Tom Basden is an English actor and comedy writer, a member of the quartet Cowards, and a prolific writer-performer for BBC and Channel 4.
Omar, a first‑generation migrant turned stand‑up comic, has transformed a 150,000‑strong protest ordeal into the launching point for his Edinburgh Fringe show, Guided Detour. The piece traces his rise from racism and Islamophobia to viral videos critiquing media framing, and how his humor aims to connect personal experience with universal truths.
Netflix’s Alley Cats has divided critics. Ricky Gervais leads a six-episode animated cast of stray cats in crude, sweary adventures. The Guardian and Independent deliver harsh judgments, while some praise the cast’s effort; the debate centers on tone, originality, and whether the show pushes boundaries or repeats past misfires.