Press clippings Page 2
ITV's winter schedule to feature Billy Connolly and Mr Bean
ITV's festive schedule will feature documentaries about Billy Connolly and Mr Bean. It's also revealed a number of other shows and comedy Christmas specials.
British Comedy Guide, 11th November 2020Adil Ray to host new ITV game show
Word-based show Lingo seeks contestants.
Chortle, 13th August 2020Adil Ray opens up on childhood racism
The Citizen Khan actor has opened up on his own experiences with racism as he revealed he was the "second Asian kid" at "a very white school" - his older brother was the first - and he explained how his mother taught her sons to deal with the issue after he was "called the p-word".
Female First, 16th July 2020BBC defends HIGNFY over bias claims
The BBC has defended Have I Got News For You after receiving scores of complaints that it was biased against the Tories and Brexit. A total of 140 viewers contacted the corporation over the November 8 edition of the topical comedy quiz, which was hosted by Adil Ray. A further 183 people complained about swearing in the previous edition on the programme, when host Jo Brand explained why the Queen liked wearing bright colours.
Chortle, 18th November 2019Piers Morgan angry after Adil Ray mocks him on HIGNFY
Adil technically fired the first shot by joking that the best part of replacing Piers on Good Morning Britain is that "you don't have to meet Piers Morgan". Slightly shady, but light-hearted, right? Piers didn't find it funny, going much harsher on Twitter by claiming that Adil was actually hurting the show's ratings.
Justin Harp, Digital Spy, 8th November 2019Adil Ray on the Apu controversy
It's not The Simpsons' fault there are so few Asian characters on TV - that's the job of the commissioners.
Kimberley Bond, Radio Times, 26th November 2018Mr Khan film set to be announced
Citizen Khan star Adil Ray has revealed a film based around his hit sitcom character Mr Khan is set to be announced.
British Comedy Guide, 28th May 2018Back in 2016, Labour MP Rupa Huq made headlines for her repeated critique of BBC sitcom Citizen Khan, which she deemed 'Islamophobic'.
Huq first raised the issue in a House of Commons debate on TV diversity before later developing her views in a Guardian opinion piece, in which she criticised the show's "cardboard cutout" characters and even went so far as to describe it as "stomach-churningly, buttock-clenchingly dire."
The MP then states that the sitcom pales in comparison to other depictions of Muslims on-screen, such as the "pioneering" Goodness Gracious Me and the "far more sophisticated" comedy Four Lionsp, and bookends her argument by claiming:
"We live in an age of rocketing post-Brexit hate crime with a US president elected on a pledge to ban Muslims. In this climate, Citizen Khan does us no favours at all."
Show creator Adil Ray has defended the comedy, which has attracted hundreds of official complaints over the last few years, by stating that it was never his intention to represent all Muslims; instead, he said it was based on one family and informed by his own experiences as well as those of his co-writers.
In a 2013 interview, he claimed his intentions were always to create a show with a message which was universal.
"Yes, [Citizen Khan] is about a Pakistani Muslim family, but what I really want is a white English lady to be watching it and nudge her husband and say, 'That's like you, Mr. Khan is just like you.' That - and the idea that children love the show - means more to me than anything any reviewer could ever say."
Jake Hall, The Independent, 12th May 2018Adil Ray to host topical radio show pilot
Citizen Khan star Adil Ray is to host That Was The Tweet That Was, a topical radio comedy show that looks at the past week of social media.
British Comedy Guide, 15th April 2017Citizen Khan review
There's little doubt Adil Ray's sitcom is culturally important. But even the mayor of London can't rescue its comedy from wooden puns and 70s sex gags.
Sam Wollaston, The Guardian, 5th November 2016