logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2022
22m 58s

Omid Djalili: Can jokes be funny without...

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Comedy challenges taste and convention, and it can arouse strong reactions, as we saw at this year’s Oscars when a joke earned Chris Rock a slap in the face from Will Smith. Stephen Sackur speaks to Omid Djalili, who has spent more than 25 years finding laughs in sometimes unlikely places. He was born in London to Iranian parents, and has thrived as a cross-cultural comedic chameleon. Is it possible to be funny without being mean?

Up next
Yesterday
Sir Nick Clegg: Social media’s power paradox
<p>Amol Rajan speaks to Sir Nick Clegg - former deputy Prime Minister of the UK and, more recently, former President of Global Affairs at Meta - about big tech, AI and the future of social media.</p><p>Sir Nick first appeared on the world stage back in 2010, when he became the UK ... Show More
22m 59s
Nov 22
Twinkle Khanna: Indian women’s aspirations have changed
<p>‘When it comes to women's lives, things have progressed, maybe not always in a linear way.’</p><p>Devina Gupta speaks to author and columnist Twinkle Khanna about the lives of women in 21st century India. Khanna’s column in the Times of India, Mrs Funnybones, captures the co ... Show More
22m 59s
Nov 21
Sundar Pichai CEO of Google: AI prone to errors
<p>“The current state of the art AI technology is prone to some errors… you have to learn to use these tools for what they are good at, and not blindly trust everything they say.”</p><p>Faisal Islam speaks to Sundar Pichai, chief executive of Google and its holding company Alphab ... Show More
22m 59s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2022
Jo Koy
Kevin sits down with comedian and star of the newly released film Easter Sunday, Jo Koy. The two discuss coming up on Chelsea Lately together, proving to his mother that comedy was a real career, and how he gained his confidence as a Filipino comic in America today. Like Comedy G ... Show More
55m 26s
Mar 2022
Comedian SUED Over Jokes: Vir Das
0:00 -start 9:00 - Marvel is just Bollywood movies for Americans 13:30 - When Vir started doing stand up in India 19:30 - Why comics are going to JAIL for jokes 56:30 - where does comedy go in India in the future? 1:09:16 - on a flight where someone has died 1:30:00 - American Ca ... Show More
1h 45m
Mar 2022
¿Estás de acuerdo con el actuar de Will Smith en los Oscars?
¡Este fin de semana pasó de todo! Muchos de ustedes ya saben sobre el bofetón del actor y recién ganador del Oscar contra el comediante y presentador de la gala Chris Rock. ¿Rock se pasó con su chiste? ¿Smith debe pedirle disculpas a él también?Además: México le ganó por la mínim ... Show More
1h 1m
Jun 2019
Will Ferrell
Will Ferrell (Anchorman, Saturday Night Live, Step Brothers) is an American actor, comedian, producer and writer. Will sits down with the Armchair Expert to discuss the impetus for Anchorman, his reverence for being on a team and his love for Sweden. Will gives the backstory of w ... Show More
1h 23m
Feb 2023
Wanda Sykes
This week Kevin Hart is joined by comedian, actress, and writer Wanda Sykes. They discuss how she started writing for Chris Rock, why she thinks there’s no such thing as cancel culture, knowing her audience and what they enjoy, and why she’s excited for the future of comedy. Like ... Show More
49m 45s