{{Short description|British broadcaster, comedian and author}}
'''Iszi Lawrence''' (born 7 June 1985<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iszi Lawrence - Biography |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5848324/bio/ |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref>) is a British broadcaster, comedian and author. She presents ''The Forum'' on the BBC World Service,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Forum - The enduring allure of jewellery - BBC Sounds |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct5n0g |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref> and co-presents the podcast ''Your Place or Mine'' with Shaun Keaveny.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC Radio 4 - Your Place or Mine with Shaun Keaveny, Ainsley Harriott: Angkor Wat, Cambodia |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002082p |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref>
== Education == Lawrence attended Wychwood School in Oxford. She studied geography at the University of Bristol, graduating with first-class honours. She later studied a diploma in Creative Writing at the University of Oxford and graduated with this diploma.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-02-22 |title=ISP Senior Spring 2015 by The Chelsea Magazine Company - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/chelseamagazines/docs/ispseniorspring2015 |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=issuu.com |language=en}}</ref>
== Broadcasting career == Lawrence was producer for the 2013 documentary film ''Rock and Roll's Greatest Failure: Otway the Movie''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iszi Lawrence {{!}} Producer |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5848324/ |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2016, Lawrence began presenting for the BBC Radio 4 programme ''Making History'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Search - BBC Programme Index |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?order=first&q=%22iszi+lawrence%22#top |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123181614/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?order=first&q=%22iszi+lawrence%22#top |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 23, 2025 |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=genome.ch.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> which explores historical topics''.'' She joined the presenting team for the programme officially in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bennett |first=Steve |title=Iszi Lawrence will be making Making History : News 2018 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2018/12/18/41934/iszi_lawrence_will_be_making_making_history |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=www.chortle.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>
In 2021, Lawrence appeared in the TV series ''Royals: Keeping the Crown'', which examined the successes of, and difficult events relating to, various royal families.<ref>{{Citation |title=Royals: Keeping the Crown |date=2021-11-01 |type=Documentary, History |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16122518/?ref_=nm_flmg_job_2_cdt_t_5 |access-date=2025-01-04 |others=Derek Jacobi, Iszi Lawrence, Chandrika Kaul |publisher=World Media Rights Productions}}</ref> Also in 2021, she appeared<ref name=":1">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14057360/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_cst_sm |title=The Lost Pirate Kingdom (TV Series 2021– ) - IMDb |access-date=2025-01-04 |via=www.imdb.com}}</ref> in the TV series<ref name=":2">{{Citation |title=The Lost Pirate Kingdom |date=2021-03-15 |type=Documentary, Adventure, Drama |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14057360/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt |access-date=2025-01-04 |others=Derek Jacobi, James Oliver Wheatley, Sam Callis |publisher=World Media Rights Productions}}</ref> ''The Lost Pirate Kingdom<ref name=":1" />'' which examined real pirates in the Caribbean.<ref name=":2" /> Also in 2021, she appeared in the factual television series ''Ancient Apocalypse'', as a history expert''.''<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Iszi Lawrence {{!}} Producer |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5848324/ |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2022, Lawrence began co-presenting ''Your Place or Mine'' on BBC Radio 4 with Shaun Keaveny.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Search - BBC Programme Index |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/20/20?order=first&q=%22iszi+lawrence%22#top |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=genome.ch.bbc.co.uk}}{{dead link|date=September 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In the same year, she appeared as a history expert in the factual television series ''U-Boat Wranglers''.<ref name=":3" />
As of 2023, Lawrence presented ''The Forum'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burgund |first=Halsey |title=A deep dive into deepfakes |url=https://www.media.mit.edu/articles/a-deep-dive-into-deep-fakes/ |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=MIT Media Lab}}</ref> an in-depth discussion programme on the BBC World Service's English-language service. She still presents the programme today.
Lawrence presents the British Museum's ''Membercast'' podcast, which explores topics connected to artifacts in the museum's collections.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The British Museum Membercast {{!}} British Museum |url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/membership/membercasts |access-date=4 January 2025 |website=British Museum}}</ref>
== Comedy career == Lawrence was a semi-finalist in the BBC Radio 7 New Comedy Awards.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Iszi Lawrence |url=https://www.alivenetwork.com/bandpage.asp?bandname=Iszi%20Lawrence |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=Alive Network Entertainment Agency |language=en-GB}}</ref>
Lawrence has performed comedy in many countries, and in venues where comedy is not commonly performed, such as museums.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=BBC Radio 4 - Your Place or Mine with Shaun Keaveny - Meet Iszi Lawrence |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/22XMdS2ZF6W6XSfHvhm9vBs/meet-iszi-lawrence |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref> However, she has also performed in conventional venues for comedy,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Laws |first=Roz |date=2015-01-30 |title=Moseley Comedy Festival promises four days of top comedy from this weekend |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/moseley-comedy-festival-promises-four-8533789 |access-date=2026-02-17 |website=Birmingham Live |language=en}}</ref> for example she had a show ''Wotnot'' at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Comedy review: Iszi Lawrence: Wotnot - 4* {{!}} The Skinny |url=https://www.theskinny.co.uk/festivals/edinburgh-fringe/comedy/iszi-lawrence-wotnot |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=www.theskinny.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>
She appears regularly at the Lil Fat Comedy Club in Oxfordshire.<ref name=":4" />
== Writing career == Lawrence is the author of several books, all aimed at children.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amazon.co.uk: Iszi Lawrence: books, biography, latest update |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B0865T388B |access-date=4 January 2025 |website=Amazon}}</ref> Her book ''The Time Machine Next Door'' was launched at Waterstones in Reading in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-08 |title=Author Iszi Lawrence to celebrate launch of The Time Machine Next Door with special event at Reading Waterstones |url=https://wokingham.today/author-iszi-lawrence-to-celebrate-launch-of-the-time-machine-next-door-with-special-event-at-reading-waterstones/ |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=Wokingham.Today |language=en-GB}}</ref> She has worked with the illustrator Rebecca Bagley for at least some of her books.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bloomsbury Education snaps up ‘thrilling’ new children’s adventure series by Lawrence and Bagley |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/bloomsbury-education-snaps-up-thrilling-new-childrens-adventure-series-by-lawrence-and-bagley |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=The Bookseller |language=En}}</ref> Her series of books ''The Unstoppable Letty Pegg'' is a historical adventure series.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Books By Iszi Lawrence {{!}} LoveReading4Kids |url=https://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/author/6131/Iszi-Lawrence.html |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=www.lovereading4kids.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>
She runs workshops focussing on historical storywriting and history in general for children studying at Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iszi Lawrence: Bloomsbury Publishing (UK) |url=https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/author/iszi-lawrence/ |access-date=4 January 2025 |website=Bloomsbury}}</ref>
== Personal life == Lawrence's family is multicultural, including people from Australia and Morocco.<ref name=":0" />
She has a dark blue belt in Japanese-style jujutsu.<ref name=":5" />
== References == {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lawrence, Iszi}} Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of the University of Bristol Category:Alumni of the University of Oxford Category:BBC Radio 4 presenters Category:BBC World Service presenters Category:British historical fiction writers Category:British women children's writers Category:British women comedians Category:British women historians Category:British women radio presenters Category:English people of Australian descent Category:British people of Moroccan descent Category:Historians of the Caribbean Category:Historians of monarchy and royalty Category:People educated at Wychwood School Category:British women podcasters Category:British podcasters