Riyadh Khalaf | |
|---|---|
 Khalaf in 2015 | |
| Born | (1991-02-07)7 February 1991 (age 34) Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Other names | Riyadh K |
| Alma mater | Ballyfermot College of Further Education |
| Occupation(s) | Broadcaster, author, activist, YouTuber |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Notable work | Growing Up Gay Queer Britain |
Riyadh Khalaf (born 7 February 1991) is an Irish broadcaster, author, activist, and YouTube personality who has worked in the media industry in Ireland, Australia and the UK.
Born to Irish mother Lorraine and Iraqi father Sam, Khalaf is fromBray, County Wicklow.[1] He attendedNewpark Comprehensive School inBlackrock. Having not done well on hisLeaving Certificate, he decided to pursue a career in media. He started his ownpirate radio station at the age of 16. He studied at Dún Laoghaire Further Education Institute andBallyfermot College of Further Education, graduating with aBachelor of Arts in Media Production Management.[2]
Khalaf began hisYouTube channel whilst still in school, although his videos prior to 2013 are no longer available.[3] During his studies at Ballyfermot, Khalaf landed radio gigs atDublin's 98FM andSPIN 1038.[4] Khalaf featured in the 2010RTÉ One documentary seriesGrowing Up Gay in which he discussedcoming out to his at the time Catholic mother and Muslim father.[5] The same year he took part in the Irish version ofYoung, Dumb and Living Off Mum that was broadcast onTV3.[6] He also presented for Ireland's first temporary LGBT+ radio station, Open FM.[7] He reported for RTÉ'sTwo Tube in 2012 and in 2013 forKIIS 106.5 in Sydney andKIIS 101.1 in Melbourne. Khalaf publicly campaigned for marriage equality (the "Yes vote") in the2015 Irish constitutional referendums. His family's cars were attacked with acid in response.[7]
Upon relocating toLondon in 2016, Khalaf briefly worked as a video producer forMailOnline.[8] In 2017, Khalaf presented the six-partBBC Three documentary seriesQueer Britain[9] and was an interviewer forPride in London'sLove Happens Here YouTube series.[10] He produced and presented a short documentaryI Am... in 2017.[11] In May 2018, he began hosting aNSFW chat podcastUnexpected Fluids forBBC Radio 1 with Alix Fox.[12] Khalaf created and uploadedFighting for Pride: Swaziland, a documentary to his YouTube channel as part of #CreatorsForChange in 2018.[13] Since November 2018, Khalaf has been a relief presenter on BBC Radio 1.
In 2019, Khalaf published his debut novelYay! You're Gay! Now What? A Gay Boy's Guide to Life. That December, he took part inCelebrity Mastermind.[14]
Khalaf's other presenting work includes theYouTube Red event Stream #WithMe to raise money for theNHS during theCOVID-19 pandemic[15] and aBBC Sounds podcast,Obsessed with...Normal People, withEvanna Lynch.[16] He has periodically done work withBBC Radio 1 and guest presentedThe One Show.
Khalaf won the 15th series ofBBC One'sCelebrity MasterChef in 2020. He dedicated his semi-final dishes to his father.[17][18]
Khalaf moved to London in 2016. He has two cats named Claire and Luca, and a duck named Spike, whom he rescued.[15]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Growing Up Gay | Participant | |
| Young, Dumb and Living Off Mum | Irish version | ||
| 2012 | Two Tube | Reporter | |
| 2017 | Queer Britain | Presenter | |
| 2019 | Celebrity Mastermind | Contestant | Series 17, Episode 2[20] |
| 2020 | Celebrity MasterChef | Winner (series 15) | |
| 2020 | The One Show | Guest presenter | WithAlex Jones; 1 episode[21] |
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | Unexpected Fluids | Co-presenter |
| 2020 | Obsessed with...Normal People | |
| 2022 | Obsessed with...Conversations with Friends |
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