Shabaz Ali: From a Blackburn Classroom to BBC Fame
Meet the British comedian and former chemistry teacher who became famous for mocking luxury lifestyles, questioning online perfection, and making millions laugh.
Introduction
Shabaz Ali is a British comedian, author, broadcaster, and former chemistry teacher. Most people know him as Shabaz Says, the funny voice behind the viral I’m Rich, You’re Poor videos.
His comedy has a sharp edge. He watches wealthy influencers display expensive lifestyles, then responds with dry humour. Sometimes, one sentence says everything.
But his story started elsewhere.
He grew up in Blackburn, Lancashire, in a working-class British-Pakistani family. Before social media fame, he worked in a hospital morgue and taught chemistry.
Now, his work reaches millions. He has written a book, performed live comedy, hosted a podcast, and presented a BBC documentary.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Shabaz Ali |
| Popular Name | Shabaz Says |
| Birthplace | Blackburn, Lancashire, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Family Background | British-Pakistani |
| Profession | Comedian, author, broadcaster, content creator |
| Previous Profession | Chemistry teacher |
| Education | Attended grammar school and university |
| Famous For | I’m Rich, You’re Poor |
| Television Debut | The Circle (2021) |
| First Book | I’m Rich, You’re Poor (2024) |
| Podcast | I’m Rich, You’re Poor – The Podcast |
| BBC Documentary | Shabaz Asks: Are Billionaires Bad? (2026) |
| Social Media Name | @shabazsays |
| Hometown | Blackburn, England |
Early Life and Family Background
Shabaz grew up in Blackburn. His family had modest means.
His father worked as a taxi driver. His mother was a housewife. Like many working-class families, they faced financial pressure.
His childhood home was a three-bedroom terraced house.
Money was sometimes tight.
In a March 2024 interview with The Independent, he explained that his parents had sold their house after experiencing financial difficulties.
These experiences stayed with him.
As a child, he understood what it meant to want something his family could not easily afford. Later, those memories became part of his comedy.
He also faced bullying.
During his teenage years, classmates mocked his appearance, skin colour, and family circumstances.
Those experiences affected his confidence. Still, they gave him a personal understanding of how people judge others.
Years later, he would speak about these issues publicly.
Education and Student Life
His education began in Blackburn.
He attended a local grammar school. His school years included difficult experiences with bullying and fitting in.
At 18, he moved to London for university.
That was a big change.
London offered a different environment. Yet he sometimes felt uncomfortable about his Northern accent and working-class identity.
He once tried hiding his accent.
As he grew older, his thinking changed. He became proud of his Blackburn roots and the way he spoke.
That same accent later became one of the most recognisable parts of his videos.
His professional training also prepared him for teaching science in secondary schools.
His Career Before Internet Fame
Shabaz had an unusual career journey.
Before becoming a teacher, he worked in a hospital morgue.
Then an advertisement caught his attention.
It encouraged graduates to enter teaching. A teacher-training bursary of £30,000 also influenced his decision.
He decided to try it.
At first, teacher training felt difficult. His early experiences were not entirely positive.
But working directly with students changed things.
He began enjoying the classroom.
He taught chemistry at secondary-school level and spent around six years working in education by late 2024.
Teaching showed him another side of life.
He saw pupils facing financial problems. Some struggled with basic needs while watching wealthy online personalities display expensive homes, clothes, and holidays.
That contrast bothered him.
It later became a major theme in his online videos.
How His Social Media Career Started
His internet career grew during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At first, he posted comedy and reaction content. He enjoyed making people laugh.
Then came a different idea.
He began reacting to videos of wealthy influencers showing off expensive products and perfect-looking routines.
The format was simple.
Shabaz would lie in bed, often wearing a hooded onesie, and comment on whatever appeared on screen.
No expensive studio was needed.
His dry delivery made the jokes work.
By early 2022, his I’m Rich, You’re Poor series was gaining serious attention.
The audience kept growing.
His videos reached people who were tired of comparing their ordinary lives with the expensive lifestyles shown online.
Why His Comedy Became So Popular
His jokes feel familiar.
He talks about rising living costs, pointless luxury purchases, and the pressure to look wealthy.
One video might feature elaborate ice cubes. Another could show a celebrity’s expensive wardrobe.
He responds with disbelief.
Sometimes, he barely needs words.
His comedy is funny because viewers recognise the situation. Most people do not live inside perfect mansions.
Many are managing bills and everyday expenses.
He also uses the word povvo, a British slang term connected with being poor.
His followers became known as the Povvogang.
For Shabaz, the term became a way of celebrating ordinary people rather than feeling ashamed of having less money.
Actually, that explains much of his appeal.
He makes viewers laugh while questioning the pressure to spend money on things they do not need.
Television Debut on The Circle
His television experience began before his biggest online success.
In 2021, he appeared on Channel 4’s reality competition The Circle.
The programme allows contestants to communicate through online profiles without meeting face-to-face.
Some players use fake identities.
Shabaz entered as Alice.
His character was a fictional 23-year-old chemistry teacher.
He wanted to see how people might react differently to someone with another identity and background.
The experience connected with his existing interest in social media behaviour.
It also gave him early television exposure.
His First Book and Writing Career
His online success opened another opportunity.
In March 2024, he published his first book, I’m Rich, You’re Poor: How to Give Social Media a Reality Check.
The book was published by Dorling Kindersley.
It contains 240 pages.
The writing looks at social media perfection, extreme wealth, consumer habits, and the pressure to compare ourselves with others.
The message is straightforward.
An expensive lifestyle does not automatically mean a happier life.
He uses humour to question what people see on their phones.
He also discusses everyday financial concerns and the emotional impact of unrealistic online content.
The book received public praise from several well-known personalities, including Davina McCall, Katie Piper, and Laura Whitmore.
It gave him another way to speak to his audience.
Podcast and Entertainment Work
He later moved into podcasting.
Alongside his friend Sofia, he hosted I’m Rich, You’re Poor – The Podcast.
The show began in 2024.
Their conversations covered celebrity gossip, television programmes, films, online trends, and stories sent by listeners.
The pair also discussed funny situations from everyday life.
The podcast returned for a second season in July 2025.
It gave audiences a different experience from his short videos, with longer conversations and personal opinions.
Stand-Up Comedy and Live Shows
His career kept moving.
In 2025, Shabaz took his comedy to live audiences through his first major UK tour.
The tour shared the name I’m Rich, You’re Poor.
His performances brought his familiar observations into theatres, where audiences could hear the jokes in person.
He also performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2025.
Live comedy gave him another challenge.
An online creator can record several takes. On stage, the audience responds immediately.
He had to bring his humour into a different setting.
His move into live performances showed that his career was growing beyond social media.
His BBC Documentary in 2026
One of his biggest television projects arrived in July 2026.
He presented Shabaz Asks: Are Billionaires Bad? on BBC Three.
The documentary premiered on 28 July 2026.
Its central question was simple: are billionaires good or bad for society?
Shabaz met people with different opinions about wealth and the super-rich.
Among them was British billionaire John Caudwell.
The programme also featured entrepreneur Joseph Valente, luxury handbag businesswoman Emily Abraham, and economist Faiza Shaheen.
The documentary mixed serious questions with comedy.
He asked about wealth, power, financial inequality, and the responsibilities of people who control huge fortunes.
The programme allowed him to take a topic he had discussed online for years and examine it through real conversations.
It was another step in his broadcasting career.
Charity Work and Helping Children
His interest in social issues reaches beyond comedy.
In November 2024, Save the Children UK announced him as an official ambassador.
The appointment followed his support for campaigns involving children and families facing financial hardship.
He had also volunteered at a food pantry in Manchester.
Another area of his work involved campaigning for better access to free school meals.
His teaching experience influenced these concerns.
He had seen the difficulties some children faced in school.
He also supported the charity’s youth participation activities and Christmas Jumper Day campaign.
As part of his ambassador role, he announced plans to support Save the Children through the 2025 London Marathon.
His public charity work reflects issues he has discussed throughout his career.
Personal Life and Interests
Shabaz remains closely connected to Blackburn.
Although his career takes him to different places, he has continued speaking warmly about his hometown.
He also values family time.
In a September 2026 interview with Hyphen, he spoke about his weekends, hobbies, and the things he enjoys outside work.
One interest stands out.
He loves horror films.
He mentioned enjoying movies such as The Exorcist, The Conjuring, and Saw.
Watching horror films helps him relax, even after a busy day.
He also enjoys catching up with television programmes.
His weekends can include filming and editing content. Sometimes, he spends time planning the next week’s work.
Despite his public personality, his interviews show a quieter side.
Family and home still matter.
Career Growth and Achievements
Shabaz has built a career across several forms of entertainment.
His main achievements include:
- Appearing on Channel 4’s The Circle in 2021.
- Building a following of millions on TikTok and Instagram.
- Publishing I’m Rich, You’re Poor in March 2024.
- Becoming a Save the Children UK ambassador in November 2024.
- Hosting I’m Rich, You’re Poor – The Podcast.
- Performing his first major UK comedy tour in 2025.
- Appearing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2025.
- Presenting Shabaz Asks: Are Billionaires Bad? on BBC Three in July 2026.
These projects took him far beyond the classroom.
Yet his teaching background remains an important part of his public story.
What Is He Doing Now?
As of October 2026, Shabaz works as a comedian, broadcaster, author, and content creator.
His social media accounts continue to focus on humour and commentary about online culture.
His career also includes television work.
In September 2026, he told Hyphen that he was writing a scripted comedy series.
He also discussed working on more ideas for Shabaz Asks.
Those projects were still being developed at the time of the interview.
For now, he remains best known for his funny reactions to luxury lifestyles and the everyday reality behind social media.
Final Thought
Shabaz Ali built his career in an unexpected way.
He started as a working-class student in Blackburn, became a chemistry teacher, and found a large audience by joking about the strange things people do online.
His humour has a point.
He questions why people feel pressure to appear wealthy, even when everyday life is already expensive.
And he does it without losing his familiar Northern voice.
That may be why so many people keep watching.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Shabaz Ali?
Shabaz Ali is a British comedian, author, broadcaster, and former chemistry teacher. He is best known online as Shabaz Says.
2. Where is he from?
He is from Blackburn, Lancashire, England. He grew up in a working-class British-Pakistani family.
3. What did he do before becoming famous?
He worked in a hospital morgue before entering teaching. He later worked as a secondary-school chemistry teacher.
4. Why did he become famous?
He became popular through his I’m Rich, You’re Poor videos, which humorously criticise wealthy influencers and unrealistic social media lifestyles.
5. Did he appear on The Circle?
Yes. He appeared on Channel 4’s The Circle in 2021, playing a fictional contestant named Alice.
6. Has he written a book?
Yes. His first book, I’m Rich, You’re Poor: How to Give Social Media a Reality Check, was published on 26 March 2024.
7. What is his BBC documentary called?
His 2026 BBC Three documentary is called Shabaz Asks: Are Billionaires Bad?
8. Does he support any charities?
Yes. Save the Children UK appointed him as an ambassador in November 2024. His work has included supporting campaigns concerning child poverty.
