Shappi Khorsandi

Shaparak Khorsandi – previously performing under the name Shappi – established herself as one of the country’s finest comedians in 2006 with her sell-out Edinburgh show, Asylum Speaker. She is also a published author, keynote speaker, and advocate for human rights.

Her Edinburgh show lead to the publication of her childhood memoirs, A Beginner’s Guide To Acting English, her best selling literary debut. Her book was described as “very funny…also made me cry” by actress, Dame Emma Thompson.

In typical Shaparak style, this show told the story of how her family were forced to flee Iran and gain asylum in the UK. Her father’s popularity as a satirist attacking the regime has ensured they cannot return to Iran.

As Shaparak says, “obviously there’s free speech in Iran, but little freedom after you’ve spoken.”

Contact Great British Speakers today to book comedian & equality, diversity & inclusion speaker Shaparak Khorsandi for your next event.

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More About Shappi Khorsandi

Shaparak Khorsandi followed up her memoirs with Nina Is Not OK, her debut novel which was described by The Telegraph as “moving, funny, and shocking”.

Her career has seen her appear on countless TV & Radio shows including Live at the Apollo, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, Mock the Week, I’m a Celebrity: Get Me Out of Here, Masterchef, 8 Out of 10 Cats, QI, Have I Got News For You, Question Time, Pointless Celebrities, and Just a Minute, as well as her own Radio 4 show Shappi Talk.

Her screenwriting debut was in the form of Sky’s Little Crackers and she has recently been commissioned to write a drama script for BBC Television.

She is proud of being a “spit & sawdust” standup & one of her favourite things is pulling on her wellies, trudging through muddy fields, and performing at every music festival which has a comedy tent – from Glastonbury to Secret Garden Party.

She has received an honorary doctorate from Winchester University for her contribution to the arts and recently received the prestigious James Joyce award from Dublin University.

Shaparak Khorsandi – Charity entertainer

Shaparak has taken part in the iconic television & live show for Amnesty International, The Secret Policeman’s Ball, as well as several series of Live At The Apollo & Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow.

Shappi Khorsandi hire comedian stand up host emcee diversity speaker at Great British Speakers

Shaparak Khorsandi – Corporate Speaker Booking

Shaparak is a popular keynote speaker and awards host and is able to handle the most serious subjects with the sprinkling of humour seen in her stand-up shows. Her topics range from diversity and inclusion, to mental health.

Keynote Talks

It’s the Way You Tell It: What Does Our Humour Say About Us: Shaparak explores how – despite what some may think – comedy is not just about telling jokes, it is about taking risks and displaying a confidence and a vulnerability that can help you in every area of your life.

Defining Diversity and Embracing Cultural Difference: The drive for diversity can sometimes make people in workplaces panic and scramble round to grab the nearest brown person. But diversity is not about tokenistic representation, and the conversation around it needs to be hard at every level of an organisation. Shaparak doesn’t just show the positives of diversity though; she also outlines the pitfalls and how to avoid them, too.

Mental Health and Wellbeing: Shaparak takes the audience on a captivating journey through the 90’s to the present day, revealing her own struggles with anxiety and bulimia, and the tools she developed to cope with and overcome those issues. With her warmth and humour, she explains how we can all improve our ideas dramatically if we paid more attention to our mental wellbeing.

A Woman in a Man’s World: Uncovering Everyday Sexism: As just one of a handful of women in the 90’s trying to break into the male-dominated space of stand-up comedy, Shaparak knows all too well what it feels like to be a woman in a man’s world. In this very honest talk, Shaparak examines the ways in which men and women can work together to remove the barriers constructed by past prejudice.