Omid Djalili pilots BBC chat show in English and Farsi
- Omid Djalili has shot two pilots of Tonight With Omid for the BBC
- One version has been recorded in Farsi and one in English
- American comedian Tehran Von Ghasri appeared as a guest on both versions
Omid Djalili is piloting a bilingual chat show for the BBC, British Comedy Guide can exclusively reveal.
The Anglo-Iranian comedian has shot two versions of Tonight With Omid, one for BBC Persian in Farsi and another in English that producers are aiming at BBC Two.
Both half-hour pilots, shot at the Celebro Studios in London earlier this month, featured Tehran Von Ghasri, a US comedian of Persian descent, and houseband The Turbans, a London-based world music collective.
Djalili posted footage of himself jamming with the band during recording on his Instagram:
The pilots are produced by Big Deal Films (Dreaming Whilst Black, Craig & Danny: Funny, Black & On TV).
Djalili made his chat show hosting debut last year, guesting on MBC Persia's late-night show Chandshanbeh Ba Sina, interviewing regular hosts Shadi Asadolla and Sina Valiollah:
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The guest spot followed his first stand-up gig in Farsi, which he performed over Zoom in February 2021.
Host of the ITV gameshow Winning Combination, he continues his The Good Times tour at artsdepot in London tonight.
Djalili will shortly be seen in the romantic comedy film Text For You, alongside Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Sam Heughan and a supporting cast that includes Celia Imrie, Russell Tovey, Steve Oram and singer Celine Dion.
The comic also cameos in the forthcoming film adaptation of the off-Broadway musical Tomorrow Morning, playing the father of Ramin Karimloo's character's father, alongside Samantha Barks and Joan Collins.