After Dinner SpeakersTez Ilyas is one of the UK’s most distinctive, sharp-witted and effortlessly charismatic voices in modern comedy – a comedian who can have you doubled over laughing one minute and quietly reflecting the next.
Over the past decade, Tez has firmly established himself as a powerhouse on the live comedy circuit. He has sold out five nationwide tours, performing across the globe from the UK to Canada, Germany, Dubai and Australia.
His stand-up blends razor-sharp social commentary with brilliantly observed everyday humour, delivered with a warmth and relatability that has earned him a fiercely loyal fanbase.
He is also a Sunday Times bestselling author, with his debut book The Secret Diary of a British Muslim Aged 13 ¾ receiving widespread acclaim for its humour, honesty and cultural insight.
On screen, Tez Ilyas is instantly recognisable as one of the standout stars of the hit BBC sitcom Man Like Mobeen, while his appearances on flagship shows such as Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week and The Last Leg have cemented his reputation as a scene-stealing presence.
He also fronted his own Channel 4 series, The Tez O’Clock Show.
Beyond stand-up and television, Tez has built a powerful digital presence, reaching millions online with clips that resonate across cultures and communities. Whether tackling identity, family life, or the absurdities of modern Britain, his voice is both fearless and deeply human.
Loved by audiences and respected across the industry, Tez Ilyas continues to use his platform for more than just laughs – from delivering viral TEDx talks to helping raise millions for charitable causes.
Smart, bold and consistently hilarious, he remains one of the most important and exciting comedians working today.
Tez Ilyas is available for corporate comedy stand-up sets, awards hosting and keynote speeches.
Tez Ilyas – Keynote Speaker
Not many keynote speakers can claim a Sunday Times bestseller, a Channel 4 primetime show, sell-out tours, and organising the Olympics(!) — but Tez Ilyas isn’t like most speakers.
Tez specialises in making corporate audiences think harder, laugh louder and celebrate longer, tackling subjects like diversity, belonging and communication with the kind of honesty and wit that sticks long after the event is over.
As a keynote speaker, Tez’s presentations include:
The Outsider Advantage: Diversity, Belonging & Thriving in Any Room:
Growing up as a working-class British Pakistani Muslim in Blackburn, Tez was always the outsider. In the classroom, in the boardroom, on the TV screen. But what felt like a disadvantage turned out to be his greatest asset. In this honest, funny and thought-provoking talk, Tez explores what it really means to navigate spaces that weren’t built for you — and how that experience builds resilience, adaptability and a unique ability to connect with anyone. Perfect for organisations committed to genuine inclusion, this isn’t a diversity lecture. It’s a masterclass in belonging.
Made in Britain: Identity, Integration & What Inclusion Really Looks Like:
What does it actually mean to be British? Tez Ilyas has spent his career answering that question — on stage, on screen and in print. In this powerful keynote, he unpacks the complexity of modern British identity through the lens of his own life: a biochemist-turned-civil servant-turned-comedian, a Muslim kid from Blackburn who ended up on Netflix. This isn’t a talk about being different. It’s a talk about what happens when organisations stop treating diversity as a box to tick and start treating people as whole human beings.
Funny Business: What Comedy Teaches Us About Communication, Leadership & Connection:
The best comedians in the world are master communicators. They read a room in seconds, adapt their message on the fly, land difficult truths with a smile and keep an audience hanging on every word. In this unique and genuinely entertaining keynote, award-winning comedian and broadcaster Tez Ilyas reveals the principles behind great comedy — and shows exactly how they apply to leadership, sales, public speaking and team culture. You’ll laugh. You’ll learn. And you’ll never present to a room the same way again.
Beyond the Bubble: Regional Identity, Overlooked Talent & The Power of Where You’re From:
London gets all the attention. But some of Britain’s sharpest minds, most loyal communities and most creative thinkers come from everywhere else. Tez Ilyas – born and raised in Blackburn, proudly Northern, proudly working-class – makes the case for regional Britain in this warm and witty talk about place, class, identity, and the untapped potential outside the M25. Essential viewing for any organisation serious about levelling up – in every sense of the phrase.
Starting From Nothing: Grassroots Thinking, Community-Led Success & The Entrepreneurial Mindset:
Tez Ilyas didn’t come from money, connections or privilege. He came from Blackburn. From a Pakistani immigrant family. From a school with a GCSE pass rate of 33%. And from a career as a civil servant that he walked away from to pursue something completely different. In this honest and energising talk, Tez explores the grassroots mindset – the scrappiness, creativity and community loyalty that turns nothing into something. Ideal for entrepreneurs, small business owners and anyone who’s ever been told their background is a ceiling rather than a foundation.
