Omid Djalili writes and appears in his own BBC show

Omid Djalili , one of Britain's best known contemporary comic performers and multi award-winning stand-up, is to write and appear in his own BBC ONE show.

The Omid Djalili Show will feature sketches and stand-up in a uniquely adult look at contemporary issues from identity and multi-culturalism to death, sex and religion.

Over the past ten years, the British-Iranian comedian has not only completed UK and US sell-out tours but has also appeared in Hollywood blockbusters including Gladiator, The Mummy, Spy Game and recently as Heath Ledger's assistant, Lupo, in Disney's Casanova.

In the USA Omid is known for his work as Whoopi Goldberg's co-star Nasim in the NBC series Whoopi and also for his HBO stand-up comedy special which is so popular it still runs every month on HBO.

He is currently the voice of Tiger in the Dreamworks animation film Over The Hedge and next year will appear in Pirates of the Caribbean III.

His UK TV work includes playing the legendary Spiro in BBC ONE's My Family and Other Animals; his critically-acclaimed performance on Jack Dee Live at The Apollo; and a guest role in the up-coming comedy Lead Balloon on BBC FOUR. Omid also appears in an episode of Rob Brydon's  Annually Retentive, currently on BBC THREE.

Omid said: "All I've ever wanted to do is to bring world peace through stand up comedy ... and now that I've done that, I can concentrate on my new BBC ONE comedy series I shall invoke the spirit of Dave Allen."

Peter Fincham, BBC ONE Controller, said: "Omid is a very special talent and will bring something very different to BBC ONE. He's definitely the best British-Iranian comic around. The moment I saw his pilot I wanted to go ahead to series. I think audiences will love him."

The Omid Djalili Show is the first series to be given the green light by Peter Fincham and Lucy Lumsden, Controller, Comedy Commissioning, from the raft of comedy pilots announced earlier this year.

Executive Producer is the BBC's Creative Head of Comedy Talent, Kenton Allen, and the producer is Alex Walsh-Taylor. The Omid Djalili Show is a BBC Comedy Production.

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