Question from Sejal: Have you done shows to an all Muslim female audience?
Shazia Mirza: Yes, I have, they enjoyed it. A lot of them came up afterwards and said "I'm so glad you said that, because I could never say that".
Question from Marrtin Peats: Would you like to do more TV?
Shazia Mirza: Loads more! Because I think that there is so much to say and I want to do TV because there are people who can't get to watch me live. At least they'd get to see me through TV.
Question from Sejal: Have other Asian women asked you to help them get into show business as we traditionally go for 'safe' careers?
Shazia Mirza: Loads. Once they've met me, they say "How can I get into it?". I've had so many Asian women saying "How can you help me?" I think that Asian women in Britain are going to be luckier when they've got more Asian female role-models in the future.
Question from Sara Amin: Do your parents want you to get married?
Shazia Mirza: God YES! They wanted me to get married years ago, when I was 16! That's all they want for me.
Question from Sejal: What do you hate the most when performing live?
Shazia Mirza: Um ... people that don't laugh at my jokes. Sometimes, the horrible leery pub/club where there are a lot of drunk people who talk all the way through my act.
Question from Lucy D: Do you still live in Brum or are you a Londoner now?
Shazia Mirza: I live in London now, I always go home to Birmingham afterwards. I love Birmingham and I'm so proud of it too.
Question from Sejal: Has it been hard fighting off the pressure to be 'within the culture' - marriage, kids, house?
Shazia Mirza: Yes, it has been very tough. But I know I will do all of that in my own time and why should I succumb to pressures of society? I just want to do what I want to do because I love it.
Question from Debbie Richardson: What was it like performing at Edinburgh?
Shazia Mirza: It was brilliant. It was a different audience and different area of Britain. I'm going to go back there this year with my own show.
Question from Essam Baccush: Will you take your comedy act internationally, say to Asian communities in the USA & the Middle East?
Shazia Mirza: Yes, I've already had loads of invites from America and in fact all over the world, France, Spain, Germany etc. America are particularly interested because they say there is no Muslim female comediennes there either.
Question from Frank Norman: How is London as a Muslim city?
Shazia Mirza: There's loads of Muslims in London and I'd say that you'd go to certain areas more than others. I quite like it, London is very multicultural, but so is Birmingham.
Question from Chris Grubb: What was it like working with Mel and Sue the other day? I thought all three of you were great!
Shazia Mirza: They were hilarious! I really enjoyed it - they were fun. It's very rare you get to work with other female comedians because there are so few of them.
Question from Thomas Betham: I love your pilots license joke. Do you relish taking risks?
Shazia Mirza: Oh yes! I'd say "no risk, no glory". You have to take risks and that's how you get better.
Question from Farhad Khan: Where is the best place for performing?
Shazia Mirza: I'd love to perform for men in the army, because they've probably never met a Muslim woman in their lives.
Question from Nadia Kadr: Was there ever a joke that you made, which you later regretted?
Shazia Mirza: (laughs!) loads of jokes. The ones that I regret are the ones that have not been personal to me, I've later looked back on them and thought "That's not me ... that's not funny".
Question from Joseph: Is it hard to work in front of thousands of people?
Shazia Mirza: No, because I love what I do.
Question from Demargio Riviera: Can you sing as well?
Shazia Mirza: I can sing funny songs that I've written in Victoria Wood's style. I never want to be a pop idol!
Question from Av Singh: Have you found writing comedy has expanded your views on the diverse cultures within the UK?
Shazia Mirza: Yes, I have. I feel that people have been interested in listening to my comedy because it's something interesting. They can laugh at things that they wouldn't normally be able to laugh at.
Question from Ben2: What do you think Muslim people think of your comedy?
Shazia Mirza: I think that a lot of people think I'm brave and that I'm a pioneer and I think that a lot of people think that I'm a disgrace, for stepping outside the boundaries and making a change.
Question from Rache Tilford: Did you always think you would be famous?
Shazia Mirza: I always wanted to be, because there were was no women in the media and I always felt that there should be.
Question from Iqbal S: Who are your role models?
Shazia Mirza: My role models are Tina Turner, Cher. I thought Margaret Thatcher was an amazing woman, although I didn't think much of her politics. I'd say any woman who's broken the mould and been courageous, then I really admire them.
Question from Tim West: How do you rate "Goodness Gracious Me"?
Shazia Mirza: I think that Goodness Gracious Me is brilliant because it was groundbreaking. It was great because everybody found it funny whatever culture you are. I think we need to move on from there. There are divisions within Asia and I'm Muslim - the route I've taken is to be more specific.
Question from Emma Williams1: Have you ever found it difficult to get a break because you're a Muslim?
Shazia Mirza: No - never. In fact, I think it's worked for me. The only time that people were worried about booking me was after September 11th, but they knew from my performance before this date that I was experienced, so they'd book me on my reputation.
Question from Sara Amin: What's the next step in your career?
Shazia Mirza: Next step is to Edinburgh to perform a one-hour show and then, hopefully, I will be going to America to do stand-up comedy and appear in an American sit-com.
Question from Patel: When was your first performance?
Shazia Mirza: It was at 2.00am in a rough pub in Brixton, with no microphone, no stage ... But the audience loved it!
Question from Iqbal S: Where do you see yourself in ten years time?
Shazia Mirza: In ten years time I'd like to be married, I'd also like to have written a book and done an American sit-com and performed comedy all over the world and, by that time, have appeared in a comedy film.
Question from Ajay: What do you feel has been the most significant event in your progress so far?
Shazia Mirza: Significant event in my progress so far was telling my parents what I do and after being attacked realising that what I do is brilliant and important and is what I love to do. Because I love it - no-one should stop me from doing it.
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