‘Will Allah be OK with this?’: inside the BBC's first British-Muslim sketch show

They joke about airport security and overindulging over Ramadan. Meet the creators of Muzlamic, the trailblazing comedy exploring the contradictions of modern Muslim lifeAs Ali Shahalom and Aatif Nawaz scan the faces on the walls of the boardroom we’re in, their faces light up. “The BBC have put us in the brown room!” laughs Shahalom, gazing up at the cast of Goodness Gracious Me. It feels fateful that this is where we meet in Broadcasting House, given the impact the pioneering British-Asian sketch show had on these two comics. (“That was the first time I ever saw brown people on TV,” says Shahalom. “That did something to me.”) These days he and Nawaz are the trailblazers; they are about to launch Muzlamic – the first British-Muslim sketch show ever broadcast on the BBC. From airport interrogations to a childrens’ author forced to answer extraneous questions while plugging a book called The Diary of a Friendly Squirrel (“Don’t you think it was insensitive to release it so soon after the anniversary of September 11?!”), the Muzlamic pilot is made up of bite-sized chunks that never outstay their welcome. In one sketch, which they refer to as “the whitest brown guy”, two feuding colleagues stalk one another around an office in Stevenage, playing top trumps with facts like “I’m so white I have a loyalty card at Greggs” and “I think a C is a really good grade.”Shahalom and Nawaz often offer up a jester v straight man dynamic, with Shahalom playing loveable buffoons like... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2019-07-18 13:28:25 UTC ]
News tagged with: #brown people #loyalty card #open mics #unsuccessful attempts

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Inside Amazon's first brick-and-mortar bookstore in Massachusetts

Amazon, best known for demolishing the bookstore industry by selling books online, celebrated the opening of its first physical bookstore in the state. The Amazon Books at the Legacy Place shopping center in Dedham is the e-commerce giant's fourth physical store. The other three are in... Continue reading at Silicon Valley Business Journal

[ Silicon Valley Business Journal | 2017-03-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Inside Teen Vogue: 'Our readers consider themselves activists'

Once known for its beauty tips, Teen Vogue has become a powerful critic of the Trump administration. What’s behind its transformation?Charlie Knoles is a 39-year-old meditation coach and father based in California. He reads Politico, ProPublica and the Wall Street Journal, and posts on Facebook... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-02-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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British Book awards judges revealed

Former Little, Brown chief executive Ursula Mackenzie, Front Row’s Samira Ahmed, television presenter June Sarpong and past Publishers Association c.e.o. Simon Juden are among the judges for the British Book Awards 2017. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-02-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Record number contest British Book Awards' indie prize

A record breaking number of submissions has led to the highest ever number of regional shortlisted bookshops at the British Book Awards’ Independent Bookshop of the Year category, sponsored by Gardners Books. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-02-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Inside Facebook’s recent product pitch to publishers

On Friday, Feb. 17, Facebook invited more than 20 media partners to its New York office to discuss the company’s plans for video monetization and distribution. The post Inside Facebook’s recent product pitch to publishers appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-02-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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George Saunders, "Quite Possibly" Colbert's Favorite Living Author, Comes to the Late Show

On the 'Late Show,' George Saunders gets ribbed about writing a novel, explains what a "bardo" is, and discusses kindness and Donald Trump in support of his debut novel, 'Lincoln in the Bardo.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-02-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Shukla and Bourne to judge BBC Young Writers' Award

Nikesh Shukla, editor of The Good Immigrant (Unbound), and Am I Normal Yet? (Usborne) author Holly Bourne have been unveiled as judges of the BBC Young Writers’ Award 2017. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Trade Show Notes: London Book Fair Hosts Fair Use Debate; BookExpo Announces Author-Speakers

The London Book Fair announces a debate on fair use and copyright. And BookExpo announces Stephen King will speak at the Author Breakfast. The post Trade Show Notes: London Book Fair Hosts Fair Use Debate; BookExpo Announces Author-Speakers appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-02-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New Michael Palin book on doomed 19th-century British expedition

Cornerstone has acquired a new book by Michael Palin documenting the maritime adventures of the HMS Erebus, part of a doomed 19th-century British expedition in northern Canada. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Trump order prompts US agents to seek more Muslim writers

A number of American literary agents have put out a collective open call for submissions by Muslim writers following President Trump’s “travel ban”. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-02-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Inside YouTube’s big bet on Red

YouTube is spending millions of dollars to buy original content for YouTube Red. A year in, YouTube Red reportedly has 2.5 million subscribers, which means it has a long way to go. But don’t count out the site that’s become a global cultural force. This article is from the third issue of Pulse,... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BBC’s Jeremy Vine in road rage incident with driver – video

BBC presenter Jeremy Vine is confronted by Shanique Sheena Pearson, 22, in a road rage incident. The footage, posted by Vine on his Facebook page in August last year, shows Pearson shouting at him for cycling in the centre of the road in order to avoid car doors on a narrow Kensington street. On... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-02-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Lit Agents Call for Submissions from Muslim Writers

Following President Trump's executive order suspending refugee admission to the U.S. and restricting immigration from seven Muslim countries, some agents have announced a collective open call for submissions by Muslim writers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-01-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Scale and agility: Inside Scandinavian publisher Schibsted’s 250-person product team

Scandinavian publishing giant Schibsted has been centralizing its 250-strong product team over the last year. Currently, the biggest challenge the product team faces it how to give readers the right information to make informed decisions but telling it in ways that feel more personal to readers.... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-01-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #give readers #post scale #biggest challenge #product management


Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 15014 officially adds ebook support

It's official: With Windows 10’s Insider Preview Build 15014 for PCs and phones, Microsoft’s officially opened its ebook store, adding some nifty disk- and power-management features, too. Strategically, the ebook wing of Microsoft's Store app is probably the most important for the company. But... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2017-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Letters on Growing Up Muslim: PW Talks to Omar Saif Ghobash

The ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Russia addresses extremist propaganda and other challenges modern Muslims face in ‘Letters to a Young Muslim.’ Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-01-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Joe Wicks's Lean in 15 books earn fattest sales of any British diet plan

In 18 months, the Instagram star’s three titles have sold more books than any other UK weight-loss title since records beganInstagrammer turned publishing sensation Joe Wicks is now the author of the UK’s biggest-selling diet books since records began.The Body Coach’s three Lean in 15 books have... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-01-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Leaked Windows 10 build shows Microsoft filling a major content hole: Ebooks

For years, Microsoft has sold movies, TV shows, and music, in addition to apps—but not ebooks. A leaked Windows 10 build, however, shows Microsoft plans to shore up that gap in an upcoming release. The leaked build obtained by MSPowerUser reveals a dedicated section of the Windows Store where... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2017-01-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Leaked Windows 10 build shows Creators Update is getting an ebook store

Google has one, Apple has one, Amazon has one, so Microsoft seems to feel that it should have one too. We're talking ebook stores, and a leaked version of Windows Mobile reveals that this is something that is due to be added to the Windows Store. While Microsoft has been slowly but surely... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2017-01-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BBC to adapt a second John le Carre novel

The BBC is set to adapt another John le Carre novel, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, after its success with The Night Manager, which scooped awards at the Golden Globes last week. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-01-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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