Fatiha El-Ghorri: The Giraffe and the Spatula

Summary

Podcast Summary: Sort Your Life Out Unpacked

Episode Title: Fatiha El-Ghorri: The Giraffe and the Spatula
Host: Dilly Carter (BBC Sounds)
Guest: Fatiha El-Ghorri, Comedian
Date: July 28, 2026

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Overview

In this engaging episode of Sort Your Life Out Unpacked, host Dilly Carter welcomes comedian Fatiha El-Ghorri for a candid, funny, and occasionally moving conversation about home, heritage, clutter, sentimental objects, and surviving life’s challenges. Together, they “unpack” three mystery items from Fatiha’s home, using each as a springboard for stories about family, cultural identity, organization (or disorganization), and resilience—including coping with cancer, finding joy in everyday rituals, and the meaning behind precious keepsakes.

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Main Discussion Points and Insights

1. Fatiha’s Home Life and Approach to Organization

Timestamp: 03:16 – 04:42

• Home Description:
  • Fatiha describes her home in one word: “Bachelor.” (03:16)
  • “It looks a bit like a guy lives there.” – Fatiha (03:18)
  • She admits it still functions but is not decorated elaborately; prefers low maintenance, e.g., with a terrainium as a “decorative” item because it requires little care.
  • On dusting: “Who's… What is dusting? And half of it is us is from our skin.” – Fatiha (03:42)
• Organization Level:
  • Fatiha rates herself as a “5 out of 10” on organizational skills.
• Hijab Storage:
  • Owns around 50 hijabs, stores them on a clothes airer due to practicality (04:48).
  • Dilly suggests a display system with metal bars mounted on the wall to elegantly organize and showcase hijabs (05:02).

2. Essentials and Everyday Rituals

Timestamp: 05:19 – 05:46

• Bag Must-Haves:
  • “Poo spray” and antibacterial wipes are always in her bag—practical and unfiltered:

    “I can't have someone going on Twitter going, ‘Oh, my God, Fatiha stinks. She done a poo and it literally blew my nose off.’” – Fatiha (05:46)

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The Three Mystery Objects

1. The Spatula (or Broken Fish Slice)

Timestamp: 06:01 – 09:24

• Object: Fatiha’s favorite, slightly broken spatula—“the best one for eggs.”
  • Despite having other new or intact spatulas, this broken fish slice is her go-to in the kitchen.
  • “I feel like I’m having an affair [using another spatula].” – Fatiha (06:59)
• Kitchen Drawer Confessions:
  • Fatiha keeps batteries, prayer beads, and assorted clutter in her utensil drawer.
• Dilly’s Organization Tip:
  • Recommends extendable cutlery drawer dividers so nothing falls down the sides (08:20).
• Sustainability & Dishwashing:
  • Fatiha hand-washes as dishwashers feel wasteful for single living, plus it frees up cupboard space.
• Hard Water Woes:
  • Living in London, Fatiha struggles with limescale and hard water (09:24).
• Bonus Cleaning Tip (Ewan from SYLO):
  • For hard water marks, use a dish wand filled half with white vinegar, half water, and just a dash of washing up liquid—scrub the bathroom as you shower (10:07).

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2. Grandma’s Coin Purse

Timestamp: 10:56 – 17:05

• Object: A tiny, worn black coin purse from her maternal grandmother.
  • “She gave me that when I was a child…whenever you save up your money, put it in here and remember me.” – Fatiha (11:38)
• Family Memories:
  • Her grandmother was a strong, formidable woman—a factory worker with 11 children, who once worked with a broken hip (12:08).
  • Family gatherings in Morocco involved everyone squeezing into one bedroom, sleeping on beds, couches, and the floor—a highlight of Fatiha’s youth (12:49).
• Growing Up in a Big Family:
  • Fatiha is the 12th of 13 siblings; the home was chaotic, but she was “never lonely.”
• Adjusting to Living Alone:
  • Initially tough, but she's adapted—realizes “the people you live with is what make a home, not your belongings” (13:38).
• Cultural Tensions and Humour:
  • Recounts fights in school (from not being able to communicate as a new English speaker) and even being banned from the mosque four times:

    “Some cow bags wanted to start giving it… I’m like I’m not having this. I don’t care if it’s in a mosque.” – Fatiha (15:32)

• Heritage’s Influence on Comedy:
  • Feels she has “three brains”—Muslim, Moroccan, British—runs jokes through all mental filters for broad appeal (16:08).

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3. The Giraffe Mug

Timestamp: 19:26 – 20:57

• Object: A giraffe-themed mug, handle shaped like the giraffe’s neck.
• Meaning:
  • Gift from her niece, who knows Fatiha’s love for giraffes.
  • “They're just so gentle. They're majestic.” – Fatiha (20:30)
  • Fatiha cherishes the mug and is a devoted aunt, emphasizing the importance of giving her nieces “time, not just gifts” (21:01).

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Deeper & Moving Topics

Living with Cancer and Surgical Menopause

Timestamp: 21:12 – 24:42

• Diagnosis and Surgery:
  • Fatiha had stage one endometrial cancer, leading to a hysterectomy in 2025.
  • “They said, ‘We would recommend you getting your womb removed… and then we'll check after we remove it.’” – Fatiha (21:49)
  • Didn’t know she had cancer until after surgery.
• Family’s Reaction:
  • She felt responsible for emotionally supporting her family as she shared her diagnosis:

    “…you're the one that has to Be their support…they start crying, and I’m like, but it's me that's going through this.” – Fatiha (22:04)

• Menopause After Effects:
  • Describes the abrupt onset of menopause post-surgery; took many months before seeing a specialist (23:41).
  • Symptoms included sweating from the scalp; found relief with supplements and vitamins.

    “Sometimes it can really come back vicious. And everyone's menopause is different.” – Fatiha (23:57)

  • Dilly shares her own experience to build camaraderie and understanding.
• Advice to Others:
  • Urges women not to suffer in silence—sharing, “It's okay to cry… don’t be hard on yourself. Talk to the people around you.” (25:15)

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On sentimental value:
  • “My grandma's purse…she's no longer with us and it's really sentimental. Means a lot to me.” – Fatiha (26:14)
• On her hood cred and trainers:
  • “Geezers, coming up to me going, ‘Oi, I like your trainers.’ I'm like, you need to back right up. I am calling 999.” – Fatiha (17:39)
• On her happy place:
  • “My bed is my favourite. It's a stretch. I've got like one of those mattresses that's got like a cool gel on it.” – Fatiha (26:54)

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Organizational and Cleaning Tips

• Hijab Display: Use metal wall-mounted rods to elegantly display and organize scarves/hijabs. (05:02)
• Cutlery Organization: Install extendable dividers to prevent items from getting lost in kitchen drawers. (08:20)
• Hard Water Cleaning: Dish wand with white vinegar and water (1:1) plus dish soap for bathroom limescale. (10:07)
• Mug Cleaning: Use denture tablets in hot water to remove stubborn tea stains from mugs. (25:32)

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Keep, Donate, or Recycle?

Timestamp: 26:14 – 26:41

• Keep: Grandma's coin purse (“really sentimental”)
• Donate: The giraffe cup ("Someone could get use out of it as well. And the giraffe. Be inspired.")
• Recycle/Sell: The broken spatula (“I'll pay them to take it.”)

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Final Reflections

• Community and Support: Both Dilly and Fatiha stress the importance of talking openly about women’s health, leaning on community, and not minimizing one’s own struggles.
• Humor and Resilience: Laughter and honesty pervade even the tough topics, making this episode both heartwarming and hilarious.
• On Organizing Your Life: Small practical adjustments (like better cutlery drawers, displaying beloved items, and regular mattress cleaning) can lift spirits and bring order, even among "bachelor" chaos.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• “I feel like I’m having an affair [using another spatula].” – Fatiha (06:59)
• “The people you live with is what make a home, not your belongings.” – Fatiha (13:38)
• “You have to put your feelings on the back burner.” – Fatiha (22:12)
• “It’s okay to cry…don’t be hard on yourself. Talk to the people around you.” – Fatiha (25:15)
• “My bed is my favourite. It's a stretch. I’ve got like one of those mattresses that's got like a cool gel on it.” – Fatiha (26:54)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Home and Organization Habits: 03:16 – 04:42
• Spatula Segment: 06:01 – 09:24
• Hard Water Cleaning Tip (with Ewan): 09:35 – 10:48
• Grandma’s Coin Purse: 10:56 – 17:05
• Family, Culture, and Childhood Tales: 12:41 – 16:27
• Giraffe Mug Segment: 19:26 – 21:02
• Cancer & Hysterectomy Discussion: 21:12 – 24:42
• Keep/Donate/Sell Game: 26:14 – 26:41
• Final Laughs and Closing: 27:10 – end

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Tone and Style

The episode is lively, honest, and filled with warmth. Fatiha’s natural wit, coupled with Dilly’s structured but friendly approach, creates a conversational atmosphere, balancing humor, practical advice, and vulnerability.

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Recommended for:
Listeners interested in organization, sentimental stories, the intersection of cultural identity and home life, women's health, or just fans of uplifting, open-hearted conversation.

Transcript

[Narrator/Advertiser]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk. This advertisement feature is paid and presented by Go Turkiye. Istanbul takes food seriously, very seriously, and mehane restaurants are where it all comes to life. These traditional establishments are all about community, shared plates, loud conversations and rakas served as part of the ritual. But take a small detour and the food starts doing something different. As innovators in the kitchen like Chef Deniz continue to rewrite the menu.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

In Istanbul, new young chefs like me develop the Turkish cuisine.

[Dilly Carter]

But we don't replace tradition.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

We give it new life.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

Because in Istanbul, food never stands still.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Old flavors, new ideas.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

It evolves slowly, confidently, one plate at a time. Plan your next [e-mail] today,

[Advertiser/Ewan]

this is Summer at its peak. Whole Foods Market's Summer Fruit Fest is your invitation to eat the season fresh, organic and bursting with flavor. Start your day with peaches and organic blueberries and yogurt. Build a grazing board with fresh fruit, prosciutto and artisanal cheese. Then fire up the grill with no antibiotics ever, proteins and fresh produce. Savor the season. Shop Summer Fruit Fest at Whole Foods Market.

[Dilly Carter]

I'm Dilly Carter, the organized one, and this is Sort yout Life Out Unpacked. Get ready to unpack three boxes with my celebrity guest. Every box has an item from their own home, plus a load of stories and memories. And standby for my tips on how to sort your own life out, too. This episode, I am joined by a comedian who's been shattering stereotypes whilst making us all howl with laughter. She's called Hackney, her home all her Life, is the 12th of 13 siblings and gives herself a 5 out of 10 when it comes to organization. She was one of the most rebellious taskmaster contestants we've ever seen. And I'm extra excited to have her on the show, as I'm told she's a fan of. Of Sort yout Life Out. Welcome to the brilliant Fatiha El Ghori.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Oh, thank you for having me.

[Dilly Carter]

Oh, Fatiha, I'm so excited that you're here.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I'm excited. I'm like, you're gonna come and sort my house out?

[Dilly Carter]

Well, let's see. So you, like, sort your life out? Tell me.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I love it. I love it. It's so. It's such a beautiful program. It's so much more than just makeover, you know, like, you go in there, you give these people peace of mind. That's priceless.

[Dilly Carter]

Thank you.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Do you know what I mean? And you can tell, you all get on. We really love what you do and always connect with the people. It's just such a wholesome, wholesome show, man.

[Dilly Carter]

It is. I mean, I feel like we're always helping, which is great. And the outcome is amazing. So before we look at your items.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yes.

[Dilly Carter]

I would like to ask you a few quick fire home truths. So number one, how would you describe your home in a sentence?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Oh my God. Bachelor.

[Dilly Carter]

Bachelor.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah. It looks a bit like a guy lives there.

[Dilly Carter]

Okay.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

It's not I need to decorate it. It's just it functions but it's not like pretty or nothing.

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah. So you've not actually decorated any walls? Not put any soft furnishings?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

No, not really. No. I've got a terrainium.

[Dilly Carter]

You like them because you don't have to do anything with them.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah.

[Dilly Carter]

The vibes you're giving off are that you like low maintenance.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah, for sure. I hate dusting, man. Who's. What is dusting? And half of it is us is from our skin. I feel like we need. Someone needs to.

[Dilly Carter]

Have you ever heard your mattress.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

No, no. Oh, don't. Is it?

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah. I mean everyone needs to hear the

[Fatiha El Ghori]

hair gets in it and all that in it. It's disgusting.

[Dilly Carter]

It's just one of those things that choice, if you think about it. Yeah. Anyway, what's something that you have loads of at home?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Hijabs. I know that's an obvious one.

[Dilly Carter]

I mean, you look beautiful today.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Oh, thank you.

[Dilly Carter]

Very well coordinated.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

So do you.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

Thank you.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I didn't know if you. If I knew you was wearing leopard print, I would have worn. I've got leopard prints.

[Dilly Carter]

No, you have not.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I would have wore them.

[Dilly Carter]

You've got a leopard printed job probably. Of course, if not you need one. Yeah. That would have been great if you'd have turned up here in your leopard printed job. On my leopard print chair. Yeah, I would have loved that. So how many of got.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Oh my God, like maybe 50.

[Dilly Carter]

50?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah.

[Dilly Carter]

Where do you store them? Are they stored well? Are they stored beautifully?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

You know like the wire things that you have the dry. To dry your clothes on.

[Dilly Carter]

An error.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah, that's it.

[Dilly Carter]

Clothes error.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

That's it.

[Dilly Carter]

And you have your hijabs hanging on that. Do you know what you need? A really lovely thing that I've done in lots of people's homes is add very simple metal bars that stick out, say about 2cm, 3cm, and you can buy them online anywhere for like 2 pound. They're like a little pole. And then you attach them to the wall and then you feed your scarves through Them. So you have this beautiful display of scarves on the wall. I think actually if you've got something beautiful, display it. And your hijabs, you know, they're all very beautiful.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Thank you.

[Dilly Carter]

What's something you have to have in your bag when you leave the house?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I was going to say poo spray.

[Dilly Carter]

Poo spray. Do you know what? You're a girl after my own heart.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I've got that. I've got like antibacterial wipes in case you need to wipe the toilet seat and stuff like that. All that. Wipe your hands.

[Dilly Carter]

Something we don't talk about. Is it enough? And I love that you've just come out with that bold statement. I mean, I wasn't expecting that.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I can't have someone going on Twitter going, oh, my God, Fatiha stinks. She done a poo. And it literally blew my nose off.

[Dilly Carter]

Shall we look at your first box?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Hold on. Okay, how am I gonna do this?

[Dilly Carter]

Let me come get it.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Thank you, my darling.

[Dilly Carter]

Right, right. Okay. In this first box, which is the medium sized box, I mean, this is getting more random as we go along. In this box is a spatula, but this spatula is not actually. I say it's a spatula. It's like a fish slice, but it appears to be a broken fish slice. Why have I got a broken fish slice in my box?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Do you know what? I have got so many of them at home.

[Dilly Carter]

Well, exactly. Looking like this.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

No, like different versions.

[Dilly Carter]

Different versions.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

That's my favorite. It just when I'm making eggs. It's just the best one at picking up eggs.

[Dilly Carter]

How? But it's flat. It's not even like a slatted spoon. Doesn't the eggs slip off that?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

No, I've mastered it.

[Dilly Carter]

You must be really good at the eggs. And all the rest of the spatulas, are they. Are they okay or are they broken?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah, they're like new. I don'. This is my favorite. It just does the job. I know what I'm gonna get.

[Dilly Carter]

That upsets you to use the other one.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I feel like I'm having an affair. I'm like, no, my baby, you need

[Dilly Carter]

to use this one. I'm like that with my mugs. Actually, I only can only drink out the same mug every day.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

If you use something that's bigger or smaller or different.

[Dilly Carter]

Just doesn't feel right.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Changes the quantity. Changes.

[Dilly Carter]

Do you like to cook?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah, I can cook.

[Dilly Carter]

You can cook?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah. I wish I had a cook. If somebody would like to cook for me, please. Oh, wouldn't we all send an email.

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah. That would be the biggest treat, wouldn't it? Having someone to come and cook.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Not just so that you don't do it. For me, it was more about. So you're eating the right stuff.

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah. So you've got a nice, healthy, nutritious diet every day. Exactly. Yeah.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

But I don't want to see the chef. I just want to be there and then just.

[Dilly Carter]

It's just there. It just appears.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah. I don't want you to talk to me. I don't want you to say good morning. I just need my food. That's all you do. And then go away.

[Dilly Carter]

I don't know if you're going to get many applicants, to be honest.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I know. Okay, I'm sorry, guys. I will say good morning.

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah, you got to say good morning. You got to be nice. Tell me what your kids kitchen's like. Is it organized? Is that utensils draw organized?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

No, not really. I've got batteries in there. Who's got. I know. Don't even. I've got a prayer.

[Dilly Carter]

Would I cut my hand if I put my hand in your. No, no, it's not that bad.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

No. I've got the separator thing. So spoons go in there, but then there's like a gap around the sides, and that's where I just dump loads of stuff.

[Dilly Carter]

And then there's a lot of things going on in that utensil drawer.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

There is. I've got prayer beads in there. Why have I got prayer beads? I don't even know. I couldn't find something.

[Dilly Carter]

Your egg's not going to burn. You do know you can get extendable cutlery drawer dividers so that there is nothing that falls down the side. So you can get just the cutlery organizers and then you can get the extendable ones so they fill the entire cavity of the drawer so there's nothing that's falling around the back down the side.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I'm getting that. You know, so smart. I'm so smart.

[Dilly Carter]

I don't know if I believe what you're saying.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

You need to be on Mastermind.

[Dilly Carter]

My special subject is organization. Cutlery drawers.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

No, forget. Forget being a contestant, Clive. Myri needs to do one and you need to be.

[Dilly Carter]

I can be. Honestly, if you knew how thick I actually am, I could never go on Mastermind or any type of crochet. How do you care for your precious spatula? I mean, is it just it. Can it go in the dishwasher? Do we hand wash it?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I don't have a Dishwasher.

[Dilly Carter]

Oh, okay. So you have to wash everything.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I just think it's waste. It's wasteful if you live on your own.

[Dilly Carter]

I agree. You know what I mean?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

And then it's. There's no point.

[Dilly Carter]

Very sensible.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah.

[Dilly Carter]

Means you've got more kitchen cupboard space.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yes, exactly.

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

And depending on where you are in the country as well. Like in London, we have such terrible water, like hard water, everything. You just constantly. Limescale and everything.

[Dilly Carter]

I think we should give Ewan a call. Ewan, who is our master cleaner on Sort yout Life Out. Let me give him a quick call. Hi, darling, how are you doing? I'm really well. I am with the incredibly funny Pattaya living in London. She has a lot of hard water problems and limescale. Is there anything you've got for tips for that?

[E]

It's a nightmare, isn't it? Where are your watermarks? Fatiha?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

So I get them a lot around, you know, like the corners in the bath and on the taps and stuff.

[E]

Have you seen the little washing up ones you get where you put the washing up liquid in the handle?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yes.

[E]

So I keep one of those in my bathroom, but I put some white vinegar in it, half and half with water and then just a dash of washing up liquid. And that is like your magic wand for the bathroom, forgetting getting all those hard water marks off.

[Dilly Carter]

Oh, okay.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

So when you finish your shower, do you use it straight away or.

[E]

Yeah, you can multitask so you could be having a little scrub at the same time. It's fantastic.

[Dilly Carter]

I like to clean while I'm in the shower cleaning myself.

[E]

Do you have a little scrub?

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah, I love a little scrub in the shower while I'm in there.

[E]

I have got bold with the grout.

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah, I do, actually.

[E]

Anybody who lives in a soft water area don't know they're born because as soon as you. It's a nightmare.

[Dilly Carter]

Okay. Thank you for those lovely tips, Ewan, as always.

[E]

Pleasure. Bye.

[Dilly Carter]

Bye, darling. Shall we have a look at what you've got in your next box?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yes, of course.

[Dilly Carter]

So funny. Right, okay. Oh, in this medium sized box there is a very tiny little black coin purse. And this little black coin purse is. I mean, it is diddy and it's got a nice silver rim, but it looks very worn. It's been well used. Yeah. I mean, you probably couldn't fit many coins in this tiny little coin purse. That's how small it is. It was quite worn around the edges. Tell me whose coin purse this is and why it Means so much to you.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

This is my grandma's.

[Dilly Carter]

Okay.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

My maternal grandma.

[Dilly Carter]

Yep.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Who's. She's. Passed away maybe 15 years ago, but she gave me that when I was a child.

[Dilly Carter]

Wow.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

When I was really little, when I was like eight or something, she used to live. She. Because I'm Moroccan.

[Dilly Carter]

Yep.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Born and raised here, but I'm Moroccan. And she lived in Morocco. She never came to visit us here or anything. So when we used to go to Morocco, I remember one year she gave that to me and she was like, whenever you save up your money, put it in here and remember me and stuff. So it's just. So it just reminds me of her.

[Dilly Carter]

And tell me what she was like.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

She was a formidable woman. Like, she was really strong. She. She used to work in a factory and she fell over once on the way home. She broke her hip and she just wrapped it up and carried on working. Yeah. She didn't. Because they didn't have money to go. Like, everything's private. Like, health care is private over there. So just a strong, strong woman did everything for her family. Her and my granddad just worked so hard to make sure the kids were fed at school, clean things like that.

[Dilly Carter]

And how many children did they have?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I think. I think she had 11.

[Dilly Carter]

11 children?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah.

[Dilly Carter]

I mean, that's a lot. All in one house as well.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

But there's. It's fun. Like, when we used to go there, it would be fun. And obviously when you have that many children, you can't have, like, your own bedrooms. So we used to, like, all. All the women used to squeeze into one bedroom. Some would be sleeping on the floor, some would be on the couch, some would be on the bed. And we would just spend all night chatting and like. It's so fun. It's one of my favorite times, like, memories.

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Now when I go and visit my cousins and stuff that I'm like, can we all sleep in the same room together? Let's do. Remember what we used to do with Nanny?

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

They're like, are you mad?

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah. Why would you want to do that? I mean, you're the 12th child out of 13 as well, aren't you? So you're used to that huge family environment. What was it like growing up in a house like that with so many

[Fatiha El Ghori]

people mad, but fun. There was always. Always playing games. I've got a younger sister.

[Dilly Carter]

Never lonely.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah, Never lonely. Always something. Always something going on.

[Dilly Carter]

How do you find that now that you're living alone?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

It was tough at first. I'm used to it Now. Yeah, I've been living alone for about 10 years. And you know the, the people that you live with is what make a home. Not, not your. The belongings and things like that. So. And then you don't have that. So I'm like, what's going. You know when you're sick, there's no one to be like, sorry, can you just make me a cup of tea? Or I don't feel well. Can you pass me the paracetamol there ain't that you have to get up.

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah. You have to go do it yourself.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah.

[Dilly Carter]

And what were you like as a child?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I was a little bit naughty. It's only because when I was growing up it wasn't as mixed as it is now. And the kids knew you were different. There was a lot of like, we had like BMP National Front that used to knock on people's doors and all that. It was very, everything was very open and hard. It was really hard. When I was growing up, my dad, he didn't speak English to us at home. He used to say to us at home, you're Muslim and you're Moroccan and outside you're Muslim and British. And I didn't realise. And then when I went to nursery, I remember it like yesterday, the teacher was like speaking in English and I was like, what? And I said to my mum, what's she saying?

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah, you didn't understand?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah, I didn't understand. And my mum said, oh, this is not our country. And she didn't mean it in the sense of like, I don't like this country or this is not my country. Not like that. It's just that we always felt like second class citizens. Always. I still feel like that now. I still feel torn. So it was tough. Cause the kids used to pick on us. They used to see like my mom wearing hijab. I didn't wear obviously hijab. I was too young. And they pick on you. So I used to fight them all the time because I couldn't communicate.

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Just to smash people up. I'm like, oh, you want some? Let's have it.

[Dilly Carter]

Laughing but oh my gosh.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I used to like, my mom sometimes would drop me at the school and then go get to the gate and they'd call her back, she'd be like, I should just punch someone. No, my mom be like, why are you always fighting?

[Dilly Carter]

I think I read, didn't you get banned from the mosque four times as well? I mean, I didn't know that would be possible.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah. Oh my God, yeah. Because they just. Some cow bags wanted to start giving it. Yeah. And I'm like, I'm not having this. I don't care if it's in a mosque. Like, ain't no way. So. Yeah. And then they complain.

[Dilly Carter]

Who would have thought that the mosque is a. Is a place of calm and quiet and prayer? I mean, was your Moroccan heritage a big part of your upbringing?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah, most definitely. Most definitely. The. The music, dancing, like, I know how to belly dance.

[Dilly Carter]

Can you still belly dance?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yes, I can still do it.

[Dilly Carter]

Oh, my gosh. I mean, I'd love to see that.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

You and so many others.

[Dilly Carter]

Just keep wishing, Dilly. Keep wishing. You are not gonna see that.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I do have, like three different brains, you know, Like, I've like the Muslim brain, the Moroccan brain, the British brain.

[Dilly Carter]

That's a lot.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

It is a lot. And you have. You do. Sometimes I go into one and use that one. And sometimes I have to. In and out and.

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Especially, like, for example, writing my jokes. I do have to run it through all three of those brains.

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

To make sure it connects with. With everyone.

[Dilly Carter]

But have you found that to be actually something that's now benefited you as a comedian?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah, definitely.

[Dilly Carter]

You know, you're not just British, you're not just Moroccan. You can just stand there and you can talk about all these different experiences with all these different hats on. So that must make you quite unique.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I don't know. That would be for you to just. Yeah, yeah. But I agree with you. There are a lot of material that I can use. I've got a lot of, like. Storage.

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah, a lot of storage.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Storage that you are not allowed to reorganize. Okay.

[Dilly Carter]

Do you have a lot of storage? I mean, where do you keep this beautiful little purse?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I've got a little, like, box thing that I leave it in.

[Dilly Carter]

A little memory box.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah, exactly. A memory. I need to get another one, actually, but yeah.

[Dilly Carter]

Why? Is that memory box full?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

No, just I put something else in there. Some plastic thing, and it just stinks.

[Dilly Carter]

It's not an old spatula with an egg, is it?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

No.

[Dilly Carter]

And where is the memory box?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

It's in a storage cupboard where I keep my trainers.

[Dilly Carter]

Your memory box is. Where is. Where you keep your trainers? Have you got lots of trainers?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I do. I've got.

[Dilly Carter]

Is that your thing?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah, it is. Some of them are very expensive.

[Dilly Carter]

Are they ones that you don't wear or that you do wear them?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I do wear them, but I don't wear them a lot. Yeah, they're not. Because I get. Geezers, coming up to me going, oi.

[Dilly Carter]

Oh, nice trainers.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I like your trains. I'm like, you need to back right up. I am calling 999. I live in the hood, so I don't trust no one.

[Dilly Carter]

Do you still live in that same.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I still live in the hood, man.

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah. Surely you're a bit of a face around there now, as no one's coming, coming near you.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

No, it's still this. They don't care. No. Yeah. I'm like, oh, you want to go, let's go.

[Dilly Carter]

Well, I'd imagine they should know. They don't mess with you. The local mosque has probably put a picture of you outside, haven't they?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

They try to do that nonsense. And I was like, listen, I swear to God, I will go crazy.

[Dilly Carter]

I'm taking you down. Be careful when you go to Hackney in case you bump into Fatia. She's not taking any prisoners.

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[Dilly Carter]

Should we have a look and see what you've got in your next box? Yes, of course. In your last box. Oh, well done. Well, this is the tiniest box. So this last tiny box. This is so funny because I'm looking at this item and it's just made me think of my daughter and I'll tell you why. So in this box is a giraffe. And it's a giraffe. It's not. Sorry. In this box is a giraffe. In this box is not a giraffe. Because that would be magical, wouldn't it?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

So David Attenborough would be on the blower. Guy, what the hell are you doing?

[Dilly Carter]

I'd also be Cancelled for keeping a giraffe in a box. Just for clarification, it is a giraffe mug. In this box, I'm pulling out a beautiful giraffe mug. And actually, what I love about this giraffe mug is that the neck bends around and his little head is on the side of it so that the handle is his neck, which is very cute. And the reason I love this giraffe mug is that when I had my first and only daughter, we decided actually, we're gonna do a giraffe wall. Tell me why you love giraffes.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

So they're my favorite animal. I just think they're so beautiful.

[Dilly Carter]

They are.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Their eyes are so pretty. Yes, they're really big and strong, but they're just so gentle. They're majestic.

[Dilly Carter]

And they're just incredible creatures, aren't they?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah, they really are. I love them.

[Dilly Carter]

Who gave you the giraffe mug?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

So my little niece G gave me that. She's six and she gave me that because she knows I love the graph. She gave me that. She got me a key ring. She got me a cuddly toy. But then when she comes around my house, she's like, can I have the cuddly toy? I'm like, no, he's mine. But, yeah, she. She's so sweet. They're so thoughtful.

[Dilly Carter]

What you like as an auntie.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Oh, I'll spoil them.

[Dilly Carter]

As you should.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Not just with gifts, but, like. But also with time. That's more important.

[Dilly Carter]

Of course.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

So spending time with them and.

[Dilly Carter]

Are you close to your sister?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah, very close. She's my younger sister.

[Dilly Carter]

And so she was obviously really supportive because you went through some quite difficult times when you found out you had cancer. And you and I both had stage one cancer. You had endometrial cancer, didn't you? Yes, I had cancer in my womb. So we both share that in terms of. We both had to have a hysterectomy. I mean, how was that for you

[Fatiha El Ghori]

finding out that news that it was crazy. So mine was. It showed up in the scan and they were like. But they couldn't confirm it. Like, it didn't show up in the biopsy or in the mri. So it was an advisory. They said we would recommend you getting your womb removed.

[Dilly Carter]

Right.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

And then we'll check after we, you know, remove it. And I was like, okay. And my mom was like, no, they could be wrong. Don't do it. It's difficult in it when you having to tell people that news. Cause you're the one that has to Be their support.

[Dilly Carter]

Yes.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

You know what I mean? Then they start crying, and I'm like, but it's me that's going through this.

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

So it's difficult. You have to put your feelings on the back burner.

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

So I had the operation, went back a month after for. And then he goes, oh, by the way, you've had cancer. And I was like, I'm sorry. What? So. And that was wild. And then.

[Dilly Carter]

So you actually didn't know you had cancer. It was just. You had the hysterectomy to avoid the risk of getting cancer, and you. And you haven't got any children. You didn't have any children, so that must have been a really hard decision to make.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Not really for me. I don't think I ever wanted kids.

[Dilly Carter]

Okay.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I don't think I had a bit of a tough childhood. I've always said, I don't mind. I'd like to adopt because I'd like to give another child a chance.

[Dilly Carter]

I'm adopted. So. Thank you for thinking about it.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

No, definitely. I just.

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah. For me, I think if you can, why not?

[Dilly Carter]

How was your surgery? You know, are you okay now? Have you recovered?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I had it in May last year. 2025.

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah. So it's still fairly new.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah.

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Sometimes if people see me going downstairs backwards, why is this woman insane? I'm like, I have to, because it hurts.

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

And stuff. But it's getting better.

[Dilly Carter]

It's such a huge operation. And of course, you go into what they call surgical menopause.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah.

[Dilly Carter]

So you wake up after having your womb removed and you go straight into menopause, which is another joy. It's only now, two years later, two and a half years later, that I'm starting to realize what menopause symptoms I had. Because there was so much going on at that time, I didn't realize, but now I'm sort of like. Like fully in it. I'm like, oh, okay. This is what everyone's talking about. This is the menopause. How are you dealing with that?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I had the operation in May. I didn't. I didn't get to see by the menopause specialist until December.

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

And you're crawling the walls. You know what I mean? Like, you know, she put me on all these supplements and vitamins, and that's really helped. So that's what I'm taking.

[Dilly Carter]

So you're coming out the other side.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah. Like, it's up and down. Sometimes it can really come back vicious. And you're like, oh, my God. And everyone's menopause is different. Like I never had hot fl. Yeah. But I used to sweat from my scalp.

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

And it would come down my face and it was. And I could smell it. But it wasn't offensive. It was such a weird. I was like, this is from my body, but it's not from my body.

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah. It doesn't feel normal.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah. Really weird. And then you're also like, what you said after your operation, you're dealing with coming out of anesthetic and it's fake. Ain't a joke.

[Dilly Carter]

No.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Like that's serious.

[Dilly Carter]

You know, any, any major operation. There's actually so much that happens that you have to recover from and obviously the trauma, finding out that you've got cancer, the trauma of having to deal with all of those side effect is a lot. Yeah, there's a lot. But I'm glad you're okay.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Thank you.

[Dilly Carter]

And I'm glad that you're sort of coming out the other side. Do you feel like you've got enough support? Do you feel like you've got your family that.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Oh yeah, yeah. In that I just. You know what makes me sad? I just think other women suffering, you know, like. Cause I put a post out about it.

[Dilly Carter]

Yeah.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

And a lot of women commented and some women were like, I didn't even get a follow up appointment. What the hell is going on?

[Dilly Carter]

And I think the most important thing we can do as women, as a community is talk about it. You know, just reach out to your friends because there's always someone that, that can help you or at least be there to support you while you try and get that help. Like don't suffer in silence.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

No, exactly. It's okay to cry. It's okay. This is, this is not an easy thing.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

No.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Don't be hard on yourself.

[Dilly Carter]

No.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

You know, like you said, talk to the people around you.

[Dilly Carter]

Talk to the people around you. Put the kettle on.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah.

[Dilly Carter]

Make a nice cup of tea in a giraffe mug. Sit and chat.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I've got a little thing for you actually. I've got a little cleaning tip. What I do is, you know, you get those tablets that you clean dentures with.

[Dilly Carter]

Oh gosh. Yeah, yeah. This is tip as ready.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

So what I do is I get a cup and I fill it with hot water and then I throw one in and it just gets rid of all the tea stains. Cuz you know, like this mug, it's got little corner bits that I can't get to look, you can see. But I haven't cleaned it with the denture.

[Dilly Carter]

You haven't used your denture mug?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

No, I haven't. Cuz I wanted this. I wanted to leave it as an example.

[Dilly Carter]

Oh, okay. I see.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

[Dilly Carter]

Thank you for bringing all your items in. If you had to, what would you keep, donate or sell?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I think what I would keep would be my. My grandma's purse.

[Dilly Carter]

Of course. Yeah.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Because she's no longer with us and it's really sentimental. Means a lot to me. What I would donate is the cup.

[Dilly Carter]

Yep.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Someone could get use out of it as well. And the giraffe. Be inspired.

[Dilly Carter]

Put a denture tablet in it when you give it away. Yep.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I would sell that to a scrap yard.

[Dilly Carter]

You say you're going to sell the spatula?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah.

[Dilly Carter]

Okay. How much do you think you're going to get for your broken spatula?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

I'll pay them to take it.

[Dilly Carter]

I mean. Yeah. I mean, a scrap yard would be like, we don't even want it for our kitchen, love. So you can take your broken spatula back. Thanks. And my last question to you. Where in your home is your happy place?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

My bed is my favorite. It's a stretch. I've got like one of those mattresses that's got like a cool gel on it.

[Dilly Carter]

As long as you deep clean it when you get home. Oh, no, it's going to be even nicer. Make sure you hoover that mattress every six months. Put a little alarm on on your phone.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Okay. Oh, my God, you're brutal.

[Dilly Carter]

I am.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

People have said that you're like army officer.

[Dilly Carter]

Yes.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Dilly.

[Dilly Carter]

Yes.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

You should get an MBE now.

[Dilly Carter]

The services to organizing the country.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah. And you know, for what you've been through as well.

[Dilly Carter]

Thank you.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Yeah, Actually. And sorting out my mattress. Listen, Mr. Charles, give her an MBE for sorting out my mattress.

[Dilly Carter]

Thank you. Yeah. Is that what I'm gonna need to do it? Is that how bad it is?

[Fatiha El Ghori]

No, I'll do it. I'll do it.

[Dilly Carter]

Someone needs to give me an award for doing it. You need to give yourself an aw. Do it, Matia. Thank you so much. You've been such a joy. It's been so lovely to sit with you and I'm so grateful for your time. Thank you very much.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Thank you so much. Thank you. By the way, everyone. Dilly gives everyone a little brownie. Do people know this or not?

[Dilly Carter]

No, it's not common.

[Fatiha El Ghori]

Well, they know it now, so. She's so kind. She brings a little brat on me and then she gives it to you. And the first thing I asked her is, does it have drugs in it? And she said, Absolutely not. Mr. Charles won't give me my NDE if it has drugs in it. But no, seriously, it's so kind, like, thank you. And so, yeah, thank you so much.

[Dilly Carter]

I can't wait to be back with you. For more revealing home truths, organizational hacks and celeb unboxings, sort your life out. Unpacked is presented by me, Dilly Carter. You can watch us on iplayer and listen on BBC Sounds. And don't forget to subscribe on BBC Sounds and have push notifications turned on to make sure you don't miss an episode.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

Silence in Court I'm Lucy Worsley and in my brand new series, I'll be hearing about the women involved in some of history's most infamous legal battles. Women accused of murder, bigamy and adultery through to the shocking offense of not knowing their place. With a team of all female detectives, I'll explore the lives at the center of some extraordinary courtroom dramas asking has the justice system truly changed? Lady on Trial with Lucy Worsley from BBC Radio 4. Listen now on BBC Sounds.

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