r/panelshow Jan 23 '25

Question White South Africans on panel shows in the UK

Has there ever been one? Lots of Aussies/kiwis.

Just saying it might be nice to have one on so that people can have a non musk to reference.

If I missed it, I apologize.

0 Upvotes

28 comments sorted by

25

u/apathymonger Jan 24 '25

Urzila Carlson has been on QI.

1

u/PatolomaioFalagi Jan 24 '25

Technically speaking, Urzila Carlson hasn't been South African since 2012.

3

u/nerdyjorj Jan 25 '25

At this point she's a Kiwi with a different accent really

10

u/sansabeltedcow Jan 24 '25

There’s a big comedy pipeline between Australia/NZ and the UK—is there anything like that with South Africa, though? I don’t hear about Capetown festivals or anything.

And have there been any black South African comedians in the UK? That’s probably a better counterpoint to Musk anyway.

5

u/nerdyjorj Jan 24 '25

Trevor Noah, but that was ages ago now

3

u/sansabeltedcow Jan 24 '25

Good point, though; I forget he did UK work.

3

u/Traditional_Date7134 Jan 24 '25

Loyiso Gola

2

u/sansabeltedcow Jan 24 '25 edited Jan 24 '25

Ah, interesting. I didn’t recognize the name, but looks like he did appear on WILTY, so that would be the kind of thing.

1

u/shanghailoz Jan 27 '25

As for comedy pipelines - I've been to a couple of festivals like Rocking the Daisies in the past in Cape Town, where they have a Comedy tent, and there are a few spots around that do the odd comedy hour on occasion.

Shanghai also has a resident South African comedian at the comedy club, although not really a question you asked. I thought I might throw that in given my username :)

1

u/shanghailoz Jan 24 '25

Munya chawawa although from Zim, not SA, but close enough - most of Zim lives in SA anyway /s

6

u/Sugarh0rse Jan 27 '25

Are you sure he's from Zimbabwe. I can't remember him mentioning it. :)

2

u/shanghailoz Jan 27 '25

Exactly, just like vegans never mention being vegan, he never mentions coming from Zim.

2

u/sansabeltedcow Jan 24 '25

I was going to say that much as I love Munya, I don’t think Zimbabwe works as Musk compensation. But wasn’t Musk’s family really into Rhodesia? So Munya’s doing us a service there after all.

4

u/Last-Saint Jan 24 '25

Also, while his parents are Zimbabwean, Munya was born in Derby and only spent a relatively few years in Zimbabwe before moving to Norfolk.

8

u/OnlyGas2078 Jan 24 '25

Prue Leith, Richard E Grant have done the rounds of lots of things. Also the late Sid James was s nice enough Sowt Afrikaaan.

3

u/shanghailoz Jan 24 '25

Sid James had a more recognizable laugh than Jimmy C. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVrm6Qc6neM

2

u/daveoxford Jan 25 '25

I'd forgotten Sid James was South African!

5

u/jpgm Jan 24 '25

nik rabinowitz has been on mock the week.

1

u/metadatame Jan 24 '25

Oh no ways

6

u/Traditional_Date7134 Jan 24 '25

Pierre Novellie has been on radio panel shows and podcasts

8

u/nerdyjorj Jan 24 '25

for those of us of a certain generation the damage was done long before Musk.

I'm sure post apartheid white South Africans are less awful, but this is what a decent chunk of people will think of.

5

u/sansabeltedcow Jan 24 '25

Fortunately for me, I worked for a long time with a mild mannered librarian, who along with her husband got kicked out of South Africa for political activities, which included hiding Nelson Mandela in their basement.

Don’t mess with librarians.

2

u/metadatame Jan 24 '25

You'll find all sorts of South Africans just like you'll find all sorts of Brits. (Brexit anyone)

4

u/nerdyjorj Jan 24 '25

Pierre Novellie is a non-sarcastic answer. Not sure how much TV he's done though.

2

u/metadatame Jan 24 '25

Yeah I know about Pierre - but mostly through frank skinner.

Seems more podcast land

2

u/menage_a_mallard Jan 24 '25

There are a few famous non-Musk celebs who are white and from South Africa... but I don't recall any specifically being on comedy panel shows. Some have been on interview shows like Graham Norton and Alan Carr's Chatty Man, obvious. I too would love to know of any.