Live webchat with comedian Shappi Khorsandi on Red Nose Day (Friday 18 March, 1.30-2.30pm)

[RachelMumsnet]

To fire us up for Red Nose Day we've got award winning comedian Shappi Khorsandi joining us on Friday between 1.30 and 2.30 pm. A single mum, Shappi will be spending Friday afternoon at a nursery 'rave' with other parents from her son's nursery to raise money for Comic Relief and as well as answering your questions, she's keen to hear about your plans for raising cash on Red Nose Day.

The daughter of an exiled writer and comic from Iran, Shappi's upbringing has been in no way conventional. On arriving in London from Tehran, her family were still not safe. As assassins chased after them, they went into hiding and tried to leave a normal life - seeing friends, going to school whilst checking under the car for bombs. Shappi set out to tell her story on the comedy circuit in the late '90s and has since toured across Britain and the US with her live shows. She's a regular on TV and Radio, including appearances on Have I Got News For You, Live at the Apollo, Quote, Unquote and Just a Minute and presented her own Show 'Shappi Talk' for Radio 4. Her memoir, A Beginner's Guide To Acting English was published in 2009.

Send a question to Shappi or join in the Red Nose Day chat and you'll be entered into a draw to win one of five sets of two tickets to a venue of your choice Shappi's forthcoming UK tour, An Evening With Shappi Khorsandi.

Remember that there's a serious purpose to all this, folks which is to raise money for Comic Relief to help people across the UK and Africa. Have a look at the website, and if you feel inspired to fundraise by doing something funny for money, you can set yourself up with a Red Nose Day Giving Page. If you want to get your children involved, there's a special RND kids website and a Kids Fundraising Kit.

You tell jokes about your divorce and at the expense of your ex-husband. All divorces have acrimony, of course.

But did I read somewhere that you've agreed together that you can make jokes about him; that it's less bitter in real life than it sounds on stage? Does he ever make jokes about you (or an 'ex-wife persona')?

Also: mind telling us how you divide childcare, if both of you are comedians with presumably similar work-hours?

hi Shappi just wanted to say that you are superb and wanted to know what your family thought when you decided to be a comedienne?

and whats your favourite red nose day joke please?

testing, testing, 123

We're very glad to welcome Shappi to Mumsnet on Red Nose Day ( is closest we can come to red nose emoticon).

Thanks to everybody who has posted questions.

Over to you, Shappi...

Hello Everyone! Have my cuppa,Cbeebies is babysitting my DS so lets go!

@jugglingjo

Hi Shappi,

I've loved watching you, especially on Live at the Apollo, but have noticed you sometimes sail close to the wind regarding your humour

Do you find this invigorating, necessary to gain good speed, and fun?

Have you ever gone too far and had the boom come flying across and wack you on the head?

( To take the analogy to it's full conclusion - hope I've got my sailing facts right there - it's been a while since I've been in a boat - though nothing like messing about on the river !)

Lots of love, Jo

People say this about my material, but I never think of it as risky...not now that Frankie Boyle has taken the heat off the rest of us comics ;) I HAVE learned that what I say in a live show may not come across the same way if you watch it on TV. The atmosphere of a live show, the trust you develop with the audience makes it easier to say 'close to the bone stuff' without offending anyone.

Hello - happy Red Nose Day!

Forgot to add, Shappi isnt' at MNHQ (she's got a packed Red Nose day) so bear with us if there are any longer than usual gaps

@BelfastBloke

You tell jokes about your divorce and at the expense of your ex-husband. All divorces have acrimony, of course.

But did I read somewhere that you've agreed together that you can make jokes about him; that it's less bitter in real life than it sounds on stage? Does he ever make jokes about you (or an 'ex-wife persona')?

Also: mind telling us how you divide childcare, if both of you are comedians with presumably similar work-hours?

I wouldn't have done the 'ex husband' jokes if he wasn't a comic too...he gets it! He doesn't do any personal stuff in his routine, he's a brilliant musical comic. Childcare is tough as we both need to work at the weekends but we muddle through!

A packed red nose? Poor Shappi. Try Sinex.
I liked you on Just A Minute the other day.

@MaryAnnSingleton

hello Shappi - just wanted to ask you whether you know if I can claim Iranian citizenship,being born in Tehran (in the days when it was still Persia) - if I wanted ? My dad was working out there as an architect building the airport. My parents thought it was a very beautiful country -certainly looked lovely in photographs -there are lots of pictures of them in snow up mountains. I was looked after by a Persian lady who blacked my eyebrows with burnt cork as I was so fair and wanted to shave my hair off like Persian babies.
I do look forward to hearing you whenever you're on R4

I don't work at the Iranian Embassy so can't help you sorry! I have English friends who go skiing there regularly, I'm sure you could get a visiting visa. Tell them I sent you.

Hi Shappi, I have enjoyed listening to you on Radio4 nd watching you on the telly.

Where do you stand on the under-representation of female & non-white funny people in the media? (eg 10 o'clock live, this week did a lot the Midsomer Murders scandal which ran rather hollow considering that they are all white too)

Did you enjoy doing your 'Hey Mickey' routine last year - i thought it was fab! Looked like hard work though...

Hi Shappi

My daughter (at the age of 8) has the ambition of becoming a stand up comedian! What would your advice be to her.

Thanks J x

@fairtradefloozy

Just read your book. It was funny but also very eloquently made the points about cultural differences and challenges.

I guess my questions is how do the Iranian community relate to you in your new guise as single mother; as well as quite "on the edge" commedienne. Are they supportive or a little censorious?

Keep up the good work.

Iranian people a phenomenally supportive to me. Occasionally my jokes are misconstrued when watched out of context on youtube buy hey ho, it's modern times intit.

@JulesJules

I was going to ask a similar question to Alma.

It really annoys me , watching shows like Mock the Week and QI how they are almost always all male panels. Just occasionally. there will be one woman on, (never more than one) as if they think "Oooh, better get a token woman on, haven't had one for a while".

Does this drive you mad? Does it feel like being a woman footballer?

They can be very gladatorial can't they? I grew up with an older brother and it was hard to get a word in with them and panal shows can be much the same! To be fair, there are far fewer female comics to book. I wish they would book more than one woman at a time on because when there are more women the dynamic changes and it's easier to be part of the 'gang'.

@Mirrorball

Shappi, my question is: do you think you have ever bettered your joke about circumcision?

The analogy you used was "when you have greasy hair, you don't chop off your head do you?". I think about this joke EVERY DAY of my life, mostly when I'm walking my dog. Genius. Love it.

Hey! I forgot all about that joke! I might resurrect it!

@dawntigga

I have no questions except to say how much I love you're comedy. Every time some numpty says women can't be funny I name you in the top 5 woman who are bloody hilarious.

[SuckUpEmoticon]Tiggaxx

Thank you thank you!

@shouldnotbehere

Hello Shappi,

I saw you and your brother in Newtown last year, and thought you were both superb.

It was the first time I'd ever seen a comedien live. Later in the year I saw Reginald D Hunter and Steve Jones, they were funny, but you and your brother were funnier. Reginald Hunters tickets were twice as expensive as yours too. Grrr.

I'd like to suggest you visit Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury. I can then take my parents to see you!

oooh question, umm err, snog shag or marry - Andre Agassi, David Dickinson, Frank Bruno?

Just thought of a second, you always seem a motivated and driven person, how do you do it? I frequently struggle with this, and have to fight my inner couch potato.

snog David D, Shag Bruno and marry Andre Agassi (he's half Tehrani and his book is BRILLIANT!)
re being motivated and driven...oh I don't think I am at all, I REALLY struggle with it!

@nigglewiggle

Hello Shappi,

I saw you in Ilkley this year and I thought you were fantastically funny and engaging. On the strength of this, I bought your book and so far I have not been disappointed!

I notice that the theme of food runs through your book (a woman after my own heart) and I was wondering if you have considered writing a humorous cook book? and if you did, would you include a recipe for tomato soup.

Yik! No, no NO tomato soup! I would love to write a Persian cook book...maybe I'll get on to my agent...

Who is your favourite comedian?

Hopefully not Frankie Boyle as he is a cunt!

@TheDailyWail

Hi Shappi,

Do you think that you would have had as many people willing to listen to the story of your upbringing if you had not been funny?

I mean, do you think it's easier to tell more of the rotten/difficult stuff knowing that you can inject humour into it and the audience are more receptive to listening to the story, laugh and think about it seriously a little later?

BTW I think you're very funny. In a good way, of course.

I think some people would and some wouldn't. I did stand-up for ten years before I did material about how we came to be in Britain because I wanted it to be funny, I'm a comic after all!

@PortBlackSandwitch

Did you enjoy doing your 'Hey Mickey' routine last year - i thought it was fab! Looked like hard work though...

It was the hardest thing I've ever done...I have little natural rhythm! It was great to do because of Comic Relief ofcourse, but also because my husband had just left and I just needed to get out of that painful space and DANCE! ;)

@Jammygal

Hi Shappi

My daughter (at the age of 8) has the ambition of becoming a stand up comedian! What would your advice be to her.

Thanks J x

Watch as much comedy as possible! There is a woman called Judy Carter who has written some great 'how to' books about stand-up. I'd get them for her and she can do some of the exercises.

Hi Shappi.

I loved your interview alongside Toni Collette. Did you get along with her as well as you appeared to do as in my head you became best friends