Man Like Mobeen star Guz Khan on faith, family and packing in teaching to ‘grow weed’

Our Ones To Watch series has been highlighting standout actors from the small screen, and we continue the series with comedian Guz Khan, star of BBC Three comedy Man Like Mobeen.

The series, written and created by Guz and Andy Milligan, Man Like Mobeen follows 28-year-old Brummie Mobeen, who is the sole provider for his younger sister Aqsa. The show explores life as a British Muslim in an inner city community and touches on issues such as arranged marraige, racial profiling and the alt-right.

Guz is already a prolific YouTube star – you probably recognise him from that Pakisaurus video which went viral back in 2015, fetching almost 15 million views.

We spoke to Guz about faith, family, and why he was sick of marking homework.

How did Man Like Mobeen come about?

I was sat in my classroom just over two years ago thinking, if I have to mark one more set of these books, I’m going to die, so I’d better start growing weed again and leave teaching. Luckily for me, I was already on the radar of the BBC for some comedic work I’d done online. It all came about from there. Big up all the teachers who continue to dedicate their lives to this vocation. You are the real G’s out here.

What was it about Man Like Mobeen that you think made the BBC want to pick it up for a full series?

I got to work with the one and only Gill Isles (Producer behind Car Share, Detectorists and now Man Like Mobeen). She said from early that she hadn’t met anyone like me in comedy before and that I had a unique talent. I believe she was instrumental in telling folks at the BBC about what I was capable of. My agent Debi Allen was also fundamental in allowing me to meet people who were taken aback by how raw a talent I was. Since day one, it’s always been ‘Guz is naturally funny, no frills, just a working-class lad who knows how to make people laugh’. That’s kind of rare in this game.

Other than Goodness Gracious Me and Coconut, we don’t have many Asian-led comedies – is it time for more?

I mean I don’t prescribe to the notion it should just be ‘Asian’ led comedies, but I certainly feel that stories should be told by ‘real people’. There aren’t enough Black or Asian writers, performers, directors or producers. And that is partly because this industry can be based around ‘who you know’. If the chief commissioner at a TV Channel is ‘middle class Steve’, he’s not going to have a connection with emerging talent from an inner city working class area. Going forward I’d love to be able to help a new generation come through and be creative in this space.

How autobiographical is the series?

I don’t want to go to prison here Metro Online, so I’ll say 50% autobiographical, when really it’s probably closer to 90% (don’t tell the old bill please).

How have you worked in your faith into this series? Did you have any concerns about doing this?

Mobeen is Muslim, he had found that faith has given him rules of how to be a better human being. Caring for the world, contributing to his community and being a great brother and friend. Nothing in the show is overt, he’s a guy that struggles with his faith, and that’s reflective of real life, ups and downs, twists and turns, life is a journey.

Your character is described as a 28-year-old who ‘doesn’t know any terrorists’ – how much are stereotypes and racial profiling touched on in this series? And how did you balance this with comedy?

For me, utilising Mobeen as a vessel for really looking at these issues and saying ‘Hey, this isn’t Fox News, it’s real life’ was fundamental. The media representation of Muslims would have you think we have all the answers for counter terrorism and community cohesion. In reality, we know as much as Elaine from Asda checkouts, we don’t know mate! Race will continue to be issue for a long time yet. Structurally the world still adheres to institutional racism, so I don’t know why people are so surprised about the rise of the right wing globally. They are intrinsically tied! Having said that, I used comedy to bring people together from all demographics, it’s a beautiful tool.

Who are your acting heroes?

My comedy heroes are Eddie Murphy, Dave Chappelle and Lee Evans. I’m more like the first two stylistically, they had such a strong influence on my comedic style and flavour. Dave in particular goes from sharp political commentary, to outlandish humour, that’s who I am as a person also, and what Mobeen as a show does. Lee Evans is crazy man, I could never do what he does, but he makes me laugh a lot. Crazy dude.

What’s next for you?

I want to continue to get better at standup, it’s been a mad journey the last couple of years since I left teaching. Now that I’ve done my first Live at the Apollo, people expect a certain standard, and I relish that, game time every time I go out on stage.

I would think the BBC would give us the chance to make more Man Like Mobeen as it’s gone down really well with reviewers and most importantly the people. Finally, just be a good Dad, Husband, Son, Brother, Uncle…you get the message innit, I’ve got loads of family to look after, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Thanks for the chat Guz!

Man Like Mobeen is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

To read more about Metro.co.uk’s Ones To Watch series on actors to look out for on the small screen, head to our Ones To Watch page here.

MORE: Pippa Bennett-Warner on the ‘darkly funny’ Sick Note and missing out on meeting Lindsay Lohan

MORE: Snowfall star Damson Idris says the US is ‘100 per cent’ better for black-British actors

Original Article

The post Man Like Mobeen star Guz Khan on faith, family and packing in teaching to ‘grow weed’ appeared first on News Wire Now.