Man Like Mobeen

Guz Khan interview

British Comedy Guide talks to Guz Khan as his sitcom - Man Like Mobeen - returns to screens for a second series.

Hi Guz. Did you have a good 2018?

Yeah it was sound, thanks for asking. I learned to juggle a bit, stayed out of prison, it was good year...

So, great news, Man Like Mobeen is back for a second series. You must be happy to be able to continue on the story?

It's a great feeling to bring back a show that resonates with so many different kinds of people.

It's going to be funny, making social commentary, but crucially, some things out of Mobeen's control are going to lead us down a very sketchy path. I can't wait for people to see what we've done with this new series.

Series 2 follows on from the success of Series 1. At what point did you realise the show was going down well?

I had a feeling rattling around in my soul that this show was going to bang. The reason for that is that it's the first time someone like me had been given the opportunity to make a show my way. Working class, not professionally trained, just a normal fella really. I knew there was an appetite for something authentic and authored by someone real.

Having said that, you don't really know until it drops. And when it did, the outpouring of positivity from the people was unbelievable.

I'm still overwhelmed by it now. Twitter was booooomin as they say.

Mobeen perhaps isn't the best role model in life. Hopefully you're not too similar to him?

No not at all, I'm squeaky clean me... (are you undercover working with the police, why you asking me these questions?!)

It strikes us that the show promotes fairly traditional family values, but does so through a non-traditional prism. Would you agree with that?

Yeah... to an extent. I think that this kind of family dynamic is rarely shown, so maybe it's you that has a non-traditional prism... woah, it's like being in Stranger Things, fully in the upside down.

You write the show with Andy Milligan. How does that process work?

Andy owes me a pair of Air Max 90's, that's all I care about when it comes to Andy bloody Milligan. So, until he gives me what he owes me, I'm saying he's a waste man...

What did you learn in the process of making the first series?

Creating good content is very hard work. But the first series gave me an insight into how much.

That meant come the second, I was mentally, physically and emotionally prepared to hone and rework things on the move all the time. Being adaptable is how to get the best out of every moment. Very tiring though...

There aren't many sitcoms on TV involving Asian characters. Are you conscious of that when making this show - i.e. reflecting Muslim culture in a positive light, as your show is one of the only representations of it on TV - or do you just go ahead with the stories you want to tell, and try and avoid that pressure?

The only pressure I feel, is to ensure that I'm telling the stories and representing the world authentically. Since my short time in comedy, I've become synonymous with keepin it real. It's difficult. You can't keep everyone happy, as everyone has a different take on their life. But I'll continue to do it on my personal projects, as it really is satisfying. Someone should set up a Just Giving page for me though, I'm properly reppin the people here...

You, Tez Ilyas, Tolu Ogunmefun and Dúaa Karim have spent quite a lot of time together now. Have you reached the stage of being friends outside of set?

I love Tolulope, I love Duaa...

Tez... I mean... Tez, he's Tez innit. He's like a mix between Iago from Aladdin and an Asian Alan Carr. I do love him really...

What's next for you? Presumably you're also thinking about storylines for a possible third series?

I am currently filming the remake of Four Weddings And A Funeral for Hulu. Mindy Kaling is dope, the cast is dope. It's a lot of fun.

Then I'm going on tour with my brother Mo Amer across the country, so come see that for sure. And then... more juggling, and more trying to stay out of prison.