Bassem Youssef

Bassem Youssef is a heart surgeon turned comedian and political commentator, dubbed “the Jon Stewart of the Arab World.” 

Youssef rose to fame as the host of the popular TV show AlBernameg – which was the first of its kind political satire show in the Middle East. It evolved from a five-minute Youtube show to the most-watched show in the region, racking up 30 millions viewers per week. The success of AlBernameg led to many showbiz opportunities for Youssef, including appearances on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. 

Before embarking on a career in comedy and political satire, Youssef practised cardiothoracic surgery in Egypt for 13 years. He majored in cardiothoracic surgery, passed the United States Medical License Exam (USMLE) and is a member of the Royal College of Surgeons.

Youssef started his plant-based journey around 2013. With his medical background, he created Plant B, described as a programme “to help achieve a healthier life on a plant based diet.”