Mawaan Rizwan

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Mawaan Rizwan
Mawaan Rizwan
Born (1992-08-18) 18 August 1992 (age 33)
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
CitizenshipUnited Kingdom
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • director
  • screenwriter
Years active2008–present
RelativesNabhaan Rizwan (brother)
Websitemawaan.co.uk

Mawaan Rizwan (born 18 August 1992) is a Pakistani-born British actor and comedian who began his career as a YouTuber.[1] He created and starred in the BBC Three comedy Juice (2023). He won a British Academy Television Award for his performance, in addition to receiving writing nominations.

Early life

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Rizwan was born in Lahore, Pakistan; his mother, Shahnaz, was one of nine siblings and had starred in a number of black and white Pakistani films. As his mother desired a better life for Mawaan and his sister, they emigrated to London in 1994. Six years later, at the age of eight, Rizwan and his family were threatened with deportation, but were granted indefinite leave to remain after legal battles and protests for the family's immigration rights.[2][3]

Career

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Rizwan started making YouTube videos at the age of 16. The attention he received for these resulted in him gaining roles on various television and streaming programming.[2] In 2013 he began starring in the BAFTA award nominated series DNN: Definitely Not Newsround, a spoof news comedy series for children.[4][5] In 2015 he starred in Disney XD UK series Mega Awesome Super Hacks alongside Oli White and Jimmy Hill.[6]

In 2015, Rizwan travelled to Pakistan, his country of birth, to film the documentary How Gay Is Pakistan? which explores the issues faced by other LGBTQ Muslims living under Islamic law that deems homosexuality illegal.[7] The documentary was televised internationally, including on ABC2 in Australia, CBC in Canada and in various markets via Amazon Prime Video.[8][9][10]

Rizwan's career in stand-up comedy began in 2010 when he performed his first gig at a basement venue in Leicester Square. He trained at the prestigious École Philippe Gaulier, physicality and silliness being key components of his comedic craft.[11] He performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with his 2018 and 2019 performances gaining positive reviews from critics. In 2018, Rizwan participated in a charity benefit event called Choose Laughs? at the Playhouse Theatre to support the NGO Help Refugees.[12][13][14]

In April 2019, Rizwan released his first two singles – "I've Got a New Walk" and "Mango" – with a third single, "Never Been Skiing", released in September.[15]

In 2020, Rizwan starred in the Sky One comedy series Two Weeks to Live.[16] Forbes named Rizwan one of their '30 under 30' movers for their 2020 list, after recognition for being a writer on Netflix series Sex Education as well as his role in BBC Three drama Murdered by My Father and opening for Queer Eye's Jonathan Van Ness on tour.[17]

In September 2020 he appeared in Jonathan Ross's Comedy Club as co-host. Also in 2020, he appeared in the 10th series of Taskmaster, finishing 3rd.[18]

In September 2023, Juice was released – a BBC Three surreal comedy series which Rizwan starred in, wrote, and co-produced. The series is based upon Rizwan's 2018 Edinburgh Fringe show of the same name.[19][20] Rizwan's mother and brother also appeared in Juice as the family of Rizwan's character, Jamma.[21] On its release The Guardian commented that "His [Mawaan's] childlike way of exploring life's complexities has won him legions of fans".[11] A second series was released in 2025.[22][23]

In March 2024, Rizwan appeared on Comic Relief on BBC Two for a special performance of his music.[24]

Personal life

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Rizwan is queer, having come out to his traditional Muslim parents at the age of 24.[25] In 2012, he appeared alongside his mother, Shahnaz, in a YouTube video which resulted in his mother gaining the attention of Bollywood and eventually landing a role in the Indian television series Yeh Hai Mohabbatein (This Is Love).[3]

Mawaan's brother, Nabhaan, also followed the family into a career in acting with his debut in BBC drama series Informer.[26]

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Network Notes
2023–present Juice Jamal "Jamma" Jamshidi BBC Three (12 episodes)
2023 Doctor Who Mr Castavillian BBC One Mini-episode: "Destination: Skaro"
2022 The Great Celebrity Bake Off For Stand Up To Cancer Himself Channel 4 Series 5; episode 5
The Big Fat Quiz of Everything Himself Channel 4 2022 special
2020 Taskmaster Himself Channel 4 Series 10
Jonathan Ross' Comedy Club Himself ITV (5 episodes)
Two Weeks to Live Nicky Sky One (6 episodes)
2019 Live at the Apollo Himself BBC One (1 episode)
Harry Hill's Clubnite Himself Channel 4 (1 episode)
The One Show Himself BBC One (1 episode)
2018 Next of Kin Omar Shirani ITV mini-series (6 episodes)
The Big Asian Stand-Up Himself BBC Two (1 episode)
2017 Loaded Duncan Channel 4 (1 episode)
five by five Alex BBC Three mini-series (2 episodes)
Vera Jamil ITV Natural Selection (1 episode)
2016 The Break Actor Netflix Tying the Knot (1 episode)
Murdered by My Father Imi BBC Three TV movie
Getting High For God Himself BBC Three 2-Part Documentary
2015 Mega Awesome Super Hacks Himself Disney XD UK (6 episodes)
How Gay Is Pakistan? Himself BBC Three Documentary
2014–16 The Dog Ate My Homework Himself CBBC 2 episodes
2013 DNN: Definitely Not Newsround Jahmene Mann CBBC 13 episodes
Project: Library Jason YouTube 4 episodes

Film

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Screenwriter

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Year Title Role Notes
2018 Benjamin Dhani
2017 Carnage Freddy Jayashankar
2016 The Darkest Dawn Ricky
2014 The Nightman of Nevermore JP
2013 Ashens and the Quest for the GameChild Iqbal/Old Woman
2025 Tinsel Town Nigel
Year Title Network Notes
2023–present Juice BBC Three (12 episodes)
2020–21 Sex Education Netflix (2 episodes)
2017–19 Apple Tree House CBeebies (4 episodes)
2016 Spot Bots CBeebies (7 episodes)
2014 Swashbuckle CBeebies (3 episodes)

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2023 I Talk Telly Awards Best Comedy Performance Juice Nominated
2024 British Academy Television Awards Best Male Comedy Performance Won [27]
British Academy Television Craft Awards Best Writer: Comedy Nominated
Best Emerging Talent: Fiction Nominated

References

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