston College.[12] He then graduated from Richmond Drama School with a degree in Drama.[5][9][10][11] He had a part-time job as an Asian wedding hall waiter.[13][14]

Career

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In September 2010, Arshad created comedy web series Diary of a Bad Man, revolving around video diaries of a young man with the "mentality of a seven-year-old".[15][16] In 2011, the fifth episode of Diary of a Bad Man was the seventh most viewed video on YouTube in the UK.[17][18]

In December 2010, Arshad was interviewed by Waqas Saeed on BBC Asian Network.[19] In March and December 2011, he featured on BBC Asian Network's Noreen Khan Drive Time Show.[7][20] In July 2011, Arshad performed on Meera Syal's Comedy Night on BBC Asian Network.[21] In July 2011, he was interviewed by Bobby Friction on BBC Asian Network's Bobby Friction's late night show.[6] In July and August 2011, he featured and reported for BBC London News.[22][23] In November 2011, he featured on Nihal's phone-in show on BBC Asian Network.[24]

In July 2011, Arshad toured four UK cities[25] in the Peace Youth and Community Trust's (PYCT) first Muslim Comedy Tour, alongside Jeff Mirza, Prince Abdi and Nabil Abdul Rashid.[9][10][11]

From November to December 2011, he toured eight UK cities, performing at nine venues,[26][27][28][29][30][31][32] with his comedy show called The Badman Comedy Tour 2011, he was accompanied by his entourage; Asif Hussain, Jaspal Kerrah, Junaid Malik, Yogesh Kalia,[33][34][35][36] and Fayaaz Kassam. The tour was sponsored by Azme Alishan, a Pakistan-based social movement.[37]

In May 2013, Arshad performed stand-up at the Shaw Theatre in London.[38] On 9 and 10 July 2013, he was involved in a live shows of Smokey's Barbers at the Pavilion Theatre, Festival Square for the Manchester International Festival.[39][40] In the same month, he was interviewed by Tommy Sandhu on BBC Asian Network.[41] From 11 to 25 August 2013, he performed 15 stand-up shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.[5][18][42][43]

In March 2015, Arshad appeared at the Muslim Youth Festival, a festival on how to divert young Britons away from extremism[44] and looking at what it means to be a young British Muslim in the UK today.[45]

Published works

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In 2018 Penguin Random House bought the children's novel series Little Badman,[46] created by Arshad and comedy writer Henry White. The first in the series is titled Little Badman and the Invasion of the Killer Aunties and was published on World Book Day in March 2019. The second book, Little Badman and the Time-travelling Teacher of Doom, was published on 20 August 2020. The third book, Little Badman and the Radioactive Samosa, was published for World Book Day in March 2021. The fourth book, Little Badman and the Rise of the Punjabi Zombies was published on 7 July 2022. The books are illustrated by Aleksei Bitskoff.[47]

Little Badman follows the story of 11 year old rapper Humza Khan who becomes suspicious when his school teachers begin to disappear and are replaced by evil aunties.[48][49]

Honours, awards and recognition

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On 28 March 2011, Arshad was nominated in the categories for comedy and entertainment at the third annual Shorty Awards for social media at The Times Center, New York City.[50] In 2012, he was nominated for in the category of YouTube star at the fourth annual Shorty Awards.[51]

Arshad was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2021 New Year Honours for services to education.[52][53]

Personal life

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In June and July 2011, arranged by the Metropolitan Police, Arshad visited schools with Jaspal Kerrah and Junaid Malik to give presentations to students, discussing topics and issues encountered by teenagers living in London.[54]

In October 2014, Arshad was recruited by East Midlands Police to help prevent the radicalisation of British Muslims by holding workshops at schools in the area. He made a 15-minute film "Think for Yourself" to show teenagers the dangers of exposure to extremist messages.[55][56][57] In 2015, Arshad and the Metropolitan Police Service[58] toured around 50 schools, doing shows for students[59] holding anti-extremism discussions and workshops for 11 to 18-year-old students[60] in order to help prevent vulnerable students becoming radicalised[61] at schools and colleges across London.[60][62] Arshad is working in partnership with Scotland Yard to aid in their campaign to counter violent Islamist extremism within high school students in London.[63]

Videography

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Year Title Role Season Episodes
2009 Chronicles of Tuttoo Tuttoo, Rupert Salami Season 1 5 episodes
2010–2012 Diary of a Bad Man Badman 10 episodes
2012–2013 Smokey's Barbers 6 episodes
Diary of a Bad Man Badman, Mr Bubblegum Season 2
Badman's Britain Badman Season 1 2 episodes
2013 Yard Party Various 1 episode
2014–2015 Bubblegum Himself, Mr Bubblegum, Rupert Salami 10 episodes
2014 Black and Brown Badman 5 episodes
Badman Blogs 2 episodes
Variety Show Himself 1 episode
2014–2015 Badman's World Badman, Mr Bubblegum, Rupert Salami 20 episodes
2015– Badman Badman, Mr Bubblegum 13 episodes
2016 The T-Boy Show Maz Season 2 15 episodes
Stupid Man, Smart Phone Himself Season 1 1 episode
2 Man 1 Show Himself 5 episodes
2016–2021 DOABM Shorts Badman 50 episodes
2017 Coconut Ahmed Armstrong 10 episodes
Romesh: Talking to Comedians Himself 1 episode
2018 Wild Wild Web 10 episodes
2019 Corner Shop Show Himself 1 episode
2021 The Chewing Gums Badman, Mr Bubblegum Season 1 11 episodes
2023 Humza: Forgiving the Unforgivable Himself Season 1 1 episode

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "About Humza Productions". YouTube.
  2. ^ Arshad, Humza (25 April 2018). "Humza Productions's YouTube Stats (Summary Profile) - Social Blade Stats". Retrieved 27 April 2018 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ Arshad, Humza. "Humza Productions - About". Facebook. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  4. ^ Witte, Griff (2 April 2015). "Meet the anti-Jihadi John – Muslim comedian Humza Arshad is slaying them in the aisles". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d "Interview: Humza Arshad brings Diary of a Badman to 2013 Edinburgh Festival Fringe". The List. 1 August 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  6. ^ a b Friction, Bobby (July 2011). "When Humza Arshad AKA Diary of a Badman met Bobby Friction!". BBC Asian Network. SoundCloud. Archived from the original on 20 June 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Diary of a Bad Man – Humza Arshad's Interview with Noreen Khan". BBC Asian Network. DJNoreen. 20 March 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  8. ^ "Croydon 'safe havens' aimed at helping people in danger". Croydon: The Croydon Advertiser. 30 May 2012. Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  9. ^ a b c Dakin, Melanie (14 July 2011). "Humza Arshad and Jeff Mirza head up charity comedy tour". Croydon: Croydon Guardian. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  10. ^ a b c Dakin, Melanie (14 July 2011). "Humza Arshad and Jeff Mirza head up charity comedy tour". Watford Observer. Watford. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  11. ^ a b c Dakin, Melanie (14 July 2011). "Humza Arshad and Jeff Mirza head up charity comedy tour". Harrow: Harrow Times. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  12. ^ "Comedian, actor, Youtuber & former student Humza Arshad Returns to Kingston College". London: Kingston College. 25 August 2016. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  13. ^ "Humza Arshad on Twitter:"Looking clapped After a hard long day at a..." Twitter. 14 September 2014.
  14. ^ "Humza Arshad on Instagram:"Looking clapped After a hard long..." Instagram. 14 September 2014. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021.
  15. ^ Hooda, Samreen (27 June 2012). "Humza Arshad's Diary of a Badman Show on YouTube Has Fans And Critics". The Huffington Post. New York. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  16. ^ Shahid, Omar (10 June 2012). "Diary of a Badman: 'I'm not a model Muslim, but I make people think'". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  17. ^ "Talking dog's top YouTube hit". Sky News. 20 December 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  18. ^ a b Hawkins, Si (24 August 2013). "Diary of a funny man: the comedian Humza Arshad on love and hate on the web". The National. Abu Dhabi. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  19. ^ "Wax is joined by Internet Superstar 'Bad Man'". BBC Asian Network. 24 December 2010. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  20. ^ "Diary of a Bad Man – Humza Arshad Interview with Noreen Khan". BBC Asian Network. DJNoreen. 9 December 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  21. ^ "Meera Syal's Asian Comedy Story". BBC Asian Network. July 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  22. ^ "Muslim comedian Humza Arshad becomes internet sensation". BBC News. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  23. ^ "How do London's Muslims celebrate Eid?". BBC News. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  24. ^ "Muslim students walking out of lectures about evolution". BBC Asian Network. 29 November 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  25. ^ "British Muslim Comedy Tour in Your City, "Innit Bruv"". Muslimness. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  26. ^ "What's going on Bladrins?! Big up to the West Yorkshire fans!". Bradford: Awaaz News. 11 December 2011. p. 13. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  27. ^ Marya, Yasin (22 November 2011). "YouTube sensation Humza Arshad gets ready to take his 'Bad Man' show on the road". Manchester: Mancunian Matters. Archived from the original on 23 April 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  28. ^ "PREVIEW: Badman at John Moores University". Liverpool Echo. Liverpool. 28 November 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  29. ^ "Live: Badman Kicks Off Nationwide Tour In Bradford To A Packed House". Bradford: The Bradford Student. 2 December 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2013.[permanent dead link]
  30. ^ Atiq, Iyma (6 December 2011). "YouTube sensation kicks of nationwide tour". Birmingham: The Asian World. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  31. ^ Owens, David (8 December 2011). "Preview: Humza Arshad – Badman, Cardiff University". Wales: South Wales Echo. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  32. ^ "A 'Badman' in London". Asian Lite. 9 December 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2013.[permanent dead link]
  33. ^ "British Pakistani comedian, Humza 'Badman' Arshad, kicks off nation-wide comedy tour!". Ethnic Now. 7 November 2011. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  34. ^ "Brit Asian 'Badman' comedy star announces tour". The Asian Today. 10 November 2011. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  35. ^ "Brit Asian 'Badman' comedy star announces tour". Desi Xpress. 10 November 2011. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  36. ^ "'Diary of a Badman' Humza Kicks off comedy tour". Desi-Box. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  37. ^ "BadMan in UK". Asian Voice. 14 December 2011. p. 6. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  38. ^ "HUMZA ARSHAD: Diary of a Bad Man Live Comedy Stand Up". Shaw Theatre. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  39. ^ Yates, Kieran (24 May 2013). "Smokey's Barbers are a cut above". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  40. ^ Dawood, Sarah (9 July 2013). "Smokey's Barbers – Manchester International Festival review". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  41. ^ "Humza Arshad". BBC Asian Network. 24 July 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  42. ^ "Humza Arshad presents Diary of a Badman". Edinburgh Festival Fringe. 11 August 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  43. ^ "Humza Arshad presents Diary of a Badman". The List. 11 August 2013. Archived from the original on 27 July 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  44. ^ "Naughty Boy and Humza Arshad at Youth Festival". Leicester: Asian Image. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  45. ^ "Naughty Boy and Humza Arshad at Youth Festival". Leicester: ITV News. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  46. ^ "PRH buys 'hilarious' middle-grade series by Humza Arshad and Henry White | The Bookseller". www.thebookseller.com. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  47. ^ White, Humza Arshad,Henry. Little Badman and the Invasion of the Killer Aunties. Retrieved 27 February 2019. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  48. ^ "Diary of a Badman star to release new chíldren's novel". Asian Image. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  49. ^ Mohan, Keerthi (27 February 2019). "Humza Arshad to release children's novel". Eastern Eye. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  50. ^ "Humza Arshad (@HumzaProduction on Twitter) was nominated for a Shorty Award". The Shorty Awards. February 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  51. ^ "Humza Arshad (@HumzaProduction on Twitter) was nominated for a Shorty Award". The Shorty Awards. February 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  52. ^ "No. 63218". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2020. p. N15.
  53. ^ "New Year Honours 2021: Lewis Hamilton knighted and Covid volunteers recognised". BBC News. 30 December 2020.
  54. ^ "YouTube 'Diary of a Badman' star visits school". Metropolitan Police. 27 June 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  55. ^ "Comedian Humza Arshad fronts anti-extremism school campaign". BBC News. Leicester. 13 October 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  56. ^ "Rising YouTube star Humza Arshad has made a video to help promote awareness about views expressed in social groups and online". Leicester: ITV News. 13 October 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  57. ^ Fagan, Ciaran (14 October 2014). "Diary of a Badman star Humza Arshad teams up with police to film anti-extremism message". Leicester Mercury. Leicester. Archived from the original on 1 April 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  58. ^ Bryant, Miranda (7 April 2015). "YouTube star Humza Arshad: Syria schoolgirls' families support my efforts to deter pupils from extremism". London Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  59. ^ Tennet, James (24 April 2015). "Meet Humza Arshad: The YouTube Badman Helping the Police Tackle Radicalisation in London Schools". Complex. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  60. ^ a b Onyanga-Omara, Jane (7 April 2015). "British YouTube star keeps kids off the extremist path". Religion News Service. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  61. ^ Kesvani, Hussein (1 April 2015). "This Muslim YouTube Star Wants To Use Comedy To Turn Young People Away From Extremism". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  62. ^ Onyanga-Omara, Jane (3 April 2015). ""Badman" Humza Arshad's comedic response to ISIS". CBS News. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  63. ^ Witte, Griff (1 April 2015). "Muslim comedian's anti-extremist message a big hit with British teens". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
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Further reading

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