Summary
Overview
Mo Gilligan joins Louis Theroux to discuss his journey from retail worker to BAFTA-winning comedian, the evolution of Black British comedy, his viral social media success including 'Couple of Cans,' and his new Netflix documentary about fast food. They explore themes of representation, the pressure of being a Black comedian in mainstream media, and Mo's experience eating fried chicken for 28 days straight.
The Black British Comedy Circuit and Representation
Mo opens up about creating the documentary 'Black British and Funny' to shine a light on the thriving but underrepresented Black comedy circuit in the UK. He discusses the 'one-in-one-out' policy he perceived in mainstream British comedy, where having one Black comedian seemed to preclude opportunities for others. The conversation explores how Black British comedians like Slim had been selling out major venues for decades but hadn't received mainstream recognition, and Mo's desire to document this scene for future generations.
- The documentary was conceived as a passion project to showcase Black British comedy to audiences who might not know about the vibrant circuit
- Black British comedians have been selling out major venues like the O2 and Hammersmith Apollo but remained outside mainstream recognition
- Comics on the Black circuit can share stages with legends after just 10 shows, unlike the mainstream circuit
- The Real McCoy sketch show in the early 90s was formative for Mo's generation, providing crucial representation
" I'm not the only one, do you know I mean? It's not just like, oh, we've got Black Guys, it's Mo. And I'm like, no, no, no, guys, it's not that. "
From Social Media Virality to Mainstream Success
Mo discusses his breakthrough moment when his 'Different Types of MCs' video went viral while he was working at Levi's. He explains how he would create content during work breaks, posting videos from the changing rooms and checking engagement on his bus ride home. Drake's endorsement with 'Couple of Cans' catapulted his visibility, though Mo emphasizes the viral success was built on consistent work on the Black comedy circuit where he'd already been honing his craft for years.
- Mo worked retail jobs including Joe Malone, Thomas Pink, and Levi's while building his comedy career
- His 'Different Types of MCs' compilation video went viral after he posted it before going to the cinema, hitting over a million views
- Mo would record and edit videos during work breaks at Levi's, posting from the changing rooms to avoid cameras
- Drake quoted 'Couple of Cans' at Reading and Leeds Festival when he had 30-40 million followers, massively boosting Mo's profile
" I went to the cinema and I put my phone on airplane mode, posted a video, put it on airplane mode. And then as I've gone out to the cinema, I've checked it, and the video is being shared everywhere. Like my comments, I'd never seen it before. "
" Funny is funny, you know, it doesn't matter like what you say when funny is just funny. "
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