{{Short description|English comedian}} {{Use British English|date=August 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox comedian | name = Sadia Azmat | image = | image_size = 220 | caption = | pseudonym = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1990}} | birth_place = Leyton, London, UK | death_date = | death_place = | medium = Stand-up | active = 2010–present | genre = Observational comedy, self-deprecation | subject = British Asian culture, stereotypes, racism, Islamic humour | influences = | influenced = | spouse = | domesticpartner = | notable_work = | signature = | website = {{URL|http://www.sadiaazmat.com/}} | footnotes = }}
'''Sadia Azmat''' ({{langx|ur|عظمت سعدیہ}}; born 1990) is an English stand-up comedian, author and broadcaster.
==Early life== Azmat was born to Indian parents in Leyton, England.<ref name="comedy">{{cite web |last=Hawkins|first=Si|url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2011/reviews/sadia_azmat/|title=Sadia Azmat|website=British Comedy Guide|date=12 August 2011|access-date=1 January 2013}}</ref> At the age of 19, she started wearing hijab.<ref name="bbc3">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p02tkf66/british-muslim-comedy-sadia-azmat-things-i-have-been-asked-as-a-british-muslim|title=British Muslim Comedy - Sadia Azmat: Things I have been asked as a British Muslim|publisher=BBC iPlayer|date=18 June 2015|access-date=1 February 2016}}</ref>
==Career== Azmat had been working in call-centres of varying descriptions,<ref name="comedy"/><ref name="thenational">{{cite news |last=Hawkins|first=Si|url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/muslim-comedians-perform-at-edinburgh-s-fringe-1.412572|title=Finalist Profile: Sadia Azmat|location=Abu Dhabi|newspaper=The National|date=17 August 2011|access-date=1 January 2013}}</ref> but in 2010, Azmat started performing stand-up comedy.<ref name="funnywomen1">{{cite news |last=Azmat|first=Sadia|url=http://www.funnywomen.com/magazine/article/211/finalist-profile-sadia-azmat|title=Finalist Profile: Sadia Azmat|publisher=Funny Women|date=2011|access-date=1 January 2013}}</ref>
In August 2011, she performed her debut show ''Please Hold – You're Being Transferred to a UK Based Asian Representative'' at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival<ref name="funnywomen1"/> at the Laughing Horse @ Finnegan's Wake,<ref name="broadwaybaby">{{cite news |last=Summerlin|first=William|url=http://www.broadwaybaby.com/listing.php?id=10278|title=Please Hold, You're Being Transferred to a UK Based Asian Representative|publisher=Broadway Baby |date=11 August 2011|access-date=1 January 2013}}</ref> which was directed by Deborah Frances-White.<ref name="comedy"/> In August 2011, Azmat also featured on BBC Radio 4's ''Front Row''<ref name="bbc1">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b013835v/Front_Row_In_Edinburgh_with_AL_Kennedy_Bobby_Crush_Andy_Zaltzman|title=Front Row: In Edinburgh with AL Kennedy; Bobby Crush; Andy Zaltzman|publisher=BBC Radio 4|date=17 August 2011|access-date=1 January 2013}}</ref> and a producer invited her to perform at the Cape Town Festival 2012.<ref name="funnywomen1"/>
In December 2011, she performed at the Desi Central Comedy Tour in Glasgow.<ref name="awazmedia">{{cite web|url=http://www.awazmedia.co.uk/desi-central-comedy-tour-2011.html|title=Desi Central Comedy Tour 2011|publisher=Awaz Media|date=11 March 2011|access-date=1 January 2013|archive-date=6 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506040950/http://www.awazmedia.co.uk/desi-central-comedy-tour-2011.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In August 2014, she performed her debut full-length show ''I'm not Malala'' at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival at the Laughing Horse.<ref name="freshair">{{cite web |last=Glasheen|first=Emma|url=http://www.freshair.org.uk/team/fringe/posts/1252-interview-sadia-azmat|title=Interview: Sadia Azmat|publisher=FreshAir|date=12 August 2014|access-date=1 July 2015}}</ref> In September 2014, she was interviewed by Nadia Hussein and Sakinah Lenoir on British Muslim TV's ''Sisters' Hour''.<ref name="britishmuslim">{{cite web|url=http://www.britishmuslim.tv/sisters--hour---s01e47.html|title=Sisters' Hour - S01E47|publisher=British Muslim|access-date=1 July 2015|archive-date=1 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701082554/http://www.britishmuslim.tv/sisters--hour---s01e47.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In June 2015, she made a short film ''Things I Have Been Asked As a British Muslim'' as part of the ''British Muslim Comedy'' series, five short films by Muslim comedians commissioned by the BBC for release on BBC iPlayer.<ref name="bbc3"/><ref name="independent">{{cite news |last=Jones|first=Alice|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/comedy/news/ramadan-films-and-halol-the-rise-of-british-muslim-comedy-10345566.html|title=Ramadan films and HaLOL: the rise of British Muslim Comedy|newspaper=The Independent|date=25 June 2015|access-date=1 February 2016}}</ref><ref name="asianimage">{{cite news |last=Badat|first=Hafeeza|url=http://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/13343398.British_Muslim_Comedy_Takes_Over_BBC_iPlayer/|title=British Muslim Comedy Takes Over BBC iPlayer|publisher=Asian Image|date=19 June 2015|access-date=1 March 2016}}</ref> Azmat debunked Muslim stereotypes, including the "Muslim verdict", racism, Ramadan, integration and hijab,<ref name="independent"/> thus providing a look at life as a Muslim woman.<ref name="theguardian">{{cite news |last1=Harrison|first1=Phil|last2=Mumford|first2=Gwilym|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/jun/15/catch-up-tv-guide|title=Catch-up TV guide: from All Shook Up to British Muslim Comedy|newspaper=The Guardian|date=15 June 2015|access-date=1 February 2016}}</ref> In August 2015, she performed at the inaugural Muslim Lifestyle Expo at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.<ref name="exhibitionworld">{{cite news|last=Gardiner|first=Melanie|url=http://www.exhibitionworld.co.uk/2015/08/06/uk-muslim-lifestyle-exhibition-hailed-a-success/|title=UK Muslim lifestyle expo hailed a success|publisher=ExhibitionWorld|date=6 August 2015|access-date=1 February 2016|archive-date=2 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402133214/http://www.exhibitionworld.co.uk/2015/08/06/uk-muslim-lifestyle-exhibition-hailed-a-success/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="bucksherald">{{cite news |last=Beckerleg|first=Mel|url=http://www.bucksherald.co.uk/news/more-news/couple-organise-muslim-lifestyle-expo-1-6878577|title=Couple organise Muslim lifestyle expo|location=Aylesbury|publisher=Bucks Herald|date=30 July 2015|access-date=1 February 2016}}</ref> In September 2015, she appeared on Sky News's ''Morning Stories'' series on YouTube, questioning what people would be willing to do for someone we love.<ref name="sky">{{cite news |last=Harrison|first=Phil|url=http://news.sky.com/story/1547859/morning-stories-love-can-be-unfair|title=Morning Stories: Love Can Be Unfair|publisher=Sky News|date=6 September 2015|access-date=1 February 2016}}</ref>
In January 2016, Azmat appeared on ''This Week'' where she criticised David Cameron's push for English language lessons for Muslim women to help them resist the lure of Islamic extremism.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-35379047|title=Sadia Azmat on PM's language comments|work=BBC News|date=22 January 2016|access-date=1 February 2016}}</ref>
In March 2017, as part of our All Women Everywhere month, Azmat appeared on a video about Asian Women talking about stereotypes they deal with while dating.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bell|first1=Poorna|last2=Rajan|first2=Nitya|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/asian-women-talk-about-the-dumbass-stereotypes-they-deal-with-while-dating-and-its-hilarious-af_uk_58b59355e4b0a8a9b7864497|title=Asian Women Talk About The Dumbass Stereotypes They Deal With While Dating, And It's Hilarious AF|work=The Huffington Post|date=1 March 2016|access-date=1 May 2017}}</ref>
From 2018 to 2020 Azmat hosted three series of the podcast ''No Country for Young Women'' with fellow comedian Monty Onanuga for BBC Sounds. The series saw the hosts "work out how we balance our identities as British women of colour"<ref>{{cite web |last1=Richardson |first1=Hollie |title=No Country For Young Women: "Yes, people want to hear more conversations about smelly vaginas" |url=https://www.stylist.co.uk/life/no-country-for-young-women-yes-people-want-to-hear-more-conversations-about-smelly-vaginas/308981 |website=Stylist |access-date=12 January 2025}}</ref> and explore "life, love and work in a white man's world".<ref>{{cite web |title=No Country For Young Women |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p063zy3c/episodes/downloads?page=1 |website=BBC Sounds |access-date=12 January 2025}}</ref> The podcast was named among the best audio of 2018 by Miranda Sawyer for ''The Observer''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sawyer |first1=Miranda |title=Miranda Sawyer's best audio of 2018 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/dec/30/miranda-sawyer-best-audio-podcasts-radio-2018 |website=The Observer |access-date=12 January 2025}}</ref> It was also one of Apple Podcasts's top picks for 2018.<ref name="Content Conscious">{{cite web |last1=Paige |first1=Caroline |title=Sex Bomb author Sadia Azmat tells us how to work an audience like a stand-up |url=https://www.contentconscious.co.uk/interview-sadia-azmat-sex-bomb/ |website=Content Conscious |access-date=12 January 2025}}</ref>
On 26 May 2022 Azmat's first book, a memoir entitled ''Sex Bomb: The Life and Loves of an Asian Babe'', was published by Headline Publishing Group.<ref name="book">{{cite web |title=Sex Bomb by Sadia Azmat |url=https://www.headline.co.uk/titles/sadia-azmat/sex-bomb/9781472285782/ |website=Headline Publishing House |access-date=12 January 2025}}</ref> The theme of the book was partially inspired by an article Azmat wrote for ''Metro'' in 2019 titled "Horny Muslim women like me aren’t supposed to exist during Ramadan".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Azmat |first1=Sadia |title=Horny Muslim women like me aren't supposed to exist during Ramadan |url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/05/05/horny-muslim-women-like-me-arent-supposed-to-exist-during-ramadan-9384470/ |website=Metro |access-date=12 January 2025}}</ref> She sent the article to an editor who felt that pop culture and social commentary was lacking the perspective of sexually liberated Muslim women. Azmat said that she was inspired by the question "why do we just perceive Muslim women to be repressed? There’s a whole conversation that needs to be had."<ref name="Content Conscious" /> A paperback edition was published on 1 June 2023.<ref name="book"/>
Azmat also a regular in the YouTube channel ''Bend It TV'' aimed at providing the news from an Asian perspective.<ref name="asianimage"/>
==Comedy style== Azmat's act is observational humour<ref name="funnywomen1"/> about her experiences working as a call centre<ref name="thenational"/> operative for a well-known car insurance firm,<ref name="broadwaybaby"/> being a British Asian<ref name="funnywomen1"/> Muslim<ref name="Off the Mic">{{cite book |last1=Frances-White|first1=Deborah|last2=Marsha|first2=Shandur|title=Off the Mic: The World's Best Stand-Up Comedians Get Serious About Comedy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CIHRCQAAQBAJ&dq=Sadia+Azmat&pg=PA36|year=2013|publisher=Bloomsbury Methuen Drama|page=36|isbn=978-1472526380}}</ref> growing up in London,<ref name="funnywomen1"/> and moves on to more general cross-cultural issues,<ref name="glee">{{cite web|url=http://www.glee.co.uk/performers/sadia-azmat.htm|title=Sadia Azmat|publisher=The Glee Club|date=2011|access-date=1 January 2013|archive-date=12 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812204047/http://www.glee.co.uk/performers/sadia-azmat.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> about race<ref name="threeweeks">{{cite news |last=Ajderian|first=Jennifer|url=http://www.threeweeks.co.uk/article/ed2011-comedy-review-please-hold-you%E2%80%99re-being-transferred-to-a-uk-based-asian-representative-sadia-azmat-laughing-horse-free-festival/|title=ED2011 Comedy Review: Please Hold, You're Being Transferred To A UK Based Asian Representative (Sadia Azmat / Laughing Horse Free Festival)|location=Edinburgh|publisher=ThreeWeeks|date=10 August 2011|access-date=1 January 2013}}</ref> and religion,<ref name="thenational"/> her difficulties in the UK job market and an Asian mum gag.<ref name="glee"/>
Azmat is described by ''The Sunday Times'' as "hilarious and insightful" for her current set of ''I Am Not Malala''.<ref name="asianimage"/>
==Awards and recognition== In September<ref name="londonisfunny">{{cite web |url=http://www.londonisfunny.com/listings/24638/Funny_Women_Awards_Final|title=Funny Women Awards Final|publisher=London Is Funny|date=26 September 2011|access-date=1 January 2013}}</ref> 2011,<ref name="funnywomen2">{{cite web|url=http://www.funnywomen.com/past-finalists|title=Past Finalists|publisher=Funny Women|access-date=1 January 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219140311/http://www.funnywomen.com/past-finalists|archive-date=19 December 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Azmat was shortlisted<ref name="funnywomen3">{{cite news|url=http://www.funnywomen.com/magazine/article/201/its-no-red-or-black-for-awards-quarter-and-semi-finals|title=It's no 'red or black' for Awards quarter and semi-final|publisher=Funny Women|date=2011|access-date=1 January 2013|archive-date=19 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819083106/http://www.funnywomen.com/magazine/article/201/its-no-red-or-black-for-awards-quarter-and-semi-finals|url-status=dead}}</ref> for the Funny Women Awards final<ref name="bbc2">{{cite news |last=Aird|first=Jon|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/comedy/2011/10/funny-women.shtml|title=Funny Women|publisher=BBC|date=12 October 2011|access-date=1 January 2013}}</ref> in Leicester Square Theatre, London.<ref name="tiemotalkofthetown">{{cite news |url=http://tiemotalkofthetown.wordpress.com/2011/10/02/the-king-is-queen-of-comedy/|title=The King is Queen of Comedy|publisher=tiemotalkofthetown|date=2 October 2011|access-date=1 January 2013}}</ref>
For International Women's Day 2022, she featured on the ''Evening Standard'' list of "London women changing the world".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/international-womens-day-2022-london-women-b985576.html|title=International Women's Day: 22 amazing London women changing the world in 2022|work=Evening Standard|first=Katie|last=Strick|date=8 March 2022|accessdate=15 April 2026}}</ref>
==See also== *Islamic humour *British Pakistani *List of British Pakistanis
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Official website|http://www.sadiaazmat.com/}} *Rampen, Julia. [http://thenewkid.co.uk/%E2%80%98please-hold-you%E2%80%99re-being-transferred-to-a-uk-based-asian-representative%E2%80%99-sadia-azmat/ ‘Please Hold, You're Being Transferred to a UK Based Asian Representative’, Sadia Azmat]. ''New Kid''. 4 August 2011
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Azmat, Sadia}} Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:Date of birth missing (living people) Category:English Muslims Category:English people of Pakistani descent Category:English women comedians Category:English stand-up comedians Category:English comedy writers Category:Muslim women comedians Category:21st-century English comedians Category:Muslim comedians Category:British comedians of Pakistani descent Category:People from Leyton Category:Comedians from the London Borough of Waltham Forest Category:21st-century English women writers Category:21st-century English memoirists Category:English women memoirists Category:British women podcasters Category:English podcasters