Mim Shaikh
Mim Shaikh is a broadcaster, actor, and documentary storyteller whose work bridges culture, identity, and creativity across radio, television, and film.
Raised in South London by his grandmother after early family challenges, Mim found his voice through storytelling and community. He studied at Rutlish High School and Coombe Sixth Form before moving to Leeds for university, where he discovered his passion for broadcasting at Leeds Student Radio. His early shows earned him Student Radio Awards for Best Specialist Music Programming and Best Interview.
Mim’s talent soon caught the attention of the BBC. After interning at BBC Radio 1’s Newsbeat and joining the BBC’s Hackney Academy, he went on to present for BBC Asian Network and BBC Radio 1Xtra, becoming the first South Asian daytime presenter on 1Xtra. He has also guest-hosted shows for major figures including Trevor Nelson.
Alongside his radio work, Mim has built an impressive acting career. He made his screen debut in Riz Ahmed’s short film Daytimer (2014) and appeared in the BAFTA-winning short Sunni // Shia (2016). His screen credits include Freehold (SXSW selection, 2018), Informer (BBC), King Gary, Casualty, Doctors, and the romantic comedy What’s Love Got to Do With It? (2023). In 2024, he featured in Channel 4’s acclaimed drama Queenie.
As a documentarian, Mim wrote, produced, and presented BBC Three’s Finding Dad (2018), which followed his deeply personal journey to reconnect with his estranged father in Pakistan. The film was nominated for Best Factual Programming at the Asian Media Awards and cemented his reputation as an authentic and emotionally intelligent storyteller. He later appeared in BBC Two’s Pilgrimage: The Road to Istanbul (2022), where he spoke openly about his liberal Muslim faith, and in Celebrity MasterChef (2019).
Mim continues to amplify under-represented voices through his podcast Aik Cup Chai: Crossing Cultures, produced with Independent Urdu, and as an ambassador for ScreenSkills, where he mentors emerging talent in the creative industries. His work earned him the Greater London Authority Identity Storyteller Award in 2024.
Biography
Mim Shaikh is a broadcaster, actor, and documentary storyteller whose work bridges culture, identity, and creativity across radio, television, and film.
Raised in South London by his grandmother after early family challenges, Mim found his voice through storytelling and community. He studied at Rutlish High School and Coombe Sixth Form before moving to Leeds for university, where he discovered his passion for broadcasting at Leeds Student Radio. His early shows earned him Student Radio Awards for Best Specialist Music Programming and Best Interview.
Mim’s talent soon caught the attention of the BBC. After interning at BBC Radio 1’s Newsbeat and joining the BBC’s Hackney Academy, he went on to present for BBC Asian Network and BBC Radio 1Xtra, becoming the first South Asian daytime presenter on 1Xtra. He has also guest-hosted shows for major figures including Trevor Nelson.
Alongside his radio work, Mim has built an impressive acting career. He made his screen debut in Riz Ahmed’s short film Daytimer (2014) and appeared in the BAFTA-winning short Sunni // Shia (2016). His screen credits include Freehold (SXSW selection, 2018), Informer (BBC), King Gary, Casualty, Doctors, and the romantic comedy What’s Love Got to Do With It? (2023). In 2024, he featured in Channel 4’s acclaimed drama Queenie.
As a documentarian, Mim wrote, produced, and presented BBC Three’s Finding Dad (2018), which followed his deeply personal journey to reconnect with his estranged father in Pakistan. The film was nominated for Best Factual Programming at the Asian Media Awards and cemented his reputation as an authentic and emotionally intelligent storyteller. He later appeared in BBC Two’s Pilgrimage: The Road to Istanbul (2022), where he spoke openly about his liberal Muslim faith, and in Celebrity MasterChef (2019).
Mim continues to amplify under-represented voices through his podcast Aik Cup Chai: Crossing Cultures, produced with Independent Urdu, and as an ambassador for ScreenSkills, where he mentors emerging talent in the creative industries. His work earned him the Greater London Authority Identity Storyteller Award in 2024.