Marc Fennell

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Bassem Youssef: The Jon Stewart of Egypt

"People were calling for my death while I was writing jokes" Meet Egypt's answer to Jon Stewart

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Bassem Youssef has long been called ‘Egypt’s Jon Stewart”. The heart surgeon-turned-comedian has racked up millions of YouTube hits and his seditiously funny TV show Albernameg ridiculed politicians in a land where, well, they don’t often ridicule politicians.

He was drummed out of his show, declared a national security threat and now he lives in exile.

 

Marc Fennell sits down with Bassem to find out exactly how government pressure works in a nation like Egypt and whether comedy really does have the power to change minds and topple tyrants.