That Gaby Roslin Podcast: Reasons To Be Joyful - Jimmy Akingbola

Episode Date: October 31, 2022

On this week's episode of the podcast Gaby is joined by Actor Jimmy Akingbola for an honest and open chat about his new documentary 'Jimmy Akingbola: Handle With Care'. You may know Jimmy from his role in BBC's Holby City, as presenter of the incredible comedy show 'Sorry, I Didn't Know', and more recently on the incredible 'Bel Air'. Gaby and Jimmy chat about his life, his career, his new documentary and so much more on this captivating episode.'Jimmy Akingbola: Handle With Care' is out on Tuesday 1st November at 9PM on ITV and available after on the ITV Hub. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

and welcome to That Gabby Roslin podcast, part of the A-Cast Creator Network. My guest this week is the wonderful actor Jimmy Akinbola. Now, his documentary, Jimmy Ackinbola, Handle with Care, is so moving and so beautiful. You can catch it on Tuesday the 1st of November, 9 o'clock on ITV. And of course, if you're listening after the 1st of November, you can see it on the ITV harbor. It is beautiful. He's a wonderful man. I do hope you enjoy this chat.

Don't forget, you can keep up to date by following and subscribing please to the podcast where a new episode is released every Monday. Leave us a rating on the Apple Podcast app. And whilst you're there, why not leave us a review? We love to hear your thoughts. Now, on with the show. Jimmy, what's so lovely is to actually sit opposite you because I've interviewed you down the line. But this is, I get to see you.

In person. You can't be in person. No, you really can't. So thank you for having me on. And it's a honour opposite the cabs You're a man of so many talents I mean you're now

You're Mr Bellet I mean there you are In Hollywood You've got this extraordinary documentary That we're going to talk about You make the quiz shows on TV Yeah sorry I didn't know I know

And I did know And you've got your own production company And you've been an actor for years And people think of you Comedy Actor and straight actor as well. Okay, you choose, where shall we start? Where should we start?

Where should we start? Where do we start? Where don't we start with the documentary? Okay, let's do that. I think so. Mind blowing. You know, yeah, you know, a handle with care. It's something I've been thinking about for quite a few years of, you know,

I've never sort of been public about sort of my journey. And it's not that I've been ashamed about it. It's just personal. It is. And the documentary is extraordinary. So let's explain. And this is, it's your life. Yeah.

It's how you were brought up. It's by the family that brought you up, your foster family, who were white. But it goes back to the very, very beginning. And I have to say, watching it, I, there was never a moment where I felt heartbroken. I just felt like I wanted to hold your hand. Does that make sense? Yeah, no, it does. It does.

I mean, you're when you were very young. Do you remember, I know you tell the story in your documentary about when you were very young, but do you remember going through that pain with your family? I remember tiny bits, not really the pain, but I remember being a little bit in a children's home. I always said, I've got a memory of me drinking orange juice, an orange cup and a digestive biscuit. And then, and some kids, other kids around. And then it jumps to, I mean, a flat. with my biological mum and in my foster mum and I'm in between the two of them.

So, oh, you remember that? I just, yeah, I do, I do, you know. And then there's another jump and I, we're not in a flat anymore, we're in a house in East London in Plasto, Cunningtown and I'm surrounded by, you know, my foster family and then my family. And then what helped me, from a young age, always knew exactly what the situation was, if that makes sense in terms of my my biological mum Eunice would come and visit

me every two weeks. So there was that sense where oh, I'm with this family and then I'll be reminded when my mom would come and visit me, you know? So what was that like though? Because they were your so these were your, then they were white. Yeah, yeah. A black child

fostered by a white family two boys and a girl. Yeah. And we get to meet them. Thank you for introducing us to all of the family as well because as a viewer, it's so intimate, it really is intimate. But how did you feel for your biological mom to step in? Were there times where you thought, please don't, because this is my family? I always yearned for that connection with my biological family, you know, and sometimes it's difficult because I felt guilty

because I've got this loving wife's the family that's doing everything for me, you know, raising me well, but I still missed my biological family. So, but they created a space that, that, they created a space that I was able to love my biological mum and be with my mum, Eunice. And actually, I enjoyed it. It was just joyful because they got on as well. I'd be like, Mom, do you want a cup of tea? Mom, do you want a cup of tea?

You know, they'd be sitting down together in the kitchen or we watch musicals together or TV. It was really easy. And actually, you know, I think a couple of tough moments, the confusing moments is where, you know, my mom was, she could be a strict Nigerian woman, you know. And so there be times where if I was doing something or hadn't, you know, sort of comb my hair as well as it should have been,

she would take me upstairs and I would get this, what I call like a snippet of how it would be if I grew up with my mom or my mom and dad were together in terms of, you know, we're not going to allow this to happen. You need to do this, this, this. And I remember I'd be crying like, why are you doing this? And it was different,

different ways of bringing up your child, you know? But at the same time, it was joy, you know? I think, I think the- That's a good word. Yeah, joy, joy. Yeah. Okay.

Yeah. The difficult thing, I think, were the gaps, the gaps of not seeing my mum because my biological mom suffered from schizophrenia. And sometimes she was not well, she might have been sectioned

and then the gaps of my siblings and my dad that was hard and the social services would be like you can't see your brother and your brothers or your sister or you know your dad doesn't want to see you

being told that when you're like five six seven that's that's real pain that's pain but when you're a kid and you love so much you know this unconditional love that my family the crows gave me that it

it landed, but then it would be washed away. I call it in the back drawer. You know what I mean? Because I've got so much love around me, you know? And so I don't think I would always completely process that pain, you know? I think somehow I developed a way to pull it somewhere, you know, and I think it helped because I had so much love and care coming my way. If I didn't have that, then I think I'd be staring at that.

And I think, you know, things would have gone a different way. what was it like being a black child in a white family? Did you feel different? I get the feeling that your family didn't make you feel different and they felt that you weren't, you know, that you had different colour skin. And of course you're not different. But years ago, you know, I can imagine,

and I hate the fact that I can imagine that people weren't understanding of this. Yeah. Yeah, in the home, in some ways, I never felt different until maybe I'm watching the news, you know, or reading a newspaper, you know, about certain issues that normally would have things to do, issues about race, you know. Only a few occasions like that.

But the majority of time is when we would leave London and go out on trips to Broadstairs, Hastings or Devon and suddenly I really felt completely different by... Really? Yeah, because it's the way

people would look at me you know? People would look at me and look at us as a family you know and it makes me feel uncomfortable. Oh, I'm sorry. I just...

Yeah. I'm sorry, it really upsets me. Yeah, it was hard and we talk about in the dock and it's that thing of where I don't want to bring it up because I know my family love these trees.

trips and it's a I knew what it meant to the family but it was really hard and I would get a little bit in London but not as much because London's London you know but you still get a few sort of looks and whatnot but it was so much more diverse you know in London you know you could see mixed-raised families and whatnot but yeah that was the hardest part and um but what I'd love about my foster family is like we wouldn't my mum my mum mom wouldn't ignore it. My mom and dad wouldn't ignore it. You know, it's not that weird out these deep conversations, but they talk about there was no manual and my mom says, I didn't do anything. I just, I just loved you. I just brought you up. But actually, in everything that

they did, my, like stuff like sharing influential figures like Sidney Porteer with me. And my mom, even like, you know, in a fort, is new what that man represented to black people and to the world. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. Yeah. And she was introducing that man to my to me on purpose. Or she'd be telling me, oh, Chris Akabusi, he's like you. I know. And he's in the documentary and Ian's in the documentary. Yeah. But these little things were about, uh, helping me with my identity and knowing myself, you know, it wasn't, oh, you're different. You're one of them. It's like, no, no, no, I get that. They're saying, look what you can do as well. Look at, yeah, look how amazing all these people are. And they would do that, you know. And they would do that, you know.

And I remember watching stuff like Roots, you know, like watching Roots. And my dad's trying to watch the racing. And my mom's like, no, he has to watch this. Like, that was really like. She sounds like good people. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. She is and the whole family is, you know. And I think I talk about it a lot.

If I wasn't introduced to things like that, if my foster siblings didn't have black friends and if I wasn't in a diverse area, it would have been really different. And I think I would have been a different kind of man. And I think sometimes when I meet my mixed-raised friends, I feel like I've had that kind of upbringing. You know, I've had enough of my culture around me, via my family, via my non-blood family as well.

Do you know what I mean? My Nigerian friends, my Jamaican friends, my Asian friends. And I think my journey has shown me that family isn't just blood. and I am the man I am today because of my environment growing up that had so many amazing people in it. Have you been to Nigeria? I have. I've been to Nigeria once and I should go again. It's been tricky just because when my mum's side of the family,

there's not many of them anymore. I don't really know them and the few that were around were my dad's side of the family. And so the one time I went, I went to see the side of the family. to see where my grandma was buried and there's a street named after us. I can boil a street. Oh, wow. Yeah, it was, it was amazing. You obviously have a photograph of you standing under that street.

I do, I do. I'm pleased to hear it. Yeah, it didn't make the dock, but I do have that. I do have that. But at the same time, I think there's a sense I've not been able to really lean and connect because of the difficult relationship me and my father have had, you know. And yeah, I do want to go and spend more time. in Nigeria and it's quite interesting like my middle names are damidele and olatucumbo oh you know what

beautiful beautiful names thank you what do they mean and the loose meanings are like return home with me and bring wealth from abroad so you're a by the culture when you are born your names are normally given to you around your circumstances you know and so being a british born Nigerian you know I think these names are perfect, but also perfect in terms I am an actor. You know, my name is global, but also even doing this doc, some of the people that I'm talking about now, I'm not here anymore. And I just feel like I'm honoring my name and I'm doing this as a love letter to both my families and especially those that are not here anymore, you know. Well, congratulations on it. As I said, it's beautiful.

It's very personal. yes I did have tears of my eyes but for the right reasons thank you thank you it really is something very special there's this moment a shot of you with your foster siblings on a bench and there's a cutter where I know I know you made the the documentary but there's a shot of your hands on the bench

and that has stayed with me there's that shot it's just thank you it's this beautiful moment I recommend everybody see it and actually one of my oldest friends this is his story as well and he wasn't I mean he loved his

adopted family so much but he wasn't in London and he was looked at oh yeah yeah yeah you are different you know it's all of that yeah it really is a different experience if you are not from London

you know and I think a lot of people ask me what are you saying and I'm saying like unconditional love is it really important but I'm like education is important as well and where we are now you if you're putting someone with a family that's of a different race there needs to be a high level of education from that family and the environment needs to support that child I am saying that I'm not just saying could put anyone with anyone anywhere no no because it's really hard you know it's important to learn about where we come from really yeah and also if we can talk about diversity because of course you make

the show for ITV2 as well, the quiz show. And a lot of the things you do are about diversity. And I think diversity, it's funny that a lot of people now don't want to talk about it because they felt it was too talked about. But it's important to keep that conversation going. You and I have had the conversation on radio about it. I agree with you. I agree with you.

And I think, you know, coming back to Handel with Care, like, I didn't want this just to be a black kid with a white family story. This story is universal. It's not. It's not. It could be anyone. During the documentary, we met people like an Indian family that adopted a Nigerian girl. And also a black family that's fostered some white kids.

It's like it's universal. It's a global story. It's not just a story that should be out on Black History Month. You know, it's much bigger than that. But within the stories we want to tell my production company, Trifles Productions, it is in the DNA of everything that we do, you know. Even if you look at the game shows, sorry I didn't know, the diversity inclusion in that is that you've got female captains.

Yes. It's not we've got black female captains, even though that is a thing they're the first, but we've got female captains. When you look at all these male-dominated or white male-dominated shows, that, you know, you never see a woman being a captain, or you've never seen, you know, I call myself the black Stephen Fry. You don't see a guy like me in the chair, but also it's about the content. The content is about black history, but it's all our history, right?

you can't talk about history in schools and then not cover this whole area that just almost erases. You know, even when we think about the war, I've grown up watching war films with my foster family and, you know, pride and prejudices. It's like, it's like, what, we weren't around. Of course we were around. But like, our stories are not being told without getting too political. If you've not, if you've not been told the full extent of history, then you will have certain thoughts about certain. Of course. Immigrants and did a, but if you knew your history, it would make sense why certain people are

here and you would maybe divert that frustration elsewhere. Surely we should just be open and warm. We're getting too political, so we'll leave it. But oh my God, this government, now let's, that's it. Hand end of that bit. So congratulations on the documentary. Obviously, we have to talk about the acting as well. So we've talked about, are you doing more of the quiz?

Yes, we just did season three of, sorry, I didn't know. Congratulations. So I was able to fit that in a while. So right, okay, so we're going to have Jimmy the Quizmaster. We're going to have Jimmy the documentary maker and everybody has to watch it. That's how good it is. And I will be sharing it everywhere I can. Thank you.

No, no, no, seriously. Congratulations on it. Let's talk about, you know where I'm going now. Let's fly over the water to Sunny America. And now we land in Bel Air. I'm in Oh, excuse me I'm living the dream

Are you really? I am We all grew up watching this amazing show Right I remember I remember watching home and away Singing that Home and away

Yeah I can't sing Their neighbors And then at 6pm you switch it over To BBC 2 And it's like This is a story Oh Do you know every word

No I don't I'm not gonna do it I don't Sorry my kids So my kids Every single word They weren't around that the first time. They know every single word and they're shocked.

I don't know it. It's crazy. I know. I think I've got audio dyslexia or something. I don't know. You must know a bit. I do. I know a story all about how my life got flipped up, tight down.

I'd like to take a minute and just sit right there. Tell you how I became Jeffrey of the new dramatic version of the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. But tell everybody how you got it because I know this story, but they might not. Well, you know, I was having a year of getting close to some really big things and, you know, you're the guy, you're the guy, and then it goes somewhere else. And then when I got the email about auditioning for Bel Air, it said, Jeffrey in like mid-50s, I was like, I'm a young man. I was like, I've played characters. I can do stuff like Crackhead Mick or, you know, Valentine with Ederson in the long run. But I was like, no, I'm not going to, I can't do 55. I'm tired.

I'm going to hold out for something else. And then America's like, no, no, no, no. They really want you. Ignore the age. They want you. So I was a bit sulky about it. I said if it's more than three pages of dialogue, I'm not going to do it. I opened up the attachment. It was like two and a half pages. I was like, okay, I can learn this easily. And it was one of those things, Gab. I put on a three-piece suit.

It was a random hot sort of July day. And I did the self-tape. And then suddenly I fell in love with it. I was like, this is so me. Yeah. I just felt like, I just like, I can do this. I know this character. And so I went from, no, I'm not really.

bother to really wanting it. And then I didn't hear anything. One of my best mates in LA, he got like a producer session to audition again. So I was like, well, if I'm not going to get it, you're going to get. I'm really happy for you through gritted teeth. And I love him, Anthony Barrow, fantastic actor. And then out of nowhere, I get a email when I wake up one Thursday morning saying, Jimmy from my agents in America, they want to see you tonight. And I was like, that's so unfair. I've got a really busy day. And my agent was like, do you want me to push it till Friday? I was like, no, let's just do it. Let's just do it. But I rushed back to, because I do my self-tapes with my niece,

Follah, Evan Zakambola, who's in the British version of Call My Agent 10%. And I got to her apartment about 8.30 and the audition was at 9. I'm sweating. I am sweating. I look like a mess. But I got myself together. And then I put on the Zoom because, you know, it was still pandemic. Yeah.

And I could see the producers. And they're talking to me. They're like, all right, let's go. And as soon as they said, let's go, I couldn't see anyone. So I could just only hear them. So I'm like, wait, guys, you want me to audition, but I can't see anyone. They were blaming me. Have you done something with your phone?

I was like, no, this is not my first Zoom audition. So I had to do the biggest audition of my life without seeing the person I'm acting with. You know, and they were crashing on my lines. The director was giving me notes. Because I couldn't see his eyes. I was like, are these all negative notes? You know, I can say to you, Gabby, give me more swag. You know what I mean?

But if I can see your face, it's like, oh, you're happy. what I'm doing. Or it could be like, you know, Gab, you're looking a bit stiff. Go loosen it up a bit. So suddenly I got in my head and I just felt like I was messing it up. And then we got to the end of the audition and there's like, do you want to do it again? I was like, no, I'm good. And then I said, okay, let me do one more version and I've just, you know, throw everything at the wall. And I did that. And then I was so upset. I remember emailing my team going, look, this is probably the worst audition I've ever had. I'm not being OTT actor, but it was bad.

The signal was out. I couldn't see people. I was in my head and I was sweating a lot. And then I let it go. I let it go. I really made peace with sometimes it goes that way. And then out of the blue,

I get a call like two weeks later and my American agent's like, congratulations. You're playing Geoffrey. And I was like, I'm like, I'm like, Joffrey. I didn't go up for Game of Thrones. I'm like, oh, you mean Jeffrey? We say Jeffrey. She's like, oh sorry and then yeah tears of joy gab tears of joy because it's it's the job i moved to you know sort of started living in between here and l.A. four or five years ago and and it's also

the show the full circle of our conversation that for me represents uh inclusion and diversity do you know what I mean that show was a hit you know for everybody to about where you were from how old were you were it was an iconic show and so So to be playing the iconic character, Jeffrey, is a dream come true. And the biggest thing about it for me also is that Fresh Prince of Bel Air is based off of a care story. You know, Benny Medina was adopted by a white foster family in America and they created the Fresh Prince off of his experience. But because of the lack of black stories on TV and the black middle class, they turned it into the Banks family, a black family. and now I'm in the story that

represented my own story. Do you know what I mean? It's a beautiful thing, you know? So what's it like to be in it? Okay, so what's it like to be a star now in America? Because this is, you're living the dream. Oh, you're smart. That was adorable.

I wish people could see you actually, you blushed and you did that. Oh, she just said it. Yes, I said it. What is it like? Ah. Ha ha. It is like, what is it like? Okay, give me, like, what's your favorite thing to eat?

Do you like cake, chocolate? Eid it, you know what? I have my favorite thing. I love apple crumble with ice cream. So is it apple crumble and ice cream? It's that first bite, you know, fresh out the other, apple crumble and ice cream. It really is, it really is. Why?

Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? because, you know, it takes a lot of guts to bet on yourself. You know, a lot of people are like, oh, why are you spending time in America? Why did you leave, Hobie?

And, you know, and to back yourself with, like, I don't know, a year's worth of money in your back pocket. I wasn't invited to the US. I just knew that there was more to me than what the UK was offering me at that moment in time. and so it's such a joy to be go like oh this job represents that move to America. Yeah. But it's pretty,

do you know what we all have that, don't we? It's that, see, I told you I could do it. Yeah. And it's not that. It's not that. It's wow.

And for you as well. Yeah. It's that moment. Oh gosh. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. When did you know you could do it?

I mean, how long ago? I don't just mean the American part. Yeah. I mean, the whole of Jimmy that we'll know. The acting, the producing, all of this. When did it come to you? The acting part, I just saw it as, because I started off in comedy. I just enjoyed making people laugh.

So I was like, oh yeah, this is not hard. This is fun. I can be silly. And then I had to go to drama school to realize, oh, it's more than just making people love. And actually, I do love drama. And so I think during drama school, I realized, oh, yeah, I can do this. I had a natural ability, but now I've got the technique. And then I think with the producing and stuff, with a production company in the events,

that was a surprise. You know, that was a bit about owning your power, your personality. I realize I create experiences. I'm good at bringing people together. I've worked with a lot of people. I spot talent. And it's like, it suddenly twigged. I was like, oh, that is a bit like a bit like.

producing. You know what I mean? And also there's that selfless part of me that I know what I can do and where I'm going, but I love helping people. Do you know what I mean? And I think that's because of, maybe because I was fostered, because I've had people do things for me over the years. And it's really interesting, Fraser Air is my business partner with the production company. You know, he's mixed race, his wife is white. And so we get told, we're the black production company, But we're, our world is much more nuanced and diverse than that, you know? And in which you see the, the, you're a production company. Yeah, yeah, that's it.

A production company. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And so it's just a joy to work and move in a certain way, you know? Because representation is important to me. Yeah, but you knew. But I knew I could do it. You knew you could do it. I didn't know.

I just sort of, I could see the gaps. I could look at other people. go, but they're a bigger profile to me. Why are they not doing it? And I felt like I couldn't just move in a way. I was talking to my publicist about this, that just being an actor, I wanted to be a bit of a game changer, you know?

I want it to disrupt the norm of how things work here in the UK. And so did Fraser. And when you are working in the industry, we realized that we were like insiders, outsiders. You know what I mean? We could be on a production and go, we can see what the issues are here, what the problems are.

And actually we're good at translating. You know, like the next Michaela Cole, we're good at going, look, you need to write a bit like this or this is what they mean when they say that. And then also we realize that it's about access. If you can create a bridge of access, that's great. But there's a lot of people that don't want to do that. It's like one in one out. The system's so hard, so hard to be successful that, you know, I'm going to close. Some people that close the door rather than leave it open.

And I think if you look at, sorry I didn't know. The opening door is like we give a platform to all our top, top different types of comedians out there, you know? Or if you look at Handle of Care, this is my story, but the subject's bigger than me, you know, and I'm praying that it opens the door for more conversation. I'm hoping it will inspire people to adopt or foster. I'm hoping that the 12-year-old version of myself,

that will inspire them and realize that they can have a life, even though they're coming through the care system, that their starting off point doesn't have to dictate the future. You know what I mean? And that's the way that I am with with my creativity and with my work. You're paying it forward.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I'm really passionate about it. And as I've always been like that and as you learn and you grow, you just realize, oh, it's about owning your power. It's about being your authentic self. And also it's about allowing yourself. to be vulnerable as well. I think, you know, it's quite easy just to do one

the one thing and not spread yourself so much. But I think even again, bringing it back to the doc, what I loved about it, that you had grown men and grown black men, actually. You don't see that often on TV being vulnerable, you know, and that's a through line of the documentary. And I think it is all about the journey and growth and leaning into sort of of difficult conversations and realizing that on the other side of that, good things can happen. You get to spend time with, we mentioned already Chris Akabusi and Ian, but Chris was somebody, I mean, so there you were, right, so you're in a TV show that you watched as a child. Yep.

You're meeting your childhood heroes. Let's go to that pinch me. You know, when you were that young. boy watching fresh prints looking at Chris Akabusi seeing Ian Wright you must just be like look what's happened you're right you're right and so much more

is still going to happen and so much more so much more I mean if I'm honest with you the last four or five years has been ridiculous without like name dropping go name name drop name drop go now well look I've been working with Brenda Bletton you know you know like you said Lenny James Chris Akabusi

you know Ian McKellen you know Dustin Hoffman and Liam Hansworth Jason St. Baker Can I come to that party

You know it's crazy Yeah we're cause you with Hannah My lovely friend Hannah Waddingham Yeah Yeah she's amazing She's a goddess

Yeah And it's her moment And then I'm like Wow it's been amazing year And then I'm meeting Will Smith And And

And that was a a real moment. It was, I had to pinch myself multiple times. I love that. Multiple times. And yet, knowing that we all got co-signed, I was one of the first cast for Bel Air, you know, and I remember getting a message from one of the producers saying, Will loves what you're doing. He loved these kids love you. Jada loves you. And it's just like, wow. And he was so open and giving when I met him on the premiere and then the other side of that is meeting Joseph Marcel, you know, so we played the original Jeffrey. And already, he played my father in death in paradise.

And so I remember it was the moment gap, was in Guadeloupe. It's one of those jobs, all actors love it, you know? Whether they love the show or not, you know, I love the show, but they love it, you know. And we're on the beach together. And I was like, Joseph, does this ever get, you know, a bit old? He's like, no, dear boy. He's like, no, dear boy. It never gets old.

I love it. And we're both there on a day off by the beach together. And I think I got a picture that I post on Twitter. We're both pointing at each other in our white vests. A few years later, how crazy is it that I'm playing his character? I love that. It's just beautiful. It's meant to be.

Jimmy, so much is going to be happening for you because you just open to it all. And I think that's, you know, that, because I, over the 35 years, that I've been doing this and the people that I've interviewed you know the ones that stuff is going to come to because you're open and you're ready

and you want it to come to you but also like I said you're paying it forward you're a good man oh my God I'm so excited for you I'm so excited of you Jimmy what makes you laugh what makes you properly belly laugh

really really really good comedy so what's really good comedy okay really good comedy I would say well I grew up watching stuff like the fresh prints you know You're not allowed to mention that one.

No. Okay. Ricky, you know, Ricky Javis, you know, like his stuff can really make me laugh out loud. I think people like Chappelle, I think people, Gina Yashiree, she's a great female UK style of comedian. I'm trying to think, what have I laughed out loud most recently? What really got me. You've got a great laugh. You know what?

Growing up, with my foster brothers, they would watch films like Eddie Murphy films, you know, Steve Martin, Richard Pryor, they would laugh at the scene and then rewind it and laugh at the scene as if they had just watched it the first time. And I think that had a massive impact on me. You know, I love seeing people crying. with laughing. Yeah, me too. But also, I think it also made me go, yeah, I want to be able to do that.

I want to be able to make people laugh. And like, see, my big brother was like cackle with laughter. I was like, that's beautiful. And I love feeling that. Do you know what I mean? I love feeling that when I watch certain comedies and stuff like that. And it's the best feeling. Laughter is the best medicine.

Yeah, yeah, it is. It is. And yeah. And some random things will make me laugh as well. Oh, I just, I, I'm just, I, I'm prepared, I would rather laugh for the majority of my days than just moan and be quiet. You know what I mean? It's such a good feeling.

It's such a good feeling. Oh, you're lovely, Jimmy. Thank you so much for being on this. Thank you. And continued, good luck with it all. And so when will we see season two of Bella? So season two of Bella is coming out next year sometime. Okay, maybe, maybe March.

Okay. Oh, okay. Not too long to wait. Yeah, not too long to wait. And then, yeah. Handle with Cares coming out before the end of the year. Perfect. Yeah, and sorry I didn't know is in October.

Can you tell me about anything else? The Tower. We did, I've just finished what, filming the Tower, season two. And that should be coming out maybe January next year. So we're going to be jimmied. We are going to be jimmied. I don't know if you can say that. Yeah, why?

Can you not? Is it rude? I don't know. I'm a funny joke. Yeah, I'm sure. I'm going to be Ackin. I like that. I like that. Is that better?

I like that. We're going to be akimbollah. I can bowl a season. Okay. Good. That's good. And I'm sure you're going to be producing other stuff as well. Yeah, yeah.

There's, you know, I'd like, you know, in terms of this handle with care, I feel like we would like to create a format with that and to other stories with care. You know what I mean? Yeah. But also there's a drama of the, but there's a movie. There is, there is. I'm not telling you that there is. No.

No. Now, there obviously is. I guessed. Okay. Well, good luck with that. Jimmy, what a pleasure. Thank you so much for having me. Pleasure's mine. No, it's mine.

No, it's mine. It's mine. It's mine. Thank you so much for listening. I hope you enjoyed my chat with a very lovely and very gorgeous Jimmy Ackinbola. Now, you can catch his documentary, as we said. It's called Jimmy Ackinbola, Handled with Care. That is on Tuesday, the 1st of November, 9 p.m. on ITV.

And if you're listening to this after that date, you can watch it on the ITV hub. Coming up next week, Master Chef's very own Greg Wallace. That Gabby Roslyn podcast is proudly presented to you by Cameo Productions with music by Beth McCari. If you wouldn't mind, could you give us a like, a follow, a subscribe, and please leave a review? We read them all and love to see what you've got to say. See you next week.