The Cambridge Geek

Tez Talks

This stands in rather strong contrast to Rhys James' that I reviewed a couple of days ago.

Tez Talks is another short form (15 minutes) stand-up comedy set turned into a radio monologue. The origin was Tez Ilyas' set about being a British Muslim and what implications that has for day-to-day life, but that's spread in this second series to more of his background, such as class and politics.

Where James is manic, Ilyas is measured, and he has a sharper point to make regarding the class system. He's also got a thick slab of self-deprecation running through him, this self-described "hilarious but arrogant narcissist". It allows the jokes to land a little more precisely, and gives him a certain elegance on his feet when dealing with the unexpected.

Particularly during the weirdest moment of the show.

Ilyas plays up his commonness in the manner people from his area of the world are wont to do. There's no small reverse snobbery in his Blackburn background (and that's coming from a Mancunian) and it leads into a rather fun scenario describing the incomprehensible food served at posh house parties. Especially those weird vegetable grape things.

At which point, I think the most middle class heckler in the world pops up with a handy correction. I'm not entirely sure what she thought she was achieving.

Anyway, he handles it beautifully, keeping in character.

Absolutely corker of a series. Will be listening to the rest of it.

Highly recommended.

Tagged: Radio Comedy Monologue Stand-up Autobiographical