Mo Gilligan, better known as Mo the Comedian, has really put in the work over the last few years and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.
I’ve been following Mo Gilligan on Twitter since 2009 and it brings a smile to my face to witness his rise in the game. His prolific work rate is worthy of accolades, which is why I feel compelled to include him in my Loved You in This gallery.
Testing the waters
Mo started out as a stand-up comedian whilst holding down retail jobs. In December 2016 he started sharing funny video clips on his Instagram channel of characters he created. He didn’t have a large audience but savvy YouTubers used to rip his videos from Instagram and post them to YouTube getting more views than Mo himself. Eventually, Mo started sharing the videos to Twitter and Facebook too, but it would be a few years before he fully embraced YouTube and claimed his coins.
One video in particular, “Different types of MCs” caught the attention of many in the music business including music promotional platform, Link Up TV who had a much bigger audience than Mo. They posted his video on their Facebook page and it received a million views. Surprised at the number of views the video received, Mo felt encouraged to continue with his creations.
In 2017 Mo took his brand of comedy on a tour across the UK. One of Mo’s most popular characters is the Geezer with his catchphrase “Julie get a coupla cans in” so it seemed appropriate that he named the tour Coupla Cans tour. What started out as nine dates increased to 15 due to high demand.
TV debuts
2017 was a breakout year for Mo culminating in the commissioning of two TV shows by Channel 4. In June 2018 The Big Narstie Show debuted with Mo as co-host to rapper Big Narstie, then in July 2019, Mo’s own show the Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan debuted. To top it off, an hour-long special titled Mo Gilligan: Momentum was released on Netflix in October.
Changing the game
For 2020, the hard-working comedian would have been back on stage with his There’s Mo to Life world tour, but the pandemic put the brakes on that. Shaking off the setback in March 2020, Mo took to Instagram Live to give us Quarantine Games. The live show gave viewers the chance to win prizes whilst staying safe at home.
The quiz show was so popular that Channel 4 commissioned a special live four-part show for TV. All Star Happy Hour went live on 4 May. It was a blend of new sketches from Mo, musical performances from celebs via live link, and members of the public teaming up with celebrity guests in a series of challenges to win prizes. Within three weeks Mo had his home turned into a mini studio for the show. You can watch a behind-the-scenes video of the process.
During the second live episode, there was a technical failure, and the show couldn’t air. Being the consummate professional, Mo shook off the setback and switched to IG Live to give the fans what they needed to lift their spirits during these Covvid19 times.
Still bringing the funny
Many of us had a lot of time on our hands during the lockdown and Mo the Comedian put his time to excellent use producing video sketches where he inserts a character into a previously recorded interview. The results are much slicker than his shot on a mobile phone format but still as funny. These new sketches premiered during the All Star Happy Hour show.
With the Channel 4 live show done and dusted, Mo turned his hand to telling bedtime stories. This has to be the highlight of the year so far for me. His Roadman character is one of my favourites so seeing him telling bedtime stories with no filter is hilarious and I hope he continues to find the time to do these.
Comedy is not my go-to genre, but this has been a strange year so I take my entertainment where I can find it. With Mo, I don’t have far to look. His work rate has been impressive and I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next. Maybe one day he’ll get a cameo in Doctor Who. That would be special.
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