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Bassem Youssef: Egypt’s revolutionary comedian

Egyptian doctor Bassem Youssef gave up his surgical scrubs to become a satirist during the Arab Spring. But his political parodies soon landed him in trouble with the authorities.

Bassem Youssef was a heart surgeon in Cairo during the Arab Spring when he started poking fun at the politicians in power. His style of subversive comedy was ground-breaking, and Bassem soon became one of the best known comedians in the Middle East. For a while he was described as 'Egypt's Jon Stewart'. Bassem's television show was wildly popular but his fan base didn't extend to the Egyptian authorities. His show was cancelled and soon he had to flee his home. He talks to Jo Fidgen about the personal price of satire in Egypt's revolution.

Image: Bassem Youssef
Credit: Kareem Mazhar

Available now

53 minutes

Last on

Tue 20 Aug 2019 03:06GMT

Broadcasts

  • Mon 19 Aug 2019 11:06GMT
  • Mon 19 Aug 2019 15:06GMT
  • Mon 19 Aug 2019 17:06GMT
  • Mon 19 Aug 2019 20:06GMT
  • Tue 20 Aug 2019 02:06GMT
  • Tue 20 Aug 2019 03:06GMT

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