As a comedian, Daliso Chaponda has been writing jokes about the news for over a decade, and is currently touring the UK with his Topical Storm show, which started on Thursday 5th February in Guildford, with dates including Ropetackle at Shoreham-by-Sea this Friday 13th February, with his final date being in Norwich on Friday 29th July. Daliso has previously toured his shows What the African Said, Blah Blah Blacklist and Apocalypse Not Now, and in 2017, he came 3rd in the 11th series of Britain’s Got Talent behind Tokio Myers and Issy Simpson, receiving Amanda Holden’s Golden Buzzer at his audition, and he returned for Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions in 2019. Amongst Daliso’s TV appearances, he has been a panellist on QI numerous times (most recently in December), was part of the BBC documentary series Pilgrimage: The Road Through the Alps, and won Celebrity Mastermind last year, and Daliso is also the writer, creator and host of the BBC Radio 4 show Citizen of Nowhere. We chatted to Daliso about his current UK Tour Topical Storm, winning Celebrity Mastermind in 2025, his BBC Radio 4 show Citizen of Nowhere and his time as a contestant on Britain’s Got Talent.

How have you been preparing for your current UK Tour – Topical Storm, and how long has the show been in the making?

I started writing this show last year around March, so almost a year. Lots of joke writing, testing ideas in small, grungy comedy clubs, getting rid of the jokes that didn’t work and replacing them. Also reading lots of big, fat books, like a university student on a deadline.

The tour started last week (Thursday 5th February) in Guildford and will continue until Wednesday 29th July in Norwich, do you have a favourite aspect of touring with your own comedy show and what are you looking forward to for this year’s run?

My favourite part of touring is making the new people lose it. I always ask, ‘Who has seen me before?’ and then, ‘Who doesn’t know me? Who was dragged here?’. I always try and make the draggees lifelong fans. They don’t know what I can do. Thank you, draggers.

Are there any locations on this tour that you haven’t visited before as a comedian and how do your shows typically change between venues?

Yes, there are places like Shoreham-by-Sea that I’ve never been to, and I do more research about the area and write some tailored jokes. Also, because this show has a topical element, there is about 10 minutes of the show that is different every week about that week’s news. Very exciting. I’ve never done that before.

Can you tell us about Topical Storm and what has it been like to write?

I wrote this show ‘accidentally’. I had another show idea I was writing, but I kept being diverted by the crazy world news of Trump’s antics, Farage’s antics, my father’s antics (he is the Malawian foreign minister), and so on. The show about faith I’d been inspired to write when I was on BBC’s Pilgrimage fell by the wayside, and I realised that AI, algorithms showing you what you want to see over the truth, etc… THIS is what I wanted to write about.

You have been writing jokes about the news for over a decade; how does it feel to now be performing your own show about the news (journalists, bloggers, fake news, satirical news) and how will you keep it current?

As I mentioned, there is going to be a rotating current-news section, but all the big stories that inspired the show are actually ‘timeless’. I talk about recent news but also things that happened 100 years ago. There’s that saying, “Those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it”. We’re repeating a lot of mistakes that previous generations made – and that’s what I make fun of.

What do you hope audiences will take from Topical Storm, and who do you think the show will appeal to?

One of my favourite things is when I see people in the bar afterwards discussing things I mentioned. I don’t think comedy can ‘change minds’, but in addition to making people laugh like hyenas, I think it’s good at starting conversations.

How different is this tour to your previous shows What the African Said, Blah Blah Blacklist and Apocalypse Not Now?

I like to think I get better every year as I add things to my comedy toolbox. Blah Blah Blacklist had more slapstic than What the African Said. Apocalypse Not Now had more side characters. This show has the topical element, which is new, and I also have a Q&A section, which is stressful but lots of fun.

You have been a panellist on QI for numerous episodes (most recently in December), what is the series like to be part of?

It’s my favourite panel show. Being on it is like being at your very zany friend’s dinner party with a bunch of hilarious guests.

How did you find the experience filming for the BBC Two documentary series Pilgrimage: The Road Through the Alps?

Physically, it was challenging – I’m neither a hiker nor fit. Emotionally though, I made some friends for life and it re-engaged me with my faith. I was even going to write a show called Evangelist vs Witchdoctor about faith…  and then the news became crazy.

What was it like being a contestant on Celebrity Mastermind last year and how did you feel winning your episode?

FINALLY, being a geek worked in my favour. I’m uncharacteristically bookish for a comedian – most of my high school friends assumed I’d be a university lecturer or something. It was great to use my “I know too much random nonsense” to win money, not just bore friends on a long drive.

We understand you were the writer, creator and host of the BBC Radio 4 show Citizen of Nowhere, can you tell us about this?

That show was my passion project. Born a refugee, nomadic life, never fitting in – every season of the show (still on BBC Sounds, wink wink) was so satisfying. It reached a natural end in the last season when I became a British citizen so not a “citizen of nowhere” anymore. So it now is like a book where you see me go from outsider in Season 1 to being part of the mad British kaleidoscope by the final episode.

In 2017, you finished in third place (behind Tokio Myers and Issy Simpson) on Series 11 of Britain’s Got Talent, how was it receiving Amanda Holden’s Golden Buzzer and seeing the public’s response to your audition?

It still shocks me. Nine years later, people still approach me and still quote the jokes. It was definitely my Cinderella moment. And yes, in this metaphor, I’m the one in glass slippers and a dress, and Amanda’s the prince. Don’t tell her.

What did you enjoy most about being a contestant on Britain’s Got Talent and how was it performing in the live Semi-Finals and Final?

The huge variety of the audience was great. There were 10 year olds who watched and would quote my jokes at me, and 70 year olds. That’s a variety you don’t get in most crowds.

How was it returning for Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions in 2019 and do you have any stand-out memories from your time involved with the Got Talent franchise that you can share?

The Champions felt very different because we contestants were all more established now/dressed better/less nervous. It was a showcase not a competition really, so it was a delight.

Where does your love of comedy come from and how did you originally get into it?

I was drawn into the world of humour early by Roald Dahl books, Bugs Bunny cartoons, and my father’s long, hilarious tales.

Do you have any favourite comedians or comedy shows to watch?

TOO MANY. I love Chris Rock, Joan Rivers, Sugar Sammy, Kevin Bridges, Sarah Millican, Norm Macdonald, Eddie Murphy… and more and more. I’m a loud laugher, and at the Edinburgh Festival, comedians frequently text me, “I have reviewers in, please bring your loud laugh to my show today”.

How do you like to spend your free time?

Other than comedy, I read big, fat fantasy books and I watch debates and I have talkative friends.

Follow Daliso on:

Instagram

Facebook

dalisochaponda.com