Rajiv Karia
Photograph: Eamon Ruskins
Acting
Comedy
Film, TV & Theatre
Acting
Rajiv Karia is an award winning stand-up comedian, writer and actor.
His debut Edinburgh hour Gallivant received rave reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe, before transferring to Soho Theatre in 2023.
Praise for Gallivant
“Whipsmart, yet relaxed, Rajiv Karia oozes confidence on stage… His carefully crafted material and flawless delivery make him one to watch.” ★★★★★ Why Now Magazine
“he’s simply a great joke-writer. You come away from Gallivant hoping to see him land a sitcom writing gig… well-crafted jokes and affable delivery” ★★★★ The Skinny
As an actor, Rajiv has appeared in Malory Towers (CBBC), Lazy Susan (BBC Three) and Christmas Carole (Sky). He played Jam in the London Live original series Content, and Ranj in the Amazon/Vimeo feature Grave New World.
An accomplished writer for radio and television, Rajiv won the prestigious BBC Contract Writer Bursary 2021 and has written material for The Now Show, The News Quiz, Dead Ringers, Olga Koch: OK Computer, and Alex Edelman’s Peer Group on Radio 4. He has various projects in development for radio and television.
Television
| Production | Character | Director | Company |
|---|---|---|---|
CHRISTMAS CAROLE | Jas | Ian Fitzgibbon | Sky Studios |
SMALL DOSES | Saleem | Gideon Beresford/Behnam Taheri | Objective Fiction |
MALORY TOWERS | Mr Hampson | Various | King Bert Productions |
LAZY SUSAN | Rajiv | Molly Manners/Jennifer Sheridan | Tiger Aspect Productions |
GRAVE NEW WORLD | Ranj | Stuart Laws | Turtle Canyon Comedy |
CONTENT | Jam | Stuart Laws | Turtle Canyon Comedy |
Comedy
Rajiv Karia is an award winning stand-up comedian, writer and actor.
An accomplished writer for radio and television, Rajiv was the winner of the prestigious BBC Contract Writer Bursary 2021 (alongside Tasha Dhanraj), and has written material for The Now Show, The News Quiz, Dead Ringers, Olga Koch: OK Computer, and Alex Edelman’s Peer Group on Radio 4. For television and online, he’s written for The Comedy Guide to Life and Bad Advice with Olga Koch on Dave. His sitcom pilot script Zoners (co-written with Ish Ganjoor) was shortlisted for the Amazon Writerslam 2019.
As an actor, Rajiv appeared as series regular Jam in the London Live original series Content Content, and played Ranj in the Turtle Canyon Comedy film Grave New World for Vimeo and Amazon Prime. He will appear in the upcoming series of Malory Towers on CBBC, and the upcoming Lazy Susan series for BBC Three.
Rajiv is an up-and-coming voice on the London stand-up circuit. In 2019, he was shortlisted for BBC New Comedian of the Year. In 2021, his work-in-progress show, Gallivant, was produced by Berks Nest and enjoyed a sold-out limited run in the Pleasance Cabaret Bar at the Edinburgh Fringe. “Dry wit akin to Jack Dee or Romesh Ranganathan” VoiceMag. Tour support for Olga Koch.
Stage
| Production | Character | Director | Company |
|---|---|---|---|
GALLIVANT | Himself | Edinburgh Fringe 2022 | |
GALLIVANT (WIP) | Pleasance Courtyard Edinburgh 2021 / Berks Nest | ||
PAINT (WIP) | Brighton Fringe 2021 | ||
JACK HARRIS AND RAJIV KARIA: THE SQUEEZE | Edinburgh Fringe 2019 | ||
FISH FINGER FRIDAYS: FUN TIME FRIENDS | Edinburgh Fringe 2017 | ||
FISH FINGER FRIDAYS: A SKETCH SHOW | Edinburgh Fringe 2016 |
Television
| Production | Character | Director | Company |
|---|---|---|---|
COMEDY CONFESSIONS | Self | Get Pulped |
Film, TV & Theatre
Radio
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
BEST MEDICINE 2022 | BBC Radio 4 | Writer |
Television
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Horrible Histories 2022 | Lion Television / BBC | Writer's room |