Weekend with Shazia Mirza: ‘I’m into true crime, but I try not to overdo it’
The comedian, actor and writer on cold-water swimming and waking up in Travelodges on tour
Shazia Mirza is a comedian, writer and actor. Born in Birmingham to Pakistani parents, she worked as a science teacher before swapping the classroom for the stage.
Mirza is known for her appearances on Have I Got News for You, Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls, and her acclaimed standup show The Kardashians Made Me Do It. She has just launched a new podcast, Halal-ish, with fellow comedians Ola Labib and Zain.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What does your Saturday morning look like?
It’s different, depending on whether I’m touring or if I have a gig the night before. I might wake up in a hotel — it might be nice, or it might not. It’s often a Travelodge.
What do you get up to before a gig?
I don’t eat too much or wear myself out by sightseeing or doing touristy things because I need to concentrate on my show. After the show, that’s when I do all the work. I’ll just walk around the city, but a lot of high streets are the same in the little towns I visit across the UK.
Where’s your favourite place to perform?
I love performing in Scandinavia. Sweden is one of my favourite places. So liberal. English is excellent. Good sense of humour. Very polite. I get very excited about going there. I’ve been all over — Stockholm and Malmö are my favourites.
What do you like to do in your spare time if you’re not on tour?
I try to get sleep because I’m always tired. But I often go to the gym and sit in the sauna or steam room. I’ll also go swimming in the ladies’ pond on Hampstead Heath, north London. The water’s cold, but you get used to it, and a lot of the women who swim there are older. They even do it in November and December and it’s inspiring to see. You do feel refreshed when you come out.
Do you like to eat out on the weekend?
I like to try different things like Lebanese, Chinese and Japanese — just go down to Edgware Road, all the restaurants are fantastic. I can make really good curries at home, but I do still like to go out for one.
Where’s the best curry?
Go to any restaurant in the Balti belt, an area in Birmingham. Every single one is fantastic.
What are you reading at the moment?
Tina Fey’s Bossypants, which is a really good, easy read. I’ve got a whole library of books I’m reading now because I’m writing a book myself.
Can you tell us more about it?
It’s about my life growing up in Birmingham before I became a comedian. The signs were always there that I was going to go into comedy, but I didn’t realise it at the time. Growing up, it wasn’t even a word that I knew. So it’s about doing the impossible.
Do you write at home or go out?
I don’t like to go out to write because I get distracted. I just start people watching and listening to their conversations. I like to write in isolation, in my house, in the quiet.
Tell us about your new podcast, Halal-ish.
Me, Ola Labib, and Zain — the comedy queens — have a podcast that’s basically our WhatsApp group out loud. We rant, call people out and speak honestly about our lives as three Muslim women and standup comedians in the west. It’s raw, unfiltered and totally us.
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Favourite podcasts?
I’m into true crime, especially the psychology behind serial killers — it’s fascinating how normal they can seem. But I try not to overdo it since it can get mentally dark.
I like podcasts that offer real insight, like I’m Not a Monster. It’s about Shamima Begum and it was so good because they really tried to separate fact from fiction.
You recently played a role in EastEnders. What was that like?
I play Dr Ayub, a paediatrician. It was such an honour to do this because I grew up with the show. It’s been going for 40 years, so to be in it, I’m like “Oh my God. I’m here.”
I’m also part of a really good, juicy storyline. That’s the great thing about EastEnders — you can stop watching for 10 years and pop back in and you haven’t missed anything.
Who’s your favourite EastEnders character?
Angie and Den were such an iconic couple. I loved them.
