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Ayesha Hazarika

Winner of the "Young Achiever Award 2005" at the 'Asian Women of Achievement Awards'

"One to watch on the comedy circuit" The Guardian

"One of London's brightest young comediennes" The Sunday Times

Ex-government spin doctor Ayesha Hazarika, has rapidly climbed the comedy ladder over the past 18 months, to astonishing effect. Much in demand both on the circuit, and as a radio guest, she can regularly be heard on LBC radio and BBC Radio Five Live. Typical Hazarika humour covers the 3 Rs - race, religion and relationships - just what you'd expect from an Indian Glaswegian living in London.

"uses juxtaposition of two cultures for some good laughs". Fringe Report

Since becoming a semi-finalist on Channel 4's So You Think You're Funny competition in 2003, she's been successfully gigging across the UK comedy circuit as both a stand-up and compere.

On radio Ayesha has appeared on Woman's Hour (BBC Radio 4), as a regular guest on the Sandi Toksvig Show (LBC), The Anita Anand Show (BBC Radio 5), the Worricker Programme (BBC Radio 5),The Jenny Eclair Show (LBC), and The Brian Hayes Show (Radio 5). In August 2005 she co-presented the Fred MacAulay Show for BBC Scotland. On television she was recently seen on Top TV Moments (Ch5), The Daily Politics Show (BBC2), Big Brother's Big Mouth (Ch4) & The 100 Greatest Cartoons (Ch4) and during 2005 she recorded a pilot with Piers Morgan for a new panel show on BBC 2.

Ayesha has recently joined the BBC Asian Network hit soap, 'Silver Street', playing the character Manisha . As of March 2006, she will also be taking the reins of a column in Asiana Magazine, previously written by Meera Syal.

In March 2004, Ayesha devised and performed in 'Funny Women Stand Up for International Women's Day' - a high profile event held at London's Café de Paris, and featuring leading comediennes Gina Yashere, Lucy Porter and Julia Morris. Ayesha returns to champion the International Womens' Day event once again in 2006, with yet another glamorous and talented line-up, and a new London venue - The Cafe Royal. Also during 2004, she formed the line up of a star-studded benefit gala in July promoting peace in the Middle East at the Comedy Store, performing alongside Rob Newman and former Labour MP and Cabinet Minister Tony Benn. In autumn 2005 she performed her stand-up at the Labour Party Conference alongside fellow comedian Geoff Whiting.

Ayesha was involved in two major shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2004, The Amused Moose Comedy's Hot Starlets, which showcased stars in the making, and Funny Women at the Fringe, a unique platform for female comedy where established comics perform alongside up and coming acts. The following year, August 2005 she appeared in her own show at the festival with fellow comedienne, Zoe Lyons in "Two Bird Go Into A Bar" at City Central@City Café. Whilst in Edinburgh she also performed at the BBC Stand Up Show and Funny Women at the Fringe. Ayesha will return to Edinburgh in 2006 as part of Funny Women at the Fringe.

Television appearances include:
The Funny Thing About Ramadan, BBC 1, 2008 (presenter/author)     
The War Within (documentary), CNN, 2007
The Fame List, Channel 4, 2007
SKY News, Newspaper review, 2006 & 2007
Unanimous: The Fall Out, E4 2006
BBC News 24, Newspaper review 2006 & 2007
30 Greatest Political Comedies, MORE4
Greatest Ever Movies, Diverse TV
Greatest Ever Scary Movies, Diverse TV
Greatest Ever Disaster Movies, Diverse TV
Top TV Moments, Objective TV
Greatest TV Wind-Ups, Objective TV
Most Outrageous TV Moments, Objective TV
Pilot with Piers Morgan, BBC 2, 2005
Top TV Moments, Channel 5, 2005
The Daily Politics Show, BBC2, 2005
The 100 Greatest Cartoons, Channel 4, 2005
Take The Mic, ITV
Big Brother's Big Mouth, Channel 4, June 2005
NE Late, BBC television

Radio includes:
Upcoming: Eye Of The Storm, BBC Radio 4 2006
Silver Street, BBC Asian Network (Playing the character Manisha) - 2006
The Jenny Eclair Show, LBC (Regular guest - 2005/2006)
The Brian Hayes Show, BBC Radio Five Live (Regular guest - 2005/2006)
The Worricker Programme, BBC Radio Five Live (regular guest - 2005/2006)
The Anita Anand Show, BBC Radio Five Live (regular guest - 2005/2006)
The Fred MacAulay Show, August 2005 (co-presenter)
Nicky Campbell Show, BBC Radio Five Live, July 2005
The Victoria Derbyshire Show, BBC Radio Five Live, 2005
Woman's Hour, BBC Radio 4, 2005
Krishnan Guru-Murphy's Show, LBC, 2005
Sandi Toksvig Show, LBC (regular guest 2004/05)
Matthew Bannister Show, BBC Radio Five Live
BBC Asian Network (regular appearances, including Sonia Deol and Children in Need)
Caroline Feraday Show, LBC (regular studio guest and Charlie Jordan newspaper reviewer)

Competitions
So You Think You're Funny - Semi Finalist 2003
Amused Moose - Semi Finalist 2004

Writing
Own column in quarterly magazine 'Asiana' - 2006

Festivals and Shows
Funny Women Stand Up - International Women's Day celebrations - Charity Event (2004,2005,2006)
Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2005 - Two Bird Go Into A Bar - (own show) City Central@City Café
Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2004 Amused Moose Hot Comedy Starlets & Funny Women at the Fringe
Edinburgh Fringe Festival (various) 2002/3
York Comedy Festival 2003

Venues
Ayesha performs regularly across the UK as a stand up and compere at comedy venues, including the Comedy Store, Comedy Café, Brixton Comedy Club, Amused Moose, Banana Cabaret, the Comedy Cavern in Bath and the Vault in Glasgow.