The BBC Asian Network has confirmed that Poppy Begum will present a discussion show, “Group Chat”, on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10pm to midnight.
Beggining on Monday 17th February at 10pm, Poppy’s talk show will offer a fresh take on a wide selection of topics and issues important to young British Asian audiences.
Mobeen Azhar will host the Monday and Tuesday editions of Group Chat, as he continues to work on a range of projects including his TV commitments.
London born Poppy is an established investigative journalist and producer known for her thought-provoking documentary work. Career highlights include presenting BBC Three’s Young And Sterile where she spoke to young people volunteering to be sterilised, and Drugs Map Of Britain, where she produced and presented reports on recreational Class A drug use. In the BBC Two series, Hospital, she covered issues around health and has also reported for Vice on people leaving Islam. Poppy has presented an investigative special about British women supporting the Islamic State group for Channel 4’s Dispatches, and produced The Curry House Kid, an arts documentary about the British Bangladeshi community in the UK.
Poppy is passionate about human-interest stories and social issues and hopes to give listeners access to conversation around issues that aren’t always reflected in mainstream media or her own British Bangladeshi community.
Poppy Begum says: “I am not scared of controversy, I want to bust the stigmas and taboos that often plague the Asian community which is why I am very happy to discuss issues that we might be too scared to talk about in the comfort of our own living rooms or indeed with each other.”
Mark Strippel, Head of Programmes for BBC Asian Network, says: “We are delighted Poppy has a regular slot on BBC Asian Network. She made an instant connection with our listeners as one of the hosts of Asian Network’s Brown Girls Do It Too, a podcast aimed at opening up the conversation around the sexual experiences of British Asian women. Both Poppy and Mobeen make our week-night discussions compelling, distinctive and relevant to our young audiences.”