Riz Ahmed’s Path to ‘Bait’: Facing Challenges, Learning Life Lessons, and Sharing Humor with Patrick Stewart
Title: New Comedy Series "Bait" Explores the Complexities of Identity and Ambition
In a week marked by unexpected events, writer and creator Ahmed faced both personal turmoil and professional revelation when he was banned from a local supermarket for suspected shoplifting. This incident coincided with leaked images from his upcoming project, leading to deep reflections on shame and self-identity.
Inspired by the notion that "the distance between your public and private self is the amount of shame you’re carrying," Ahmed conceived the idea for his series, Bait. He remarked, “Either I need to get therapy or I need to make a TV show about it.” This creative impetus gave rise to Shah Latif, a neurotic aspiring actor whose misadventures mirror many of Ahmed’s own life experiences.
Among the show’s more surreal moments is a humorous encounter where Shah consults a decapitated pig head, portrayed with the iconic voice of Sir Patrick Stewart. Ahmed recounted the unlikely collaboration: “We wrote him a letter expecting him to say no, but he said yes. Still pinching.” This led to an amusing interaction, with Stewart learning Urdu swear words, quipping, “Behenchod – ah, sister f*cker, is it? Fantastic, it does have a logic to it.”
The development of Bait was marked by serendipitous events, including the involvement of co-star Guz Kahn, who plays Shah’s cousin Zulfi. Kahn reminded Ahmed of a chance meeting two decades prior that had left a lasting impression. Ahmed reflected on the memory, saying, “I was doing spoken-word poetry performance in a British city called Coventry, which is like a post-apocalyptic Detroit.” He humorously described trying to attract an audience in a tough neighborhood, where Kahn and his friends ultimately showed up out of pity.
Kahn’s memories of that night led to a significant realization for both: “Guz says it was the first time I saw someone who looked like me doing something like that in a space like that. And that inspired me to take the stage more, and that set him on his journey.”
As the series concludes, audiences are left guessing whether Shah is truly offered the role of James Bond—a position he’s fought for at a great personal cost—or if the moment is metaphorical. While Prime Video has yet to confirm a Season 2, Ahmed expressed a sense of peace regardless of the show’s future. He stated, “All the incredible geniuses, teachers, mentors who shepherded me through my first experience showrunning. Whether or not we get to make Bait again, I’d love to keep that family with me.”
Check back Monday for the panel video.
