The first series of the scripted reality show Desi Rascals debuted on Sky Living in January, and quickly turned into one of the most underrated TV moments of the year, thanks to its cliche-free portrayal of British Asians, relatable, multi-generational west-London cast and addictive storylines. It was created by Bend It Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha, who explained the concept to the Guardian. “What’s amazing about Desi Rascals is that once you get over the all-Asian cast, what it seems to be mainly about is what everyone else is concerned about. Young people. Getting off with each other. Being embarrassed by your parents. Being hurt by romance. You’ll watch it because it is entertaining, because it is moving, not because it is Asian.”
Here are five things we hope to see in the new series …
Funnier parents
While it’s great to see a TV show about British-Asians that breaks from the strict parent stereotype cemented by post 9/11 gritty Bafta bait, it would be great to have some more classic desi wit. The show has milked the appeasing “haha see they’re just like all parents!” angle. Any British-Asian will tell you our mothers are sharp-tongued, with the ability to deliver lines so harsh they leave you clutching your chest for days. Moses’s mum called him both shameless and a donkey (in Punjabi, obv) when he met her girlfriend, and it’s exactly this kind of brashness that gives maximum lols. More mums who can cuss you in two languages, please. It’s still funny with subtitles.
Diversity
How about more white characters, I mean how would they like it if we made a show called English Rascals!! Just kidding. I’m talking regional diversity. I mean, a TV show about British Asians without any Brummies or northerners? Pfft. Either include them or give us a Birmingham/Manchester-only spin-off. Too many southern sensibilities gets boring very quickly. The show is also notably lacking a) anyone from Bangladesh (more than 450,000 Bangladeshis reside in the UK), and b) anyone wearing a hijab. It’s weird that they haven’t got a single hijabi character – there’s no excuse when even a mainstream comedy such as Citizen Khan has one. Representation matters.
Don’t fall into the Made in Chelsea trap
Made in Chelsea, AKA Fulham with an Instagram filter, was an unbearable premise to begin with, but it was watchable. Now it’s dead, betrayed by new non-dramas and blow-dry beefs no one cares about. Desi Rascals tackles more real issues than any other reality show – interfaith marriages, sister/mother-in-law tension and absent parents. If it keeps it up and doesn’t fall into a cycle of vapidity and lip fillers, there won’t be a reality show that can touch it.
Cameos
Last season, they had Amitabh Bachchan, who “bumped into” Arshina and her mum, and proceeded to recite his famous lines from Kabhi Kabhie. The bar was set high, and sure, we were moved – but he’s more for our mums. This season, we’re asking for a minimum of Shahrukh Khan and Zayn Malik. I’d say another name but I’d be violating the Guardian’s Asian Name Allowance policy (maximum three per paragraph).
Fights at a shisha bar
Unlike Towie or MiC, there’s no throwing wine in this show. Too haram. The shisha bar is an underused setting for reality show fights. We want to see hot coals flying about and stale piña colada-flavoured shisha water poured down someone’s throat. You can get creative with the pipes and tongs too. See also: luxury fruit platter. Truly, a shisha bar is fight prop heaven.
