THE creator of Britain's most famous "community leader", from the comedy Citizen Khan, has hailed the television programme for being able to compete against mainstream programs, after it returned for its third series on Friday (31).
The sitcom about the trials and tribulations of loud-mouthed, tight-fisted Mr Khan and his “long suffering” family enjoys a prime time slot on BBC1 in the latest edition.
Adil Ray, the mastermind behind Citizen Khan, who also plays Mr Khan in the show, told Eastern Eye he was happy that the show received the recognition it deserves.
He said: “It's great to be part of the first British Asian sitcom and to follow from Goodness Gracious Me, is fantastic.
“Like lots of comedies when the first series goes out, people aren't quite sure about it.
“But as we've progressed; people got to know the character and also work out the intentions of what we're trying to do. There's so much love for it now.”
The comedy, which began life in 2012, caused a bit of stir in the Asian community; some sent death threats to Ray and complaints were made to the BBC about it being racist. But audiences soon warmed to the Khan family. The show was well received, attracting 3.6million viewers in the 10.35pm slot and becoming one of the most watched shows on the BBC iplayer in 2012. The second series of Citizen Khan was watched by 3.3 million people on its 9.30pm slot and gained an audience share of 13.8 per cent.
The third series returned yesterday to BBC1 at 8.30pm.
“What I feel proud of about Citizen Khan, is that we are being at the heart of the mainstream programming of the BBC. It came out of the same pot of money that other mainstream programmes have come out of,” said Ray.
He, however, disagrees with having a separate “pot of money” for programmes focused on black and ethnic minority (BME) communities.
In August, television and film stars including Idris Elba, Lenny Henry and Meera Syal wrote an open letter telling TV bosses they are “dismayed” at the poor numbers of people from ethnic minority backgrounds working in the industry. They called for “a ring-fenced pot of money” for BME programmes.
“I slightly worry about ring-fencing and putting pockets of money away and quotas. We got commissioned for Citizen Khan on the exactly the same part and same level as everybody else. “If I write comedy tomorrow I want to be fighting on the same slot as Miranda will fight for. The same slot as Harry Enfield will fight for, with the same rules and same contrasts. I want to be up there with them.”
Ray, who has previously worked as a presenter on TV and radio, revealed that it takes him over two hours to turn into his alterego Mr Khan.
“The make-up artists paint this glue on my face and then put a hair-dryer on my face for two hours. But it’s a lovely process. By the time I've put the make-up on and everything I really feel like Mr Khan, and then it feel worth it in the end.”
He said Mr Khan was jealous of England cricketer Moeen Ali, also from Birmingham, for having a bigger beard than him.
“These people coming over here taking out beards. Mr Khan's from Birmingham and supposed to be the guy with the best beard but along comes Moeen Ali.
“I love to have him for a guest appearance because I know his brother quite well. Myself and Moeen, we've played at the same cricket club.” Ray hopes the new series will be as much of a success as it's predecessors and believes Mr Khan will be around for “a while.”
Currently, he’s busy thinking about making documentaries and is develop another sitcom idea set in Birmingham.
“Next year is a really big year for Britain and I think immigration is going to be at the top of the agenda. Who knows what I’ll be doing in a years time but as long as I’m challenging myself that’s the most important thing.”
The next episode of Citizen Khan will be shown on BBC1 next Friday (7) at 8:30pm.
