Link to one of a number of articles I’ve written for The Independent as a sometime reporter at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival
In the wake of 11 September, the Perrier nominee Omid Djalili’s ambitions now include world peace – and getting his own BBC2 sitcom
Some people may be surprised to see the somewhat starry name of Omid Djalili among the list of nominees for this year’s Perrier prize. After roles in blockbusters such as Gladiator, The Mummy and Spy Game, surely he’s too famous to qualify for the prize. Apparently not. It’s his career as a stand-up that counts, which, until this year, hadn’t really taken off. It’s unfortunate, but it would appear that 11 September may have been the best thing to have happened to this Anglo-Iranian comedian.
Sarah Barrell 