Nazeem Hussain's new comedy Separated at Birth draws on his own fatherhood crisis
The ABC series, which premiered November 11, marks the comedian's first scripted narrative and explores single fatherhood, community and generational trauma.
Australian comedian Nazeem Hussain's first scripted narrative series, Separated at Birth, premiered on the ABC on November 11, drawing on his own experiences as a new father and the existential crisis he faced in the birthing suite.
The half-hour comedy stars Hussain as Sameer, a paramedic whose wife leaves him in the birthing suite after he ghosts her calls for three hours during active labour. The series follows Sameer's journey as a new single father, supported by his mother and his imam.
Hussain said the idea for the show came from becoming a dad himself and the 'massive identity shift' that accompanied it. 'I had a bit of an existential crisis in the birthing suite, holding my [first] kid,' he said. 'What the hell have I done with my life? How did I get here? I've got to be funny for the next 18 years, minimum.'
The project is a departure from Hussain's earlier work in stand-up and sketch comedy, such as Legally Brown and Orange is in New Brown, where every scene ends in a joke. 'This is the hardest thing I've ever done: telling a story that is worth telling and worth listening to and investing in,' he said.
The series features an ensemble cast including Sana'a Shaik, Nadee Kammallaweera, Leah Vandenberg, Urzila Carlson, and cameos from comedians Luke McGregor and Ryan Shelton. Notably, the adhan (call to prayer) in the mosque scenes is performed by Yusuf Islam, formerly Cat Stevens, after Hussain's mother arranged it during a chance encounter.
Filming took place at the Albanian Mosque in Melbourne's inner north. Separated at Birth explores themes of parental responsibility, generational trauma and the role of community, particularly the Muslim community that Hussain grew up in. 'My family was me, my sisters and my mum, but our extended family was really the Muslim community,' he said.
Hussain said the series also allowed him to reflect on his own father's absence. His father returned to Sri Lanka when he was a child and passed away from COVID-19 in 2021. Hussain said the way men receive love from their parents, particularly from fathers, informs how they struggle to give it themselves.
Separated at Birth premiered at 8.30pm on November 11 on ABC and ABC iview.
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Analysis
Why This Matters
Separated at Birth marks Hussain's shift from stand-up to scripted narrative, potentially broadening representation of Muslim-Australian families on screen.
The series openly explores challenges of single fatherhood and generational trauma, topics rarely central in Australian comedy.
The show's community-driven production, including a Screen Australia attachment program, may set a template for more inclusive hiring.
Background
Nazeem Hussain is an Australian comedian known for sketch comedy series including Legally Brown and Orange is in New Brown. Separated at Birth is his first scripted narrative series, produced by Princess Pictures for the ABC. The show premieres on 11 November 2026.
What to Watch
Viewer and critical reception to Separated at Birth, which will determine whether it paves the way for more narrative comedies from Australian comedians of diverse backgrounds.
The impact of the series' attachment program for emerging crew members, which may influence future industry hiring practices.
Whether the show's candid exploration of single fatherhood resonates with audiences and sparks broader conversations about parental roles.
11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.
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SupportedThe comedy draws on Hussain’s own fatherhood experience and the existential crisis he had in the birthing suite.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““The idea for this show came from becoming a dad and having this massive identity shift,” he says. “I had a bit of an existential crisis in the birthing suite, holding my [first] kid.””
Partly supportedSeparated at Birth premiered on November 11.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Separated at Birth premieres at 8.30pm, November 11 on the ABC and ABC iview.”
Partly supportedSeparated at Birth is Hussain’s first scripted narrative series.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “his first time writing a full, scripted narrative series”
SupportedHussain said, “What the hell have I done with my life? How did I get here? I've got to be funny for the next 18 years, minimum.”Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““What the hell have I done with my life? How did I get here? I’ve got to be funny for the next 18 years, minimum.””
SupportedSameer is a paramedic whose wife dumps him in the birthing suite after he ghosts her calls for three hours during active labour.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Sameer is an extreme example of that: a paramedic who we meet while ghosting his wife’s calls for three hours during active labour.”
SupportedThe series follows Sameer as a new single father, with guidance from his mother and imam.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “His mother, Husna (Nadee Kammallaweera), who raised Sameer on her own, is trying to guide her son through the crisis”
SupportedHussain said the series explores parental responsibility, generational trauma and the Muslim community.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The theme of generational trauma looms larger than you might imagine for a half-hour comedy”
SupportedThe adhan in the mosque scenes is performed by Yusuf Islam, formerly Cat Stevens, after Hussain’s mother encountered him and arranged it.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “the adhan (call to prayer) in the mosque scenes is performed by Yusuf Islam (aka Cat Stevens). How did that happen? “Muslim community stuff,” he says in disbelief. His mum held the famous singer-songwriter in a “hostage situation” calling Hussain on FaceTime after bumping into him at a function.”
SupportedThe series was filmed at the Albanian Mosque in Melbourne’s inner north.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “inside the Albanian Mosque in Melbourne’s inner north. “Oh no, a journalist in the mosque!” he jokes when I meet him during the filming of his new ABC series Separated at Birth.”
SupportedHussain’s father returned to Sri Lanka when Hussain was a child and died from COVID-19 in 2021.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Hussain and his two sisters were raised by their mum after his father returned to Sri Lanka when he was a child. Though the pair were in contact later in life, his father passed away from COVID-19 in 2021”
SupportedHussain said his family was himself, his sisters and his mother, while the Muslim community was their extended family.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““My family was me, my sisters and my mum, but our extended family was really the Muslim community,” says Hussain”
Correction
An earlier version of this story said Separated at Birth would premiere tonight. It premiered on November 11.