Munya Chawawa will be putting his baking skills to the test in the Celebrity Bake Off tent for the Stand Up To Cancer special on March 17.
Hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding will welcome 20 stars into the tent for the Stand Up To Cancer special where their efforts will be judged by Paul Hollywood and Dame Prue Leith.
Munya, who will be battling it out with Mel B, Oti Mabuse, Rhod Gilbert and Danny Dyer for the coveted baking title, has had quite the journey to stardom.
From his upbringing in the unrest of Zimbabwe, to being cruelly taunted in school, his path to internet stardom has been quite unique.
Read on to find out more about the hilarious comic who found fame as a posh drill rapper during lockdown.
Comic Munya Chawawa will be putting his baking skills to the test in the Celebrity Bake Off tent for the Stand Up to Cancer special on March 17
MailOnline take a look at the posh drill rapper who found internet popularity during lockdown
Where is Munya Chawawa from?
From his upbringing in the unrest of Zimbabwe, to being cruelly taunted in school, his path to internet stardom has been anything but easy (Munya aged four)
Born in the chilly East Midlands town of Derby, Munya Chawawa was welcomed into the world on December 29, 1992.
He is best-known for his viral comedy sketches poking fun at both celebrities and politicians alike.
As a child, Munya would imagine whole worlds and fight scenes every morning inspired by the toys hanging from his ceiling.
His performing streak started early, as the comic would regularly hold three hour performances filled with ventriloquism, breakdancing and singing for his grandparents and parents.
Jokingly describing himself as a ‘triple threat’, Munya told the Guardian: ‘I attribute my path as an entertainer 100% to my uncle and grandad.
‘We’d go to my grandparents’ house on a Friday and my Uncle Doug would come loaded with an artillery of jokes.’
However at the tender age of four, Munya was uprooted as his family moved back to Zimbabwe.
But thanks to his sporty and academic nature – and what he describes as the ‘glistening novelty’ of being a British child – Munya was very popular in his new school.
With super strict parents at home, the comedy rapper noted how it felt like he led a double life as a squeaky clean head boy and the class joker.
Chatting with Patta in 2020, Munya said: ‘I tell people I’m Zimbabwean because, you know when you just connect with a place so deeply?
‘Growing up in Zimbabwe, people are so positive and so happy you really do believe you can do anything.’
When did Munya Chawawa return to England?
But the actor’s happy school life soon came crumbling down when he was forced to return to England due to political upheaval ignited by authoritarian leader Robert Mugabe.
Recalling the ‘culture shock’ of relocating to the Norfolk village of Framingham Pigot, Munya explained that whilst being clever was a signal of popularity in Zimbabwe, it rubbed his British classmates up the wrong way.
Unfortunately, the comedian explained he would often be reprimanded by other students for being eager to answer questions and labelled a ‘boffin’.
He added: ‘I didn’t even know what boffin meant. It sounded like something you could catch in a game of Quidditch.’
Although the bullies did not physically hurt the young actor, they did slowly chip away at his confidence and self-esteem.
Citing an example of how they would get into his psyche, Munya remembered: ‘I had to have surgery to get my appendix removed, and while I was in hospital we had a substitute teacher who asked why I wasn’t at school, and the boys in my class said, “Munya is smoking weed; he’s a dealer.”’
Detailing how he was punished by his peers for being a go-getter who was proud of his heritage, the comedian retold of an incident where the bullies went as far as to drench a wooden hippo – which he had made to remind him of his country – in glue.
Through his pain, he found creativity writing poetry and rap verses about his struggles – and eventually public speaking.
Finding his groove once again as head boy of the school, Munya went on to present breakdancing competitions during lunch breaks and would fist bump year seven students on his way to class.
What has Munya Chawawa done?
The former Sheffield University Psychology student rose to fame after poking fun at a video of Jamie Oliver making jerk-rice
Now worth an estimated £1 million, according to The Sun, the comic’s stardom is a far cry from his difficult school life.
The former Sheffield University Psychology student rose to fame after poking fun at a video of Jamie Oliver making jerk-rice.
After uploading the parody video titled Jonny Oliver, Munya bagged over a hundred new followers.
Wanting to catch the attention of TV agents, the comedian was determined to reach 30,000 on Instagram, constantly posting two sketches a week.
Quickly raking up well over 30,000 – and then more followers than all the presenters at 4Music – Munya bagged a job.
The new role was short-lived as the channel changed, making him redundant after only a week.
Despite the setbacks, Munya created the parody drill rapper Unknown P and saw astronomical success during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.
He described the posh drill rapper character as a ‘nod towards the appropriation and false ownership of black culture that often happens in western societies.’
Following his 2019 Fire in The Booth freestyle and a flurry of parody news sketches, Munya signed to Atlantic Records and later released his debut single Piers Morgan.
His second single Pain Au Chocolat, as well as his Daily Duppy freestyle garnered him a great number of views.
Having previously collaborated with fellow comics such as Mo Gilligan and Michael Dapaah, Munya has scored brand deals with likes of Netflix and GiffGaff.
Since he has garnered an Instagram following of 1.3 million, bagging deals with Atlantic Records, Netflix and GiffGaff
Outside of comedy, Munya has featured on The Sandman as Choronzon and was a contestant on Celebrity MasterChef (pictured 2021)
Beyond comedy, Munya has featured on Celebrity MasterChef 2021 and as Choronzon on Netflix’s The Sandman.
However the comic felt like he really made it when he came face to face with none other than Dwayne The Rock Johnson.
‘When I was sat opposite The Rock, that was definitely a sweaty moment for me because this is a guy who I watched my whole childhood,’ he told the BBC.
‘The amount of times I watched this man’s elbow land, so to be sat opposite him making a sketch on it [is incredible].’
More recently he decided to explore his Zimbabwean origins, in the BBC documentary Munya Chawawa: How To Survive A Dictator.
Explaining why he took on the challenge, the actor said he wanted to bring himself ‘closure’ as to why he had to leave ‘somewhere that felt like paradise’.
Bringing his own twist to the hard-hitting documentary, Munya has said it will be the first show in history ‘to explain dictatorships with R&B’.
Munya is set to feature alongside a whole host of stars on The Great Celebrity Bake Off: Stand Up To Cancer Special on March 17.
More recently he decided to explore his Zimbabwean origins, in the BBC documentary Munya Chawawa: How To Survive A Dictator to help himself ‘closure’
