Ali G is a satirical character invented by the comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. Ali G first appeared on Channel 4's The Eleven O'Clock Show as the "voice of youth". He interviewed British public figures, who, too scared to appear "uncool", were completely wrong-footed by his idiosyncratic interviewing technique, based mostly on the simple stratagem of pretending to be stupid.

He is a member of the "West Staines Massiv", and lives at 36 Cherry Blossom Close in the heart of the "Staines Ghetto". He was educated at what he calls "Da Matthew Arnold Skool".

Staines is a middle-class suburb of London that has been the butt of jokes for many years. Anywhere further from an American inner-city ghetto would be hard to imagine. This fact is lost on Ali G, who believes himself to exemplify "Gangsta" culture.

Ali G has subsequently become a UK media phenomenon, with his own TV show. He was featured in Madonna's music video for her song Music as a limousine driver and subsequently recorded his own record with the rap/reggae performer Shaggy.

In 2002 he was the central character in the feature film Ali G Indahouse, in which he became elected to Parliament and had to foil a plot to bulldoze Staines. He is now the main character of HBO's Da Ali G Show, which also features two other characters, Borat Sagdiyev and Bruno.