Ella Al-Shamahi

Ella Al-Shamahi is a multifaceted individual, known as both a stand-up comedian and a TV presenter. She hails from the United Kingdom and combines these pursuits with a distinguished career as an explorer, palaeoanthropologist, and evolutionary biologist. With a Genetics BSc from University College London, she also obtained an MSc in Taxonomy and Biodiversity at Imperial College London/Natural History Museum. Presently, she is working towards a PhD at University College London, focusing on the evolution of Neanderthals, with a particular interest in Neanderthals and caves.

Al-Shamahi’s career began with presenting science, natural history, and archaeology programs for channels like BBC, National Geographic, PBS, and others. She has undertaken expeditions to politically unstable and hostile territories, including Yemen and Somaliland, and Iraq, Yemen, and Nagorno-Karabakh. Since 2015, she has been designated a National Geographic Explorer, appearing twice within the pages of National Geographic Magazine and even contributing as a co-guest Editor for the initial UK edition. Her work includes presenting documentaries such as ‘What Killed the Whale’ (Channel 4), ‘Tutankhamun: Secrets of the Tomb’ (Channel 4) and the seven-year series 'Our Changing Planet' (BBC). During her presentation of National Geographic’s Viking Warrior Women in 2019, she identified possible signs of a battle wound on a female Viking warrior. She also presented BBC Two’s science series, 'Neanderthals: Meet Your Ancestors' in 2018 and ‘Horizon: Body Clock – What Makes Your Body Tick’ in 2018.

Beyond her scientific endeavors, Al-Shamahi is a skilled stand-up comedian who performs internationally. She has taken four stand-up shows to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and has performed at venues like the Bloomsbury Theatre and the National Geographic main stage in DC. Employing humor, she explains difficult science ideas to connect with people, increasing understanding. Her debut book, 'The Handshake: A Gripping History,' garnered significant praise; it was named a Times Book of the Year and a Sunday Times Book of the Year. In 2019, she delivered a TED main stage talk that garnered over 2.5 million views. From April 2024, she will present ‘The Conversation’ on BBC World Service. Moreover, she features in the second run of BBC Radio 4’s ‘Why Do We Do That,’ initially broadcast in October 2022. In 2025, she will present the 5-part BBC/PBS series HUMAN. She also co-hosted a 5-part radio show with her brother Abubakr Al-Shamahi for BBC World Service in 2021.