Question from Lia: What was school life like?
Shazia Mirza: I loved it - it was brilliant Lia. I had wonderful friends and lots of them, it was so much fun in school.
Question from James: Did you see yourself as being a comedienne when you were younger?
Shazia Mirza: Yes, I did. When I look back on it I think ... God, yes, I was funny!
Question from Tom Driled: Is your aim to promote wider understanding of Muslim culture to get rid of racism?
Shazia Mirza: My aim is to be funny really - I'm an entertainer! But if people can learn something from what I've done, then that's a bonus, that's great too.
Question from Sara Amin: What did your parents think about tonight's documentary on you?
Shazia Mirza: My parents live in Birmingham and it's not being shown in Birmingham. I have recorded it and I shall be giving them a copy though!
Question from Av Singh: When you first began, how did you know you could make it as a comedienne?
Shazia Mirza: I never envisaged EVER that I would make it! I never thought I'd become so successful so soon, I was just telling the truth and doing what I enjoyed doing. All the struggling that I'd done over the last ten years came together when I started performing as a stand-up.
Question from Joseph: Do you think you will be as famous as Robbie Williams and Tom Cruise?
Shazia Mirza: laughs!! You're not serious are you Joseph. I'm going to be more famous than them because I write my own material.
Question from Kia Ali: How old were you when you first performed?
Shazia Mirza: 25 years old, that's how old I was when I first performed a stand-up but my first ever performance was when I was 8 or 9, when singing on a stage.
Question from Emma Williams1: Would you ever consider presenting as many famous comedians have done e.g. Frank Skinner?
Shazia Mirza: I'd like my comedy to be global - all over the world.
Question from Nadia Kadr: Do you worry that the more famous you become, the more open you are to attack and condemnation from the Muslim community?
Shazia Mirza: Yes, because in stand-up comedy you're very vulnerable anyway when you're out there telling the truth - you're even more vulnerable.
Question from Alex McLeish: What was it like telling your family you wanted to be a comedienne?
Shazia Mirza: Well, I didn't tell them that I wanted to be one! I had been doing stand-up comedy for nine months when I got invited to do the London Palladium, I thought that I had to tell my parents, because if I didn't they'd have missed a great opportunity. They were just so pleased that I had trained as a chemist, so that they could tell people that I had a respected profession.
Question from Lawrence Tijjani: I knew you were a stand up - would you ever do it in a school?
Shazia Mirza: I'm going to have you in detention tomorrow Lawrence!
Question from Tom Driled: Have you thought about writing a West End comedy show as well as stand up?
Shazia Mirza: I've been asked to write a book, offered a publishing deal which I turned down as I thought it would be more interesting in five years time. I've been writing for TV - but I would like to be in a comedy in the West End and maybe write part of it as well.
Question from Annmarie W: When you have children, will you bring them up as your parents brought you up?
Shazia Mirza: No. I will raise them not worrying about the culture and what people think. But I will bring them up the way I see them and the life they deserve rather than worrying constantly about what people are going to think.
Question from Lia: What famous people have you met so far?
Shazia Mirza: Oh, loads! I've met Meera Syall and Prince Andrew and Richard & Judy (If you want to call them famous!) I've met Prince Charles, Heather Small (from M People), Caprice, Catherine Zeta Jones ... before she was famous! The list goes on and on and on!
Question from Carl Harper: Do you like being famous?
Shazia Mirza: I don't consider myself to be famous, I'm so oblivious to what is going on that I walked into a shop two days ago and five people stopped me and I asked them "What do you want?". I couldn't realise why people stopped me when I do what I do because I love it.
Question from Sara Amin: Would you go in the Big Brother house?
Shazia Mirza: What? I've got a life, why do I need to do that? I write my own material and have worked so hard in my career, why throw it away with the Big Brother house?
Question from Ben2: What do you think people will remember you by?
Shazia Mirza: The Muslim female stand-up comedian or the pilot's license joke!
Question from Lawrence Tijjani: Do you think the kids you teach find you funny?
Shazia Mirza: laughs!! I don't find them funny so why should I expect them to find me funny? ... and they'd better behave tomorrow!
Question from Tom Driled: Would you be like to perform your routines in a Muslim country?
Shazia Mirza: Yes, I would, my comedy is for everyone.
Question from Sadie: Do you feel you are a role model?
Shazia Mirza: I hope so. I hope I've inspired somebody somewhere, maybe not to be a stand-up comedian but to do something regardless of what other people think.
Question from Annmarie W-W: If you weren't a comedian and teacher, what else would you like to do?
Shazia Mirza: I'd like to be an astronaut, I'd like to go to space.
Question from Lawrence Tijjani: Will you be leaving teaching to become a full time stand-up?
Shazia Mirza: They say never give up your day-job and I'd never leave my day-job unless I'd have millions of pounds in the bank, which I don't - yet!
Question from Bell Dean: Are there other Muslim comics who deserve to be better known?
Shazia Mirza: No. They're saying that I'm the first Muslim stand-up woman comic in the world.
Question from Jenny: What was it like appearing on Have I Got News For You? Did you expect to be made fun of?
Shazia Mirza: I was wetting myself and thinking "I hope they don't pick on me!" They rarely have women on there so it truly was great to be on there.
Question from Jane Maskell: How do you choose your subjects?
Shazia Mirza: I talk about what happens to me everyday. What I think about, what I care about, and just about life and what I make of it.
Question from Tom Driled: Are there any circumstances under which you would not continue your routines?
Shazia Mirza: What do you mean? Well, if someone had died in the audience, yes I think I'd have to stop!
BBC London Host: Here's Shazia with a final word ...
Shazia Mirza: I'd just like to thank everybody for your questions, I hope you enjoyed it! I hope I've inspired somebody and you can come and watch my comedy and laugh ;-)
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