"Is it flawed, or do we need to refresh our viewpoint?"
TikTok star Shabaz Ali has announced a new documentary for BBC Three, sparking excitement among fans curious about wealth, privilege and inequality.
Titled Shabaz Asks: Are Billionaires Bad?, the 60-minute film explores billionaire culture and the ethics of extreme wealth through Ali’s humorous yet questioning perspective.
Produced by Brighton-based indie Hello Mary, the documentary marks Ali’s television debut after years of building a loyal online audience through sharp social commentary.
Principal filming began in mid-February 2026, with the programme expected to premiere later this year on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer, although an exact release date remains unconfirmed.
Ali plans to interview a billionaire during the documentary, even crowdsourcing potential contacts from followers across social media to make the conversation more unpredictable and audience-driven.
Originally from Blackburn, the former chemistry teacher transitioned into full-time content creation after his satirical videos critiquing flashy wealth went viral online.
His “I’m Rich, You’re Poor” sketches gained millions of views for blending humour with social critique, often filmed from his bedroom and rooted in everyday British experiences.
From there, he developed a repeatable format: lying in bed, reacting deadpan to clips of ultra-wealthy influencers and absurd luxury trends.
Within roughly a year, he grew from tens of thousands of followers to more than a million, eventually amassing well over 2 million on TikTok and a similarly huge audience on Instagram.
Ali previously appeared on The Circle on Channel 4, further expanding his public profile beyond social media audiences.
In 2024, he published the book I’m Rich, You’re Poor: How to Give Social Media a Reality Check, examining influencer culture and society’s obsession with perceived success.
Announcing the project on Instagram in mid February, Ali joked that the BBC wanted to see whether he might change his views, adding confidently that he probably would not.
Fans flooded the comments with excitement, promising humour and honest conversations about money and power.
Ali said: “A film presents the most thrilling chance yet to inquire about our culture: is it flawed, or do we need to refresh our viewpoint? Are billionaires bad?”
He added that he felt both nervous and excited to collaborate with the broadcaster, calling the opportunity a major step in his creative journey.
BBC Head of Entertainment Commissioning Kalpna Patel-Knight praised Ali’s humour and cultural insight, noting his strong connection with younger audiences and digitally engaged viewers.
As debates around wealth intensify globally, the documentary positions Ali at the centre of a conversation many young viewers increasingly want to confront.
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