“Blackburn-born Ilyas has a slickness more reminiscent of US comics, and the gags to back it up, though his most prized asset could yet be his bold, subversive streak”

The Guardian

Tez Ilyas started performing comedy in 2010 – hitting the ground running he found himself in no less than eight competition finals, including the prestigious BBC New Comedy Award and Leicester Mercury New Comedian of the Year. In 2013 he was selected onto the prestigious Pleasance Theatre showcase, The Comedy Reserve, for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

He achieved phenomenal success with his debut stand up show TEZ Talks, which was met with packed out audiences and huge critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. A totally sold-out run at the Soho Theatre followed, with additional dates at the prestigious Southbank Centre. Such was the success of TEZ Talks, it was adapted into a series for BBC Radio 4.

Tez followed this up with his sophomore show, Made in Britain. A critical and commercial success, he totally sold-out the Edinburgh Fringe run, including extra dates, and received rave reviews.

Tez has appeared on Live From the BBC (BBC Two), Man Like Mobeen (BBC Three), Virtually Famous (E4), The Now Show (BBC Radio 4), @elevenish (ITV2) and The Funny Thing About… (Channel 5) as well as writing and starring in his own scripted comedy shorts for BBC Three, BBC iPlayer and Sky Arts.

Silly, smart and subversive, Tez Ilyas is one of the most celebrated stars in British comedy. In 2015 Ilyas achieved phenomenal success with his debut stand up hour TEZ Talks and has since appeared on Live at The Apollo (BBC Two), The Last Leg (C4), Mock the Week (BBC Two), The Chris Ramsey Show (Comedy Central), Man Like Mobeen (BBC Three), Kevin Hart’s Live from Montreal (LOL Network) and The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice (C4). His Channel 4 comedy Blap Bounty is the most watched show in the strand’s 10 year history and in 2019 he fronted his own satirical sketch series The Tez O’Clock Show to huge critical acclaim.