Following her 103 date sell-out international run of The Kardashians Made Me Do It in 2016 and fresh from being ravaged by hunger and sand-flies on Channel 4’s Celebrity Island, Shazia Mirza returns to the road with her brand new show, With Love From St Tropez.

The Kardashians Made Me Do It explored politically correct liberalism, the intrusion of ISIS into young British lives and Jihadi brides and enjoyed four sell-out runs in London as well as the US, Sweden and Paris. 

This brand new show, coming to the artsdepot on March 29, is about lies, lies and more lies.

I spoke to her to find out more…

How long have you been on the comedy scene?

I first started comedy about 12 years ago in a place with no chairs, no microphone, no stage, everyone was talking and there were police sirens going off because a man was being arrested outside for drug dealing. Somehow everyone laughed at all my jokes though!

Times Series:

How did you get into comedy, where did it begin?

It was an accident really. I never planned to do this. I was a science teacher in an East End comprehensive where, when I look back, I was actually doing comedy every day. You have to keep them interested, entertained, informed and then at the end of the day they may lock you in the broom cupboard. At least at the end of a gig I can just go home after 20 minutes.

Describe your comedy?

Funny, observational and personal.

Do you have any specific influences?

All the greats will always be influences. Richard Pryor, Robin Williams, Joan Rivers. They were unique, with totally original voices.

Where do you find inspiration?

In life. With ordinary people chatting on a bus, people waiting in a queue at a bus stop. The ordinary is the most interesting

If you weren’t doing comedy, what would you be doing?

I would probably be a miserable bitter teacher teaching somewhere just to pay the mortgage and wondering what the point of my life was.

How do you deal with a joke flopping?

Like a bad date. Pretend it didn’t happen, move on.

You were a teacher in Tower Hamlets for a while, what was it like?

They hated me and I hated them. I used to tell them jokes to pass the time, when I look back that is where I learnt stand-up. That was really good training for me because I never had that much abuse as a comedian. The kids were so rough they used to try to escape through the window and tell me to shut up. As a comedian no one has ever tried to escape through a window.

Tell me about the new tour

It’s funny, filthy and unique. It’s about the craziness of the world, but there is something for everyone in it. Sex, beaches, Brexit, men, women and butt plugs. You’ll hear things here that you’ll never hear anywhere else. It sounds frightening but don’t worry, it’s quite a laugh.

artsdepot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, N12 0GA, March 29. Details: 020 8369 5454