TV & RADIO LEGEND: Melvin Odoom

0:00Mo Gilligan: Yes, what's good people? It's Mo Gilligan here and right now you are listening to my podcast, Beginning, Middle and Ends. Now this week I sat down with a presenter, a DJ, actor, entertainer, personality. That's right, his energy and love of music and connecting people has made him a household name and a staple voice in UK radio. we get into everything from him sneaking salt into the jungle on I'm a Celeb and also those amazing foot skills on Strictly Come Dancing. Please welcome to the podcast my good friend Melvin O'Doom. How you been yourself though? You alright? I'm good. It's busy. After the jungle it kind of changed everything.

0:44Last year was dead. TV was. So radio was good and then DJing was fine but TV I think I did a game I did a few game shows and then I did a show for E4 called Cooking School after that nothing nothing that's why you people like yourself OT you guys were all blessed because you were on big big shows which they're never gonna cancel them but TV was dead so doing the jungle because I was scared bro yeah I had to force myself to do it my agents put me forward and didn't tell me because I've been saying no for a few years but I was like I've done no TV so I kind of have to do this to remind people again

1:23Mo Gilligan: and then it's being busy again so I'm good it's just a bit weird because you know it's that thing where it's just like we're always blessed to be busy but when we're not busy it's when we're like what the hell we're at but I was I was questioning it I was like how long can this go on for I've got a friend called Andrew Davis I'd love you to meet him he is we work together at One Extra before we was on Kiss and Radio 1 we were broadcast assistants at 1 Extra and this guy's just so clever so he started working for MySpace years ago and he came up with this thing called The Hookup that's how Charlie Sloth first blew up oh yeah so Andrew was having lunch with me and Ricky one day and he said to me if you and Rick's never had radio what would you lot do and I was like I don't know and this is before we was DJing it's before we did loads of big TV gigs and stuff like that.

2:17So that's when I started like thinking about things like property, things like the DJing because we used to pay a man to DJ for us and me and Ricky would be on the mic.

2:25Mo Gilligan: Is it? We'd pay our friend Charlie to DJ because we couldn't DJ and then Andrew was like you need to learn how to DJ and then get your basically your finger in other parts. So that's what I did. Because I didn't know you're from West London. No. You're not from West London? No, I'm not. You grew up in Hammersmith though, right? So weirdly enough I was born in Cricklewood. Really? It's weird that you said that. Yeah, no one would know that. Unless you've got some deep researchers. Hey, so, you know, we work here, man. That's deep. You know? Yeah. So I was born in Cricklewood. Okay. Then lived in Seven Sisters.

2:55Okay. When I was a baby. Then we moved to Edmonton.

2:57Mo Gilligan: Ah, so that's, so you're North through and through. That is the whole, that's from Northwest. Yeah, I have no business in South. And when you say Seven Sisters, that's, that is North London's Peckham. Like, seven, that is, Tottenham is the front line, you know? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Me and my cousins used to play on St. Anne's Road. Yeah. We all used to kind of like just hang out around that area. My first job was on Wood Green High Road. Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. In a shoe shop. And I bet it still looked how it did back then, isn't it? That place has not changed, you know? My dad used to work on that road.

3:28He used to do like accessories like curtains and all that stuff. He was the manager of the store. And so, yeah, that was like our main stomping ground.

3:36Mo Gilligan: Your dad's gone in, yeah? Yeah, everyone's gone in, fully blown. So like, wasn't your dad like a producer or something like this? So dad has always been in retail. Okay. So do you remember Paul Simon? Paul Simon? Yeah. Is that like a shirt shop or something? So they do like, so no, you're thinking of Paul Smith. Ah, okay. So Paul Simon do like blinds, curtains, the bedding. Oh, a bit like Laura Ashley. Basically like that. Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah. So he used to work for them. And then he used to work in like big supermarkets, like manager of supermarkets. And then my mum was a seamstress. And so she'd work from home.

4:09And then she, like she's a care worker now. Oh, is it? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So like your family have really, that's like real graft.

4:16Mo Gilligan: Oh yeah. Any graft I have comes from them. My mum is the biggest hustler. And my dad, even when he retired, he was still like, he'll come to the house and he'll be like, I'm coming to do the ironing for you. Ensure that everything is washed for me. I'm like, dad, you can just chill in the house. He's like, no, no, I have to be busy. So he'll come, he'll clean all the windows. He does all the cleaning in the kitchen. I'll come home and everything is ironed. My bedding's done. He's folded everything, put it on the bed. He can't relax. Even now, he's at my sister's now looking after the kids. He can't relax.

4:55He always has to work.

4:56Mo Gilligan: I feel like there is such a similarity of Jamaicans and Ghanaians. You think? I feel like Jamaicans and Nigerians. I think Ghanaians, you know. Really? I feel like Jamaicans and Ghanaians. We are so close. But you know what it is? it's weird because I feel like the similarities of my Ghanaian friends, especially the household-wise, is so similar to a Jamaican household. But our attitudes are very similar to Nigerians. I didn't want to say it. I'm glad you said it because I didn't want to get into it. Because Ghanaian attitudes, and I'm just basing this off my friends and their upbringing and going to their...

5:35Mo Gilligan: It's very relaxed, very chill vibes. Do you know what I mean? There's no... Like if someone's mum has got a problem with you, you'll never know. We're like, Ghanaians I say are like passive aggressive. Yeah, but it's quite small islands. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like the vibes are very like, because my dad's St. Lucian. So the vibe is very small island-ish. 100%. But Nigerians and Jamaicans, we think we are the best. But I feel like you have the same hustle. I feel like Nigerians - I just think that's a black hustle though. Oh yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. But I know you mean that there is a hustle in like - there's a passion in it.

6:11It's a different kind of hustle.

6:13Mo Gilligan: Yo, man, make me carry all of the juice from this small mountain all of the way by myself, Ronald Smithson. You're like, all right, calm down, relax, man. And then, so you went university as well, isn't it? Yeah, so that's where I met Ricks. Okay. So we went to Luton. It's now called University of Bedfordshire. Yeah. And I went there because I couldn't get into the unis that I basically selected. I didn't get the grades so I went through clearing and it was the best thing that happened to me because I met Ricks and we had exactly the same goal same passion and I met like four other guys who are like Ricky but they just don't do radio and we all lived in a house together and we're like brothers you know how your boys are yeah yeah I remember there was something beautiful years ago you did something I came to one of your shows and then afterwards you went on holiday with all your boys and oh yeah we all went to LA.

7:10Right. Yeah. And I was like, you lot, you lot remind me of my boys. Yeah. Cause I'm like godfather to some of them. Like yesterday, one of my boys had like a little one and he says, we've got like a group together and we're all so close. I can call them up and be like, can you do this? And they've got my back. I've seen when I come to your events, I see that. Yeah. And so there's another four Rickies and then I've got my boys from school and then I've got my cousin. And so we're like this little unit.

7:38Mo Gilligan: Okay. And so it was the best thing going to Luton because it kind of broadened the unit. But yeah, we did radio and media performance. And that's kind of how I ended up kind of getting into the kind of whole radio thing. Because I wanted to be an actor at one point. And then I just messed up my A-levels. I got really scared and nervous and messed up my final project. And then I was like, well, what's the next best thing to do? And then I thought, okay, I can maybe do presenting. and Richard Blackwood who I know you know he was just on MTV and I was like I can do that Richard's always been a mad supporter I always whenever I do these kind of things I always big him up and Trevor Nelson's bored about how many times I big him up because of there weren't many people doing it at the time so those are the people that I watched and just kind of made me feel like I can do the same thing So your beginning is interesting because obviously growing up in like a Ghanaian household I know it's very much gotta go university doctor lawyer engineer well I didn't want to do uni do you know what I mean so you didn't want to do university no how does that work though in a Ghanaian household because I feel like you know how it works because I said to mum can I go to the drama school yeah I had to beg her to do the A levels and then when I got to see she was like okay I gave you a chance my drama teacher Mrs.

8:58Christopher had to beg my mum and then so when I got to see she was like well I kind of gave you the chance and you didn't get the grades. So you have to go to university. She's like, you have to go. But mum's no best. Because like I said, if I didn't go, I wouldn't have met Ricky. There would be no Ricky, Melvin and Charlie. You see what I'm saying? So I remember the biggest challenge for me was when I came home from uni because I was more broke than when I started and I wasn't working. And so mum was like, why don't you go and get a job in NatWest Bank or something? And I was like, no, I was like, mum, please.

9:32He's like, I really believe in this. I think this can happen. And at the time I used to be upset because I thought mum didn't believe in me, but it wasn't that. It was, she was protecting me. Because for her, there was no one on TV. Like you had Trevor McDonald.

9:47Mo Gilligan: Yeah, that's it. And you had Lenny Henry. Yeah. So she was like, why are you going to, why are you Melvin, my boy from Edmonton, going to now end up on television? Yeah. So she was like, just get a normal job. Like be like your uncle. He's working for the NHS. Yes. It'll be like your daddy's working in retail. And I was just like, no, I'm going to keep pushing. And then I remember me and Ricks, we did like a demo tape, like a little show reel. And we were in my bedroom at the time. And she came in and she saw us like writing these scripts. We did like a makeover show. And we got Ricky's ex to be like one of these like someone in the street that we do with just makeover.

10:25We pretended that I just made up the whole thing. And my mom was like, I can see you guys are serious. you're going to make it and that's when I was like okay mum believes it now

10:34Mo Gilligan: and then that was the show reel that a boss at KISS saw and that's how we ended up at KISS oh wow bro so everything for a reason and obviously now she sees the paycheck now mum's like I need this I want a holiday to Dubai so now she now mum's the biggest fan in the world do you know what I mean the biggest supporter the biggest supporter the biggest supporter but to get to that stage it was it took a while and I think it was because she was just trying to protect us. So where does your love of performance come into it? Because if your uncle worked for the NHS, your dad worked in retails of grafter, your mum is very like, I want you to go on the educational path, which I feel like any black mum is just going to be on that path anyway.

11:20Mo Gilligan: Do you know what I mean? So where is the love of wanting to perform? Where is that seed being planted, if that makes sense? I've said this before my earliest memory Mo and I actually wanted to speak to you about this my earliest memory was I was at a family party my cousin David and my cousin Jackie right and there were all these kids you know when you get banished to the your bedroom so it's your party it's like someone's birthday all the adults are downstairs in the front room and you're banished in the room somewhere right and I can't remember I used to do these impressions of Chris Eubank don't ask me to do it now because I can't do it And I used to just make my cousins laugh.

12:00And I was like, I like this feeling of making people smile and telling someone a story and making them happy. I just loved that feeling. And so I was like, what can I do in life to give people that feeling? Whether it's presenting, whether it's DJing, whether it's acting, I just love that feeling. And so I think that's where my first kind of like taste of performance came from. And so I want to ask you, like, when did you go, right, I wanted to start making people laugh. I went to, what was his name? Manny Norte had a party once and you came super late, bro. I don't know if you remember this. This was in East London, right?

12:37You came late, like the party was done and you came in and then you were in the lift and there was like 20 of us in this lift. And you were just saying some mad stuff, but you were so funny. You were making the whole lift laugh. And it was before I knew you was a comedian and I was like, who's this guy? And I was just like, you're just born to be a comedian. You probably don't even remember, bro.

12:58Mo Gilligan: I don't remember. Wait, I think I remember. It was like The Curtain or something like that. Oh, The Curtain. And they used to call it Gorgon City. And you were just making everyone laugh. And I was like, who is this guy? And then I went to an award show afterwards. And then after that, you was gone. You're just doing stuff with Nasty and all this stuff. And then you've just gone clear. But I just remember thinking, I wonder what was your first thing to make you go I want to be a comedian I know I'm not asking you now no no no I think it's interesting about you mentioning that that was in Shoreditch wasn't it yeah that party yeah yeah yeah do you remember I vaguely remember those Man in Auties parties because they were the vibe and I remember I'd go there and I think it was that time when I was just like doing some stuff on social media so you first start getting invited to these things and you're like oh alright well must be doing something right I got invited I'd see people like yourself there.

13:54Mo Gilligan: I'd see J2K there. Yes. And I'd be like, oh, there's some cool people here, man. I'm invited with these lot. So it was always a vibe of being there. But also, once your peers kind of rate you or invite you to a thing, you're like, oh, wow, I'm involved now, isn't it? So I never had any fear of... I didn't feel like I needed to entertain, but if I was in the lift, I'd be like, well... But I don't think you did it as... You weren't trying to entertain people you were just busting joke oh no that's just me yeah because you know what it is like once i'm comfortable and i think that was the thing of like once my my peers would invite me to these things i'm like oh i feel comfortable i feel like these are people that i've always known but also knowing that like i don't know these people but i know them in a sense of we probably grew up in the same areas or environments or but now we're in a place where you know like those parties those early parties what I used to love and I've been to a few of them is that everyone felt like they could let their hair down and everyone could essentially be like yeah like this is this is our thing this isn't like you know a bougie West End club where you're trying to get in and I get the hostility when you're in the queue trying to get in hey Wogwan you cool yeah hey yeah can you get and you're like bro it's please man we've been there too many times we're just about getting in Yeah, we've been there.

15:20Mo Gilligan: And you know already they're not, oh, okay, cool, how many? There's six. And you see someone and you're like, I know you're trying to get them with us. Mo, for that reason, we started doing parties. Yeah. We started doing parties. And I, you know, I remember going to a party, Reggie Yates' parties. His ones were called Trading Places. Trading Places. Yeah, yeah. So going to Manny Noughties was like, ah, I've been to one of these before. We had Estelle recently on the pod and it was like those parties were my first taste of like these are people that I know their music I've seen them on television I've seen them as presenters but it was my first taste of everyone's just relaxed here there's no ego it's just a vibe and yes it felt it was industry in a sense of like you needed to know someone to get in yeah yeah yeah and that's what I liked about it it felt like I'd won the golden ticket in a sense of like yeah I know someone but it did feel special when you were there yeah because even if when you were there it was like yeah you're meant to be here and don't get me wrong there is a part of it where you're like I see why it's closed off but I get it because everyone can be there themselves there's no passer passer trying to get in there's no guys on the table that are doing too much it's not hood do you know what I mean and don't get me wrong I love some of the hood stuff but it's not every day we must go there being like let me leave man it's going to kick off you man good to see you because they're not going to fight.

16:48Mo Gilligan: And I think that was it, going to something where I could just be myself and I can bust joke. But going back to your question, I think for me when I was young, I felt like it's that same comfortability when you're around your family and you can be your real authentic self. And they will only laugh if you're funny. Do you know what I mean? Your family and your friends. But you know that, because I was talking to someone about this the other day and I was like, your generation is mad lucky. I know you're not - Oh yeah, no, I agree still. Social media is - Because you're allowed to be yourself. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

17:21Mo Gilligan: You're allowed to be yourself. Whereas I'm myself and me and Ricks are ourselves, but we have to be a palatable version of ourselves. Yes, yeah, yeah. Do you see what I'm saying? So Middle England feel comfortable. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 100 % man. So like, I'm always like, I'm always like, you are so lucky. Yeah. So lucky. But I'm happy though because people like our Trevors and people like your Richards and stuff like that have allowed us, or allowed you guys to be yourselves, which I think is so beautiful. So like you then start off doing children's television. Yeah, Dick and Dumb in the bungalow.

17:57Mo Gilligan: What was that like? Because I feel like as an entry point into the world of, you know, entertainment, kids TV, you have to be prepared to be wacky. I done a little bit of it on CBBC. What did you do? I was on a show called Johnny and I Neil Show. They had kids too and they do characters. But within their characters, they had a TV set. So we had a fake producer. We had a fake director and we had a fake runner. But my name was my name, innit? Right. So I was like a runner called Mo. And it'd be like, hey Mo, so I might feature in a few sketches. And I remember one time I do some electric dance. I was like, Mo, man.

18:36And I was like, I had to do this thing. You know I'm going straight to Google after this. I know, it's on there still. Oh, man. Yeah, yeah, no, no, no. That's going to wipe off.

18:44Mo Gilligan: Your PR is amazing. Wipe that off, man. But I'll never forget, and this is why I say, yeah, children's TV is so humbling, but you have to, like, whatever ego you got, because they had me doing something where, you know, throughout the show, you're like, cool, we got you doing this bit, that bit. And I'm like, oh, this is fine. This is vibes. And then it was like, yeah, we've got this electric dance where we want you, and it's like electric, but like, yeah, you got to, and they were like, I was like, what do you mean? Like, yeah, but you're electrocuted, but it's like, cool. And I was like, I was like, so then I went like this and I was like, the whole guy, that's it.

19:18Mo Gilligan: I was like, I know why I'm here now, isn't it? I know the box I have to tick now, isn't it? Oh my days. Don't get me wrong, it was a vibe, but I said, listen, none of my friends need to really see this. So it's mad you say that. So Dick and Dom was my first ever entry. Yeah. And it's one of the best things I ever did. Oh, no, no. It's so fun. So fun. It doesn't feel like a job. For me, it was like, we'd turn up in the studio and my producer would be like, you need to dress up as this, Melvin. And I never questioned it. Yeah, yeah. Sometimes I was someone's dad. Sometimes I was a werewolf. Yeah.

19:52Sometimes I was an old woman. I never questioned it. I would just turn up, do my thing, and then come off set. And that show won several kids' BAFTAs. Yeah, yeah. That show is historical. And Richard and Dom... I met them.

20:04Mo Gilligan: I remember when I met them, I was so gassed. They're legends and they're the nicest boys ever. And they were my introduction to how you broadcast and how you present. Because those boys were dealing with kids on live TV for like four hours every weekend. People think it's light work. Yeah, it's not easy. It's not easy, bro. So for me, I'd watch what they do and I was learning, secretly learning every single day. And there were other actors on the show who were like, they were trained actors. they went to like Rado and places like that. They were really like top of their game. And they'll give me kind of tips and stuff.

20:40And our producer is a guy called Steve Ride. And he's a genius, Mo. He's an absolute genius. The guy used to come up with ideas and concepts and he was the heart of the show. So in our ears, he'd say stuff and the audience would never hear it. Sometimes it was too rude for the audience, but he would make us laugh. So we're constantly happy. Yeah, it looks so fun. It was fun, bro. It was fun.

21:02Mo Gilligan: As a show, I've seen a clip recently where the girl doesn't win the prize and them two are just laughing in her face. Yeah. And everyone keeps saying, oh, you couldn't do this now. And I'm like, look, there's a ton of TV that you couldn't do now. There's a lot of songs you couldn't play now. But you're like, for that time, and that was it for its decade. Do you know what I mean? But it was so funny. I remember the game Bogeys. You remember that? It was a massive game. I see influencers doing it now. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like Beta Squad or something doing the same thing. And you know, Dick and Dom now do a live version of it.

21:34Is it? On the stage. Yeah. They took it on tour. And now their viewers have turned into like young adults. And they do like drum and bass raves. It's wild. It's wild. But I'm so happy for them because for me, they're my legends. They're my TV legends. Yeah, of course.

21:52Mo Gilligan: So like learning from them and then having, you know, one of your best friends in Ricky. was that almost like a version of seeing how essentially they could be themselves but be entertaining was that great was that a great way of like because i guess you know whenever you work with someone it's also knowing you're like okay this is my role and that's your role yeah in some ways i mean someone's a straight person someone's a funny person but also with being friends did it give you the I've got my person I can work with. Where, you know. I think they were the essence of a duo. Do you know what I mean?

22:27I think duos are, I think the ones you believe are the ones that are real. Do you know what I mean? There's so many people who are thrown together.

22:35Mo Gilligan: Dawn and French, Ant and Dec. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Ant and Dec, my God. Like those guys, to watch them work. Oh, they're the best. Oh, next level. They are the best. They're next, next level. So like Richard and Dominic, they're really similar in that. So, and my thing is throughout my career, because before we was on air, we were broadcast assistants. We used to work in production. And when I do stuff, I'm always watching. People just think I'm there. I'm watching you, Mo. Do you know what I mean? I watch everyone. Anyone I work with, I go, I quite like that, what they did there.

23:05Everyone, literally everyone. Because I think if you take enough time to analyse someone, you'll find something that's beautiful from that person, which you can adapt to your own life. And so for me, Dick and Dom, I just loved how like you said the dynamic you had the straight man you had the one that was a little bit angry sometimes and with me and Ricks the reason I love working with Ricky is I trust him I trust that boy and he will know before I even end a sentence how I'm going to end it and then he straight into the next team do you know what I mean like he just he knows already where I'm going to go before I finish the sentence so when I always say when I work with Ricky it doesn't feel like work when you do stuff by yourself then you gotta go to work yeah but when it's when it's with ricky

23:52Mo Gilligan: it's kind of like a party and with you guys working on radio as well it must have been so fun where like you're on radio with your because you know there's a lot of people that have a show by themselves and i've tried to do a bit of radio you know i've tried to learn how to drive the desk and everything else um big up the people that want extra had me in and be like I'm going to show you how to do it. It's not a game. It's not a game, man. I've been doing it for time. And even I find it different presenting by myself. And I think you're very similar to me in that you like communicating with people.

24:29Mo Gilligan: Oh, yeah. That's your thing. You can always bounce off of a person or what a vibe is. But I feel like when you was doing radio with Ricky, I felt like there's something really special about those early 2000s where it was the rise of you know digital radio as well it was the rise of youtube and radio so you got to see your you know your personalities that you listen to every morning every evening and then you've been alongside Ricky as well and then with Charlie as well it always felt like you're like oh I know these people I listen to them every morning anyone who has to do those long drives in the morning or from at night time and you're like, these are essentially my friends that I listen to and you start knowing their personalities.

25:18Mo Gilligan: But people forget how hard radio really is. Did you start off at radio? Was it One Extra? So we started off at One Extra. Yeah. But we weren't on air. Okay. And we did this competition, me and Ricks, and basically it was to create your own radio show. And then we handed it to everyone. We gave it to everyone. and no one was interested. Really? No, no one was interested at the time. And then our agent got us in a meeting with a guy at Kiss. And he was like, I'm going to give you a chance. And he put us on weekend breakfast and no one listened. Like, literally just like our family listened. No one was listening.

25:50No one knew who we were. And then he was like, I want you to cover the guy who I'm taking off breakfast. Right? So we covered the breakfast guy and then the figures went up. And then they were like, you just stay on. Just stay there. It was all an accident. It was just a very lucky accident. And Charlie was there beforehand because she was working across all the breakfast shows. And then she kind of came together with us and then everyone was like, this is it. It's everything that I'm saying, everything for a reason. In life, I always just go, okay, even if it feels uncomfortable, there's a reason why I'm doing this.

26:22That's just always.

26:23Mo Gilligan: How hard is it doing a breakfast show? Because there's a few people I know who've had breakfast shows, you know, Dottie. And then you've got, I remember when Twinbee had a breakfast show. how hard really is it? Because I feel like any time I see someone at an event and it's past 10 o 'clock and I know they got a breakfast show I'm like yo you better get home bro. Bro. How hard because how long did you do it for? 12 years. 12 years. We did breakfast for 12 years and then obviously we've been at radio one for several years so we've been doing radio for over 16 years. Yeah man. Breakfast is no joke if you're doing it well and for me like it's funny I remember my producer always used to say to me Melvin you're never gonna find a girlfriend until you finish breakfast because brother I love my sleep and I'll go on a date and it'll come to like 9, 10 I'm yawning I'm yawning at the dinner table like I can't wait to go to sleep I love it and like if you start dating someone like you're out the door by 4.30 in the morning so you're either asking someone to leave with you or you're leaving them in the house and I don't trust no one in my house.

27:35So like trying to find it's true. I'll tell you the truth bro.

27:38Mo Gilligan: Because I messaged you the other day about a cleaner innit? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Mo was like do you have a cleaner? And I said bro I don't trust people in my house so I'm not going to recommend that person to you. So like a lot of the time you're asking people to leave at 4.30 in the morning when you're leaving for work. So to find someone that you love is difficult. Yeah, yeah. It's really difficult. But it's in terms of radio it's the best slot ever because that's what everyone listens to breakfast and then also once you finish you're opened up to do everything else you can do TV stuff you can do other branding deals you can do stuff afterwards so in terms of radio and your career it's the best thing to do but in terms of your personal lifestyle it has a massive impact and what was it like during those early 2000s at Kiss because some of the clips and the guests you have and I think that's the beautiful thing with radio is you're going to get guests that even TV aren't going to get because radio is always going to be the first point of call to get someone for, I don't know, 15 minutes of their time, promote the film, have a quick chat, then they're off in the next building doing another piece of promo.

28:45Mo Gilligan: I've seen your clip that keeps doing the rounds with Arnold Schwarzenegger. That's mad that you've seen that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've seen that clip. It keeps doing the rounds where I think you ask him, how did you make your first million? And he goes, ah, you know, it was good, but you know, I said you have to work on your second million and he goes come on guys it's so funny bro at the time we thought he was being so serious and it's Arnie like he's one of our heroes yeah man of course so I was there listening thinking okay and we're we're all going we want to make this milk yeah yeah yeah and that is funny because of I've always wanted to reshare that but obviously we've gone to a different network now so it wouldn't be in my best interest to reshare that on my page that's good business man yeah of course do you mean like Ray J1 is our home now and we're so blessed to be there.

29:31It's a massive state. I personally think it's the biggest station. It's mad me sitting here saying this. It's the biggest station in the country. And so, you know, I'm very protective of that. But our time at Kiss was special, man. Yeah, man. Because that was our break. That was really our break.

29:47Mo Gilligan: Yeah. And it's funny, Mo, because I don't think we realised how lucky we were to be on that show. Because when we left, I'd get people in the street going, you've ruined my mornings. Oh, wow. where have you gone because you kind of forget how you guys were iconic on that show we we were and we we didn't realize we just didn't realize because we were just having fun we just turn up we do radio and and there'll be a point when someone goes to me someone will say to me in the future melvin i loved you on radio one someone someone will say that to me and i'll be like oh rah i didn't realize you had that impact because of i always say this radio is such an intimate medium yeah do you mean and it's the only medium as far as i'm concerned that you can consume while doing something else you can't watch tv and drive yeah do you see what i'm saying you can't watch a tiktok and be at the gym at the same time do you mean radio you can do and you can do something else at the same time yeah and it's there with you if the presenters are there every single day they're your they're your friends yeah you don't turn off the dial when you're driving no you just leave it on and you're like, because especially if you've got a routine, I drive eight.

30:57Mo Gilligan: I'm going to catch the show. I'm going to catch the music. There might be something happened yesterday and they're going to talk about it today. You want to hear their take on it. Do you know what I mean? So I still believe radio is such a beautiful medium and so I'm blessed to do it. But yeah, Kiss was a special time, bro. Special, special time. And sometimes we've got old clips that we come across and it's just us laughing. It's just us lot laughing. So, so weird. And we did, we were lucky that we met. Will Smith, one of my favourite interviews of all time. That was a kiss. Arnie, like you said.

31:31Rihanna. Do you mean some big, big names. So yeah. Is there anyone you were truly like starstruck in the way we are like? Denzel.

31:41Mo Gilligan: Really? Denzel was the one, bro. Because he makes you feel like, you know the strict uncle. So he walks in and you ask questions. And you're like, I can't get this wrong. because it's Denzel. Yeah. Do you know what I mean? But he was so cool and it feels like every answer feels so wise. It's weird, bro. And I remember that day he came in and he had this leather jacket and at that time me and Rick were obsessed with leather bomber jackets. We all had leather jackets and they were all grey. So we took this picture and we looked like we were like some boy band from the 90s. I've still got it somewhere but that was the one where I was like I felt nervous.

32:18Mo Gilligan: I felt nervous, bro. Yeah. What's it like once you start doing that show and you get frosted into the limelight in some ways where, because you grew up from very humble beginnings. And how does your mum then start reacting? Because you kind of mentioned it a little bit, but I guess on top of doing a breakfast show, being extremely successful and being two young black guys within the industry where you have fame. and I guess because it's radio, it's linked with music. So there's music events are always going to be late and stuff. How was that as well? At such a young age as well. I never see myself as famous.

33:06Mo Gilligan: Now you're famous, bro. No, I think people know who we are. No, I don't know about that. I think people know who we are. You've been on Strictly, bro. What are you talking about? Do you know what it is, Mo? It's like, I've got this theory, right? If I can get to work from my house and no one stopped me while I'm on public transport, you're not famous. No, but that's London though. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. London is weak. No, no, no, no, no. No, no, no, no. Because my argument is if it was Will Smith, he ain't getting to work without someone stopping him. Yeah, but you have to believe in your sauce, Mel.

33:39No, my sauce is beautiful. It's a lovely texture. It's got the right amount of spice. But I don't think I'm famous. I think we're fun broadcasters and I think we're good at what we do, but I don't think I'm famous. I think people know who we are. No, I would disagree, man. Really? Yeah, man.

33:54Mo Gilligan: I grew up watching you, man, on television, bruv. I remember one time I see Ricky in O2. I can't remember what show it was. And I know, you know, like, he done that walk where you're like, I'm on the phone, I'm going straight. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I see him, I said, hi, Ricky. He was like, yeah, cool. And I was like, oh, all right. But he probably didn't even clock it. it was you. No, no, I know he didn't. Right. But I was like, I know that, I do that walk now where I'm like, go get to the destination. No, no. But also, I feel like with you guys, I feel like you might be damn playing it. But also it was a, I feel like for us watching you lot, it was like, yeah, these man, yeah, they're like, you know, when you're doing those interviews and stuff.

34:36Mo Gilligan: But I think part of our appeal, Mo, is that we, I always say we're touchable, we're approachable. Yes. Yeah, I agree. So that's why I say I don't think I am like, I'm not the kind of guy who will demand. I ask for very little. And again, I don't think, and maybe it's because of, like I said, we've got that unit. Like my boys, I was at my aunt's birthday the other day and my cousins are just so chill. It's not like, Marvin, who did you meet this week? Or can you get me tickets? They're just so, it's just like how I was when I was a little kid at my mum and dad's house years ago. and so for me I don't feel I don't feel famous that's how I feel yeah because everyone around you never make you feel no and also because I've met in my opinion people who I regard as famous yeah yeah yeah Denzel Washington is famous yes Rihanna is famous so I just I think I'm very good I think I'm good at what I do and I think people enjoy what we do but I don't think I'm famous no I I would disagree man because you're on things like Strictly and stuff that's not everyone gets on Strictly.

35:41If that's your argument, then everyone who's done Strictly is famous.

35:45Mo Gilligan: Yeah, of course. Nah. Listen, we're not voting for them for no other reason. I don't think every single person who's done Strictly you can regard as famous. A hundred percent. Really? Do you know how big that show is? When BBC told me the figures and they said, yeah, every week, six mil. And they said it without belief. Well, there's people who've done that show who you've not heard from in years. That is true. But then I feel like within different, I feel like my perception of fame, I feel like if you're on a television show, especially where it's, you know, show like a Strictly and you, whether you could be a big author, I might not know you, but in your field, you are huge.

36:25Mo Gilligan: So you to be on this show and like every show that comes on, you know, people are like, who? Who? And I'm like, the fact you are asking who, that means they are a someone. Yeah. You know, if you sit there and you said, oh, who is this? You need to do more to expand who the person is. I suppose everyone's got their definition of fame. Yeah, I think for me, my perception has always been very old school in a sense of anyone that's on television. So I'm at one time I seen a news presenter one time in Sainsbury's. I said, that's that famous one from the news. From the news. And she didn't, she wasn't in the big news.

37:02Mo Gilligan: You know, like the news that comes on after. Oh, right. The London news. But as a kid, that was, that was it. You're on television, you're on a public medium that we tune in for, and you're a recognised face. And that was even for me as a kid. So I think it always goes back to that, if that makes sense. For me, it's just like, especially because I think I grew up in the era of, if you've seen someone famous, the autograph. Okay, then let me ask you another question then, because if it's down the TV route, then everyone who's done reality TV is famous to you. In a sense, yeah. Because I feel like if you're a recognised face on this programme...

37:43Mo Gilligan: Then you're famous. Because, yeah, you're famous because in a sense of your personality is what has got you there. Pushed you to there. So it's a level of fame where, you know, people will disagree and say, yeah, but they're not talented. But I'm like, to have that personality doesn't just come out of nothing. For me, fame is if you can be in a space, in several different spaces, so you can go to Scotland and you can go to London and be clocked, then for me you're famous. If you can go to Spain and you're clocked by the Spanish locals, for me that's you're famous. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, I think that's...

38:26Mo Gilligan: I class that as like superstar. Okay, all right. Okay, all right. Okay, so there's fame and then my superstar. When you're a superstar, brother, the world moves in a different pace. Okay, okay. Because superstar is like, wow. Madame Tussauds has your figurine. Yeah, yeah, yeah. When you're famous, you ain't no Madame Tussauds, you know? You're like, oh, that's my man from Gogglebox. Pick up your things. Okay, so I'm famous, but not superstar. I wouldn't even regard myself a superstar. Superstar is like the level where you're like... A Kardashian. It's on a film. We don't even know what the film is.

39:03Mo Gilligan: I've not seen the trailer. Denzel's in it. Right. Superstar. Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's just like... So the star's bigger than the film? Yeah. Okay. Because it's not just a star, it's a superstar. It's like, it's like, you know, you get the meal, they upgrade the meal, but there's fries at the bottom of the bag. There's fries in the bag. There's a reason why this is the super meal. Because your thing is medium and it's just, brother, chips, you can take it out. But the super one, you got enough chips in there the drink is so big you said right I saved this drink but so hard how do we get here the analogy is wild is wild oh my days okay okay alright no I'm enjoying the breakdown it's an education what was Strictly like though man Strictly was it was do you know my Strictly story no alright so I'm going to do it super quick yeah go on So I was, I was, I begged to be in that show.

40:03Right. And they were like, Mel, you're not famous yet. Really? Yeah. Because we was, I think I was just doing breakfast at the time. So the woman, this woman, amazing woman called Vinay was like, Mel, go back, do your thing. And then come to me in a few years time. I went and did a gig in Blackpool and they were doing a tour around there. And I went to my hotel and all the dancers, all the celebrities were staying in my hotel. And bro, they look like superheroes.

40:26Mo Gilligan: Yeah. And it was the year when it's like Mark Wright doing it. it was Frankie Bridge it was a younger a younger kind of like cast and I messaged my agent I said please please can you get me on this show so they were like okay Melvin okay you might be ready so I did an audition I did it my whole family was so proud of me like everyone I had the guys from Dick and Don messaging me people were placing bets on me to try to win this show yeah man and so on the first week I was in the bottom two and the person I was up against was Anastasia, right? And she injured herself. It was quite a serious injury.

41:02And she was like, I don't really want to do the dance-off. So we couldn't do a dance-off. So I got eliminated based on public vote. And I was devastated, Mo. Because the first time where, obviously when you was on like radio and stuff, like your friends, like who you grew up with and your peers and stuff, they're all listening. But like the elders, I don't think my mum would really listen to me on the radio, but Strictly? Oh my God.

41:25Mo Gilligan: Strictly, that's what I'm saying. Aunts, uncles. Famous. That's what I'm saying. Yeah. Yeah, man. So yeah, you're right. So they cared. And so Vinay messaged me and she was like one of the execs of the BBC. She said, Melvin, you didn't really get a chance to showcase yourself. So do you want to come back and do the Christmas special? And I was like, I don't really want to mess up again. I kind of felt embarrassed. And she's like, why? She goes, it wasn't your fault. You just didn't even get a chance. You did literally like two weeks here. Yeah, yeah. And I was like, yeah. And I said, let me think about it.

41:58And I called my sister. I'm really close to my sister, right? She's just the wise person in the family. And I told her and she said, you have to do it. And I was like, why? She goes, because you're my brother and you will smash it. She goes, I know you'll succeed. And I was like, the belief was mad, right? And I was dancing with Jeanette Manrara at the time. And I said, as long as I get to do it with Jeanette, I'll do it again. So I called them up. I said, I'll do the Christmas special, but I need to dance with Jeanette. So Jeanette was like, cool. I did my first rehearsal with her for the Christmas special and we did like a Charleston.

42:31And my sister called me up after my practice. She said, how did it go? I said, it was all right. It was fun. This is really good. It's more my personality. And she goes, I'm coming to the house now. So she came over to mine and she goes, show me your video from your rehearsal. I showed her the video and my sister was proper watching it. And she got up and she was like, okay, let's practice. And I said, what do you mean? She goes, I'm going to try and learn Jeanette's moves and we'll rehearse every night.

42:58Mo Gilligan: Oh, wow. We rehearsed every night and then I won the Christmas special. Right? So I lost and won all in the same year, man. Right? So my family came round around Christmas and the show was pre-recorded. So they've all come to my house. They're thinking, right, we watched Melvin the first time and my boy flopped. Now he's trying to do this again. Yeah. So my cousins are sitting in the house. All my aunts, uncles in the house. Everyone's eating, chilling. and they announced the winner. They announced it was me. Mo, you would have heard it at your house, the screams and the cheers. And so it was like the proudest moment ever.

43:36And prior to that, my mum and dad were cool, but they didn't really talk that much. And so they filmed a VT for Strictly in my house. And I said to my sister, who should I call, like mum's side or dad's side of the family? She said both, because both sides are going to want to be on TV. and I said okay I hope it's not weird on TV and she's like no that'll be cool so I went and rehearsed with Jeanette and I came home it's gonna sound weird to you Mo I saw my mum and dad changing the bin liner and it's the best thing I've ever seen because I was like they were working together yeah

44:09Mo Gilligan: it's the best thing I've ever seen and then from that day on they just they're mates like my dad will go to the house and look after my nieces and nephews and my mum will cook for dad and my dad will sometimes take mum to the airport they're friends and it's weird because I feel like it all kind of snowballed from Strictly I'm sure like my sister having kids and all that helped as well but Strictly kind of brought everyone together so it's a really special show for me and they used to invite me back Ricky's done it as well and I'm friends with people like Oti and Neil and I stay in contact with a lot of the dancers and a lot of the celebrities I stay in contact with as well so it was a bro that show it's a special show bro it's so it's such a beautiful show and all the different areas, like the musicians, dope, hair and makeup, dope, the people in costume, everyone in their area, they're so, so good at what they do.

45:07But they all work together beautifully. It's really hard to describe. And you are in this bubble because you don't really see anyone else until the weekend when you did a rehearsal and your performance. So in the week, you're with your partner in a room somewhere, practicing. So that little weekend, it feels like such a special occasion. And that's why I was so sad when I left early when I did the main show. And it was really hard for me to do the Christmas special, but it's one of the best things I've ever done.

45:36Mo Gilligan: Because you've been really blessed in the sense of being able to do radio and television at the same time, which normally anyone I know who works in radio, radio is their main thing. so it's quite hard for them to do television at the same time. Do you know what I mean? Like you've done, you know, Extra Factor, you know, Bang on the Money, MOBA Awards. How much time do you get for Melvin? Do you know what I mean? And sit and enjoy and just sit and be still. Do you know what I mean? Mo, you know how it is, boy. Yeah, man. When you get these offers and you get, you know, people want you to do stuff, it's hard to turn it down.

46:19last year was a quiet year in terms of TV I think the whole industry was kind of like hit by it and so I was so lucky that I was doing radio and DJing and we had branding stuff going on but TV felt like raw what's going on now which is why I ended up doing the jungle because for a few years I was like like I don't know because I'm scared I was scared of the whole animal thing the whole eating thing and so for a few years I've been like they've asked me and I'm I'm not too sure about it. But last year when my agents were like, Melv, do you want to do this? I was like, okay. That's because I was like, I think I need to remind people that I'm here, the TV world that I'm here.

46:59And so it was, again, it was one of the best things that I did because

47:02Mo Gilligan: I think when you get pushed out of your comfort zone, the lessons you learn are crazy. And I obviously new people like Oti and Danny and stuff like that. But you form different relationships out there, Mo. I can't describe what it's like in that place. Because I found it hard some days. I was crying. Because I'm a proper foodie. I'm a foodie, bro. And the lack of seasoning every single day to have the same meal. It's different. But I would love to see someone like you do the jungle. No, I'd break down. But the entertainment levels would be free. I would break down. Because they've asked me a few times.

47:39Mo Gilligan: They must do every single year. But I've said, nah. Do you know why? Because like me, I like, like you, sorry. I like, I like my food. I can't deal with the insects. But do you know... The insects? I had, I had Barry McGuigan, right? Sleeping next to me at one point. And I had this huntsman spider, no word of a lie, on my bed. Fuck that, man. And I remember like, Barry, he's, he was dread. So like, I'd be like, I can't sleep. And he was to come just pat the ting off. and I'd be like okay and if you because if you don't sleep then you have no energy you're already hungry you're already hungry so you learn that's not the hard stuff it's the eating that's the hard stuff what do you have to eat?

48:20because if you don't get no stars then you just have to have rice and beans rice and beans so you literally boil rice and beans with no seasoning no salt I got in trouble for bringing in salt really? yeah because I tried to smuggle it into my boxer shorts

48:32Mo Gilligan: say swear yeah yeah seriously seriously Seriously, I brought in salt and they found it out because I gave it to Lisa to try and put it into the food because she was our cook. And then they were like, you can't smuggle anything in, any contraband. Even salt. Salt, bro. That is mad. Imagine, the thing is, I think people think it's fake, that show. It's the real, they really want you to experience that. So then you work hard in the trials and challenges, right? But I always, I would love to get the beans that they have on that show and just cook it for someone. the way we had it and make you have it three times just to see what Is it that bad?

49:10People don't understand. People don't understand. People don't understand. They have to. It's mad. It's wild, bro. It's tough. It's tough. But the funny thing is you know how you said Melv, I'll break down. Yeah. For me, I feel like because I'm quite a chilled brother. I'm quite a chilled person. And so like when I was just being myself it didn't make good television. So it was the times when I broke down. It was the time when I think the thing that everyone comes up to me about was I had a moment when I was in the sleeping bag mode and it was a really bad night of rain. And so I woke up and my sleeping bag was wet.

49:48And I was just balling up the place. So the next day I was moody for the whole day. I didn't want to sit with no one. I didn't want to sit by the fireplace. So I went up to this little cabin bit because I assumed there was less cameras there. So I was trying to hide from everyone. So everyone came on check to me. I think like Dean came and checked on me, Maura, Danny. And then the final person was Oti. And she was like my, Oti felt like my sister, right? She reminds me of my sister. So she sat down and she gave me this talk. And the way it resonated with me was just, I just started bawling. I couldn't, I was trying to stop.

50:26I was hiding my face, trying to stop. But when I came out, the amount of people that have come to me and said, mouth it was so beautiful seeing you open up and to see like a young man open up as well and i never i was trying to hide it yeah but for for the viewers that was the best part of me in that whole experience so i went in there going i want to try and tell some funny stories and make people laugh and do some foolishness and just get on with everyone i thought that's what was going to be entertaining but the stuff that i was trying to hide from everyone turned out to be the best thing.

51:02Mo Gilligan: Ain't it interesting how you let your card down and you let people in and that's what people like the most of you. When we're so used to putting the guard up and giving a version of ourselves, which is still ourself, but I guess it's heightened. Because we know what we're sometimes being booked for on a show. So you're like, cool, I know you want this side, you want that side. I don't really have time to get deep on the show when it's, would I lie to you? they're expecting comedy and vibes and you don't want to sit there and be like okay then I'll tell you something I'll tell you a lie you're like what we don't want this one I'm lying to myself right now you're like okay who else we got but also it's harder for us because we're I'm comfortable being like Melvin on on Radio 1 I'm really comfortable making people laugh and doing foolishness with Ricky and Charlie like that's how I'm comfortable but no one i feel like no one wants to see me when i'm vulnerable like you said yeah but actually people want to see if you if you want to connect with people they have to see all sides of you all sides of you which is why i think people like what you do because comedy allows you to do that yeah no comedy it's like it's you mean it's a beautiful thing and i think radio allows you to do that because it's funny your your producer was like is there anything you don't want to talk about melv and i was like i feel like i've already spoken about half of it on the radio already because if i if something interesting happens even if it's bad it's still a story yeah do you mean yeah and it can be bad but radio presenters have this amazing skill of telling you something and it was like yeah crazy man and uh got to a car crash what car crash melvin yeah mate got to a car crash no way literally just broke off literally my arm but i'm here today and I'm going to run some tracks.

52:57Mo Gilligan: Let's get straight into it. You're like, what? It's literally that. It's like, I've seen you and Munya Chihuahua taking the pee, doing radio DJs. And I just comment underneath and I'm like, I feel attacked because there's no lies told. You're telling the truth. It's exactly how it is. And it's because of where we're speaking, it's almost like you're speaking to your mate. And so if something deep was to happen, you would tell your mate, wouldn't you? Yeah, yeah, of course, of course. It's a funny one. It's a funny one. Does that become hard in some ways where I feel like with a radio presenter, you're the first person that someone listens to, whether they're happy, whether they're sad, whether they're going to the biggest job interview of their life or whether they're maybe going to a funeral.

53:41Mo Gilligan: You're at so many moments of people's lives. It must be nice to have that connection. But how do you find like you're able to still secure your boundaries in a way where you're going about day-to-day life. And because people feel so connected with you with radio, it's like, hey, what's happening, mate? And you're like, bro, because you're such a nice person. I'm going to tell you a story. I'm going to tell you two stories. Yeah. Right? When I was about 14, I'm not going to say the person because I bet you know them, one of my favourite comedians was on the train, right? And I sat next to him, I was so nervous.

54:17And I have not mentioned this comedian today, just so you know, so no one can try and guess this. And I said, when I get to my stop, I'm going to get up, I'm going to say, I love your work and I'm going to come off the train and hopefully I'm going to, you know, get some kind of response. They might even make me laugh. And I got up and I said that and they just gave me a look like, you're sad. And Mo, when I say it broke my heart, I called my sister, my little sister. I said, I saw this person on the train and I remember feeling so like, wow, they're everything to me and they just didn't care.

54:51And I remember saying to myself, if I ever get the opportunity to make someone happy because they want to say hello to me or they want a picture, if I have the time, I'll always do it. If you call my friend now, if you call Russell now, he's been out with me a million times. And if you ask Russ, does Melvin take time with people? I bet he'll be like, yeah. Or if he can, he'll always do it. I remember one time I was in Sainsbury's and this woman was like, can I help with your bags? And I was like, okay cool so she started packing the bags and stuff and at the end she goes you're a lot funnier on the radio bro and i was like i was like i was like what did you expect like a a story or a comedy sketch like while we was on our eight of sainsbury's i didn't know what i was supposed to do for this woman but i i am always aware that people do enjoy what we do and so if i am out on about sometimes mo like people will say hello and i don't know i've got a quite a bad memory i don't know if i know them or they're just people that enjoy what we do but if someone says hello to me you best believe i'm going to say hello like you're my best friend yeah i always make time if i can i always i remember being late for work one day and a couple were like mel can i get a picture i was late and i was like go on and i took the picture and i went if i can i will try because I never want to be, I never want to make anyone feel like 14-year-old me on that train.

56:24Mo Gilligan: Okay. I always try. I always try. But I feel like a lot of the nice people in the industry are like that. Ricky and Charlie are like that. Like, Will Smith taught me that. We did an interview with Will Smith in the day like a junket. And then in the evening, I went to the premiere for the film. It was Hancock. He got this little kid to intro the film with him. And then as he left, he remembered me from earlier came and shook my hand on the front row and everyone was like how do you know Will Smith? And I was like don't worry I know Big Willie don't worry Jesus Do you know what I mean? But he made me feel so special in that instance and I was like if I can make someone feel special the same way I will try my best Do you know what I mean?

57:06Mo Gilligan: It's mad how far as well and that can go for someone else that you must have also had people that I remember when I met you that time and you know the picture But I've had the flip I was at a family do and my cousin went Melv I'm upset with you you know I was like bro what's up he goes I was at a festival and you blanked me and I was like bro I must have been drunk he was like serious I said yeah and he was really upset and I apologised and I apologised again and that was my cousin do you know what I mean so like I'm just I'm always very very aware but you can't you can't please everyone and sometimes you're gonna there must be people watching this now going he's chatting some rubbish you know because I saw him the other day he didn't say nothing to me like do you know what I mean there's gonna be people who say that and it's either maybe I haven't clocked it or whatever but generally if I can make time for people I always do because outside I know outside of comedy as well like you've got you know you've done bits of acting and stuff you've delved into a lot of stuff where you know radio you're a personality you've gone into reality shows you've done acting you know you're very passionate about people behind the camera as well I always wondered why you never got into stand-up because it feels like you're the perfect person for stand-up do you know what I mean like the way you can tell a story we did a show years ago don't sweat the small stuff Romesh I went to a gig I can't remember what it was like I might have been Prince or something at Coco and Romesh came out and we were walking home and he goes Melv you're funny you know bro and i was like thank you and he goes why don't you do stand up same as you and i was like i don't know rom and he goes if you want we'll take some time out and i will try and teach you like the basics of comedy to this day i regret taking the time to sit with him because i just thought i don't do you know what is because i was like we're on a breakfast show now so people are expecting me to be a certain level of good yeah so i can't i can't imagine going on a stage and telling the story and someone not laughing that would kill me yes and i and i don't have to worry about people not laughing on radio because i can't see them because you can't see them right and i think but that's kind of what you need though is to have the confidence to be like i know this is funny true you're right but i feel like there's almost like um more of an expectation if you already have a profile because I wasn't just Melvin who's no one's never heard of in this comedy club I'm Melvin who's doing a breakfast show of Ricky and Charlie which is doing well so if I did it and then it was shit I'd be like well he's not that funny maybe it's the other two of the funny ones and he's just there as a little time so I was always like and you're in your head with these things but I always do regret not spending that time with Romesh and now we're all in the same building I actually said the story to him the other day and he goes yeah Melvin why don't you take me up on the offer and I was like I don't know I said you know I just felt embarrassed about it.

1:00:14And it's always one day, if I have time, I will write down some funny stories and I will go to a club that no one knows about in the UK and I'll just test it. And it won't even be because it's going to be a new career thing. It will just be to see if I can do it. Because I do think I'm a person who loves, I've come to your shows a million times, I'm a person who loves the art of stand-up. I used to go to Kojo's. Kojo's Comedy Clubs on a Sunday night. Oh, my God. Like, Chappelle. Ricky Gervais. All day long, I could sit here and talk about my favourite comedians. I love the art of comedy. But I do think it's...

1:00:55Mo Gilligan: Because you definitely have all the ingredients to be a comedian. But I wouldn't want to... It would kill me, Mo, to say a joke. I almost feel like comedians are superheroes because if a joke doesn't land, you lot don't give a shit. Yeah, but you have to put that ego aside. I think that's the thing with stand-up is knowing that. I know it's that we're talking about. I know my sauce is fantastic. But if you taste this, you're going to like it straight away or not. If you sit there and go, yeah, but I'm, yeah. And you have to be the same with stand-up in a sense of like, this is going to be the best thing you've ever heard.

1:01:33Mo Gilligan: It's going to make you laugh. Some will laugh more than others. But all I need is the laugh. And as long as I get that, then it's all right. And the beautiful thing with stand-up is, nine times out of ten, even if one person laughs, especially when you're starting off, you're like, all right, cool, that guy really liked it. No one else liked it, but big up you. Bro, I had a show the other day, yeah, at the O2, right? And there's 17 ,000 people there all laughing, boom, boom, boom. There was one guy sitting at the front, on the left, having the time of his life bruv bruv i got home i was shattered i couldn't stop thinking of this guy everything i was saying i'd never forget white guy had a cap on sitting at the front he was bro i was like i know i'm doing well because this man here in front of everyone he was having the time and that sometimes as a comedian is like that's what you do it for of course i love what i get to do but but when I'm I could I could never forget I know brother this guy was slapping his thigh he kept putting his hands in the air I said right when these jokes these jokes are hitting they're hitting this this man's soul so you know that what you just said yeah there was a a time I went to uh Kojo's yeah yeah right and I can't I couldn't I can't remember the comedian so bad but he was American and me and my friend Darren were sitting and we were crying at this guy and so we were that guy for him because no one else was like he had finished the joke but we were still laughing at the one three like hits before and like that feeling of when a joke you can't stop laughing it's the best it's the best it's the best but yeah that's why I really admire comedians because to go into a room I do think I think it goes back to being vulnerable again to go into a room and be like right I'm going to tell you some stuff about me and I hope you laugh yeah literally that's it that's it but you get so numb to if it doesn't work don't get me wrong because you get another chance of you'd be like alright it worked my day today maybe I didn't do it right it was the timing and maybe the audience just weren't in the best place could have been the person that went up before me kind of set the vibe of there's so many things where and there are also myself where I'm like maybe this is not funny and that's okay but knowing I've like I've got another thing and I've got another thing and I feel like your careers is amazing in the sense of you literally have been so front-facing for everything you've done on shows that are so exposing that I sit there I'm sitting there being like yeah I could you know stop coming but like I would never do Strictly I never do um I'm a celeb I'm like to dance in front of people.

1:04:29Mo Gilligan: And I've done a little bit of it on television, yeah? But being judged and then what? This week we're changing it, bro. Allow it. I just got this one. But do you know why I got into this? Is because I like the idea of every day being different. Yeah. When I did work experience as a kid, my uncle, sadly he's passed away now, Uncle David, big up Uncle David. He got me a job in an insurance brokerage and I'd go in every day. and they'd make me file. Then I'd sit at my desk. Then I'll go to my lunch, same time every day. I'll have pretty much the same thing every day. I'll take the same bus home and I'll come back again, same suit.

1:05:08And it was the same thing every day, every day. And what that taught me was I never want to work in an office. Me, Melvin O'Doom, never wants to work in an office.

1:05:17Mo Gilligan: Yeah, most definitely. I want to do something that's different. And so then when I do, although Strictly is scary, although the jungle's scary, although sometimes if you have a guest that makes you nervous or shy, it's a different thing every day. Yeah. And I love that. I like the difference. Yeah. It's really weird because I'm also a guy that if I'm really good at something and you change it, so like if someone comes and goes, Melvin, you know, we've been doing this for Radio 1 for the last few years. We're going to start doing this. I'm always the first to complain. Ricky and Charlie are always chill.

1:05:49Mo Gilligan: Yeah. I'm always like, yeah, but I push up this fader. Why ever tell me I've got to do this one now? Like I'm always the one to complain. but really and truly i quite like the difference yeah man but the way you can just you know you start off in you know doing kids television to then radio but not just any radio we're talking breakfast radio this is anyone listening man as much as it sounds easy it's so hard but this is what i'm saying life is my life has been loads of really fortunate accidents so the kids tv only happened because I was really trying to be as cool as Richard. Yeah. Right. So I was like, I want to do music TV.

1:06:27And obviously, no one knows who we are. So who's going to employ me to be on MTV or Kiss or whatever or for music? Right. So I went back to university and I spoke to my lecturer and it's a woman called Anne Kay. And she was like, Melvin, how's everything going after you? And I said, I can't find a job. You know, I was working in a youth club and they were really cool and the kids were fun, but I'm not, I can't get into anything. And she goes, well, look, Melvin, you studied radio, right?

1:06:51Mo Gilligan: Yeah. I said, yeah. She goes, and where are you working now? I said, I'm working in a youth club. She goes, okay, so you've done radio, so broadcasting, and you're working with kids. Do the kids like you? I said, yeah. She goes, okay, cool. Why don't you try kids' TV? That's what she said. And then at the time, my friend Chanel was working at CBBC. And so she called me up. And usually I would have gone, well, I don't really want to do kids' TV. but because I spoke to my lecturer, she goes, and I was thinking, okay, let me give it a chance. And because when my friend called me up, she goes, there's no money in this.

1:07:25It was going to turn up. She goes, you'll be able to see how things work. You can maybe meet a producer and there's free food. I heard free food and I heard a free cab. So I said, okay, I'll be there on Saturday or Sunday. So that was an accident. And so my gran used to say, Mel, whatever you do, do it to the best of your ability. so the producer went when you go I want you to dress up in this animal suit I can't remember maybe in a shark or something whatever and he was like I want you to start dancing when we give you the cue I didn't even know why I was doing it I can't tell you till this day

1:07:57Mo Gilligan: but I went and I gave him every move the running man the shuffles I was doing the robot and everyone I remember looking through this costume and everyone on set was laughing cameraman was busting up Dick and Don were laughing the kids were laughing and I came off set and the producer came down and went, that was really funny. Do you want to come back next week? And I was like, okay. And then it became an ongoing thing. Then they started paying me. Then they started sharing my face. So then, these are all little accidents. Then it just grew into this bigger thing. So then while I was doing kids TV, I was doing production with Ricky at One Extra.

1:08:36So then I was always in and around it and constantly always picking my favourite bits from everyone. taking bits from Rampage, from Ace and Biz, from Jason and Yare. Oh, I quite like how they do that. I like how they do that. I don't like how they do that. And then we make it our own.

1:08:52Mo Gilligan: Yeah. You're so talented in a way that's just like, I know what this industry is like in a sense of, I've not done it that long. Right. But to go and then go from that to this, apply yourself. You're unapologetically yourself. You don't really care of like, oh, but I've got to be cool. For years, I was battling to try and be the cool person. And I can't remember when I realised it. I realised I'm not the cool kid. And also, no one wants me to be the cool kid. People like it when I'm the buffoon. People like it when I'm the butt of the joke. Do you know what I mean? Cussing Melvin about his height.

1:09:32That's what they like. And I think ultimately, I'm a Leo. I just like to be liked. That's it. and so that's when I'm happiest and so it's funny when you say that because I think for a long long time I was like do people think we're cool? Do people think I'm cool? And going back to them parties and stuff like that certain people did embrace us like Reggie did embrace us when he had these parties and people like Manny and loads of people did but there were loads of people who didn't we can chase people all day long but actually like you said we've got our own source and we've got our own thing going on and it's about embracing that.

1:10:10Mo Gilligan: You can't always be Domio. Sometimes you've got to be, what's it called? Lloyd Grossman. Lloyd Grossman. Yeah, that was a bagelie there. Tomato and Basil, man. No, but you're right, Mo. You're right. Do you know what I mean? So yeah, for years, I've tried to be the cool kid, but I've embraced not being the cool kid, man. We can't be. Yeah. We can't be. And actually, in a way, it's helped us. to not be because that box was already ticked off. And also, I think after a while, if you're trying to be ultimately cool 24 hours a day, it's like, it's draining, man. It's draining, bro. It's not by force.

1:10:55Yeah, what's going on, man? Cool. Yeah, yeah.

1:10:57Mo Gilligan: What's good, my guy? What are you saying? Yeah, it's been cool, man. Yeah. Chill out with all that, bro. Man, no. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's true. Chill out, man. It's so true, Mo. So yeah, when that's not what we're about. And I think it's also, aside from being ourselves and personalities, we're also brands. Do you know what I mean? And I think it's about recognising what your brand is. And like I said, what makes me and Ricky and Charlie us is that we're people's mates. People will come up to me in the street, be like, Milv, how's it going with the car? Yeah. And I'm like, how do they know about that?

1:11:36I'm like, oh, Sugar, I spoke about that the other day. Do you know what I mean? Like, you kind of forget. People become your friends. Yeah, man. Do you know what I mean? Like, builders will shout from the rooftops, Melbourne, I heard about that date. Good luck next time. You spoke to Carol Waldman yet? Like, people chat to you like they're your brethren. Come on. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. Lovely woman. Come on. Come on, Mo. You know this. You're thinking the same thing as well. But I saw her first.

1:12:01Mo Gilligan: Your ends, yeah? Because, you know, you're always, like, supporting new projects and you're big in championing diversity and representation, you know, in media. Do you see that work as like part of your legacy in some ways? You know, when you look at, you know, the part of your career where, you know, you're going to get a bit older and, or you might, you know, look at opportunities where you're like, you know, I don't know if I want to do that one. You know, is that where you start to look at like what your purpose is as well, you know? I always try to help young people because that's where that was like one of our early jobs like youth clubs and I used to teach in Tower Hamlets College as well and I remember chatting to you we did a Q &A a little while ago with Nasty we was in West London oh yes I remember that and I was chatting to you it was afterwards and I said and you said to me Melv you know I've only been doing TV for five years.

1:13:04You said that to me. And I was like, bro, that's a very short space of time.

1:13:09Mo Gilligan: Yeah. Right. And what you've achieved in that space of time is insane. Oh, brother, it's insane. It is. People don't really recognize it. Right. And so, for me, from where, me and Ricky, from university to where we are now, it took ages. It was about two years before we even got to the BBC and we weren't even on a mic. Yeah. We were behind the scenes. So when we got to Kiss, people were like, oh, wow, you just got to Kiss. And we were like, no. It took us ages before we got to Kiss. And even when we got to Kiss, we weren't on Breakfast. People forget there was loads of other little hurdles before we got to the Breakfast Show.

1:13:50It took ages. And then before we got to Radio 1, we had to do Breakfast Show for 12 years. So when young people come to me, like there was a girl that come to me at Radio 1's Big Weekend the other day. and I rate her because she was like Melvin here's my CV right the CV's in my house now I'm going to photograph it and I'm going to send it to one of the execs at Radio 1 because I rate the hustle

1:14:14Mo Gilligan: right and I remember how hard it was for us to get to where we are now so anything I can do for young people I will try and do I've gone back to my university multiple times I've gone to schools in East London I've gone to my old teacher's school which is by Tottenham Spurs Tottenham Spurs stadium my English teacher she has another school my neighbour she works so if I can I'll do that in terms of legacy I always say to myself I just want people to go Melvin was really good at what he did I liked him because I think if you give yourself that pressure of you have to be that ambassador for X, Y, and Z.

1:15:01There's too much pressure. I don't think anyone can do that. Do you know what I mean? I just want for myself, for people to go, oh, Mel, yeah, he's good at what he does. Yeah, man. I'll be happy with that. I'll be happy with that. Yeah. Do you know what I mean? Anything else is a bonus.

1:15:15Mo Gilligan: And then when you go to Spain and they're like, superstar, man! Super superstar! One day. It happens in Marbella sometimes. There you go, man. Sometimes, sometimes. There you go, man. But listen, it's been a pleasure, man. But can I just say, also, Mo, you're a dude that supports so many people so many people but you know but not everyone does Mo and there's I've been to I've been to shows like the O2 I love it when you bring on you bring on big comedians and you bring on comedians who are up and coming and there's not that's I think that's one of the reasons why you're so successful because you share the love yeah I feel like we have to you do have to you know I mean a lot of people often say you don't have to but I feel like you know whenever you get to these places places, you want to go back to the moments where you meet like you're saying like that 14 year old self.

1:16:06Mo Gilligan: And as much as I can, I was good, my guy, you're right, man, I let me out, can I get some advice? Yeah, cool. Walk with me, man, I'm going the same way. I want to be able to like, when he does comedy in four years time, maybe wherever it is, I can be like, bro, come jump on, come come at a creek if you want to do 10 minutes, or come and jump on because I feel like what we're able to do, we're never lucky, but we are extremely blessed. But knowing that the environment that everyone else is coming from doesn't have rich parents, doesn't have even the abilities to get to a Brit school and stuff like this, it's just like, I know by just saying, hey man, I've got this thing, do you want to jump on?

1:16:47Mo Gilligan: It might seem small fry for me but I know how big the opportunity could be for someone else so I just believe that it's just like yeah I don't know for me it's always been my purpose of like I know I'm doing this but but it makes me happy to see you and other people like Monya do you mean there's so many people in your arena who are doing what you're doing I brother it makes you so happy oh no but I feel like you guys have you know set a path for that when it comes to you know you're having a breakfast show, being apologetically yourself, and broadcasting to the nation, but showing that you can be fun, you can be silly, and you can do this in the comfort of like, yeah, I'm a black man and I'm going to go and dance.

1:17:31I'm going to go and eat some bugs on a show,

1:17:34Mo Gilligan: but I'm still going to be myself. And it shows that there's so many different sides to this black experience when I'm on television. I can be silly, I can be goofy, I could do my dad dancing. But essentially, you guys have really laid down the blueprint for a lot of us now to do that and go on a radio show or play at a weekend, which is going to be house and dance music. And realise you're like, yeah, we started this thing when it comes to house music. You know what I mean? So it's almost a sense of like, yeah, like you can be your authentic self in so many different spaces and not feel like, you know, for a lot of other people in the workspace that might listen to your radio show where they're like, I'm going to listen to these guys.

1:18:19Mo Gilligan: They're so fun. But like in the office, I've got a kind of code switch, isn't it? You know, putting the corporate voice. But when I get back in the car, I can listen to Ricky and Melvi again and it's going to be a vibe. Do you know what I mean? But you guys have really like laid the blueprint for that. So no, for that, honestly, man, Big, big love, man. And every time I see you, it's just like, we don't chat all the time, but every time I see you, it doesn't feel like that. Do you know what I mean? Because the thing is, I can't remember the first time I met you. Same, same. I can't actually remember.

1:18:48Mo Gilligan: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Exactly. But it's like, every time I see you, it's always cool. Yeah, man. And we'll say hello. We'll say, how are you doing? How are you doing? You might ask me about a dry cleaner and then we go about our business. But it's all love because I know you're always doing your thing and I'm always doing my thing, but it's all, I'm always here if you need me or whatever. But yeah, it's love, man. And even thanks for having me on this. We are very proud of you and what you have built. Like, trust me, man. Like, it's us giving you your flowers of like, to be able to consistently do what you've done for that amount of time.

1:19:25Mo Gilligan: Brother, listen, I'm just new to this thing, but realizing you're like, it's not very easy. so for that thank you for coming on the pod and this has been your beginning middle and end thank you very much love love love appreciate you man hey what's up thank you so much for listening to the podcast today now a lot goes in to making each episode I know you hear my voice but there's a team behind the scenes who helped make it and if you did enjoy it I'd really really appreciate if you could show the love to them by giving us five stars and if you also have the time please leave us a review it's always appreciated and we love reading the comments and of course we want to keep making it better thank you for listening and have a great day peace