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Samson Kayo
Samson Kayo
Samson Kayo
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Samson Kayo (born 1991/1992)[1] is a British actor, producer and writer. He was nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Best Male Comedy Performance in 2018 for the BBC sketch show Famalam (2017–2020). He created, wrote and starred in the Sky One sitcom Bloods (2021–2022), and received a nomination for the same award in 2022. He won the Royal Television Society Programme Awards for Best Male Comedy Performance in the latter role in 2022, having also been nominated in 2019 and 2023. He also created and stars in Sliced (2019–2020), and his other credits include Youngers (2013), Timewasters (2017), and Our Flag Means Death (2022–2023).

Biography

[edit]

Kayo is of Nigerian descent.[2] He said that growing up in Peckham, he only wanted to be a footballer, but developed an interest in comedy through Jim Carrey, Robin Williams, and British comedian Jocelyn Jee Esien, who inspired him as a black person to enter comedy. He was a childhood friend of John Boyega, with whom he attended church.[3] When he went out to pick up an iron for his mother, he found an open audition for the Channel 4 comedy Youngers, and was cast.[4] In 2017, he played a fictionalised version of will.i.am in the BBC Three improvised comedy series Murder in Successville.[5]

Kayo was nominated for Best Male Comedy Performance at the 2018 British Academy Television Awards for his part in the BBC sketch show Famalam.[6] From 2017 to 2019, he was part of the main cast of the ITV2 sitcom Timewasters, in which a Black British jazz quartet are transported through time to the London of the 1920s and 1950s in each series.[7] He is the creator, writer and lead of the takeaway-based sitcom Sliced on Dave since 2019.[4] He also created and plays the lead Maleek on paramedic-focused sitcom Bloods, which debuted on Sky One in 2021 while being based on an eight-minute short film on Sky Arts.[1] He was nominated for Best Male Comedy Performance at the 2022 British Academy Television Awards for this role,[8] and won the same award at the year's Royal Television Society Programme Awards.[9]

In 2020, Kayo featured in Nick Frost and Simon Pegg's horror comedy series Truth Seekers. A year later, he starred in David Jenkins and Taika Waititi's pirate-based romantic comedy series Our Flag Means Death, which was produced in the United States. He told The Irish Times that although many British actors of colour found more opportunity in the United States, he was committed to making more British series.[4]

Kayo's first voice performance was as Baby Bear in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022), with Antonio Banderas in the title role.[10]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2018 Grandpa's Great Escape Gravedigger Vince Television film
2020 Dolittle Pirate [11]
2022 The Bubble Bola [12]
2022 Puss in Boots: The Last Wish Baby Bear (voice) [10]
2025 F1 Cashman [13]
TBA Voltron Filming


Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2013 Youngers Boss Fury [4]
2015 The Javone Prince Show Various
2016 We the Jury Don
2017 Murder in Successville Will.i.am [5]
Comedy Playhouse Dillon
Hailmakers Sol
Timewasters Horace / Aston [7]
2018 Sky Comedy Shorts Maleek [1]
2017–2020 Famalam Various [6]
2019 Urban Myths Basil
2019–2020 Sliced Joshua [4]
2020 Truth Seekers Elton John [4]
2020 Death to 2020 Pyrex Flask Netflix special
2021–2022 Bloods Maleek [1]
2021 Death to 2021 Pyrex Flask Netflix special
2022–2023 Our Flag Means Death Oluwande [4]
2024 House of the Dragon Mujja

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Samson Kayo

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Samson Kayo (born 20 June 1991) is a British , , and of Nigerian descent, recognized for his versatile performances in and across and . Raised in , , by his single mother amid a multicultural environment blending Nigerian and British influences, Kayo initially aspired to a career in football before developing an interest in and pursuing . He trained as a prior to breaking into the industry, drawing on that experience to create and star in the Sky One sitcom Bloods (2021–2022), which follows mismatched ambulance crews and earned him a nomination for the Television Award for Best Male Comedy Performance. Kayo's career gained momentum with early roles in BBC Three's Sliced (2019–2020), which he co-created, and Channel 4's Timewasters (2017–2019), where he portrayed a time-traveling musician. He further showcased his sketch comedy talents in the all-Black cast series Famalam (2017–2020), earning his first BAFTA nomination in 2018 for Best Male Comedy Performance, and appeared in high-profile projects like Amazon Prime's Truth Seekers (2020) alongside Nick Frost and Simon Pegg. Internationally, he garnered acclaim for playing the grounded pirate Oluwande in HBO Max's Our Flag Means Death (2022–2023), a role that highlighted his ability to blend humor with emotional depth in Taika Waititi's pirate adventure. In film, Kayo provided the voice of Baby Bear in the animated hit Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022), contributing to its critical success. His rising profile has led to major roles, including in Joseph Kosinski's F1 (2025) opposite Brad Pitt and Damson Idris, and the live-action Voltron adaptation. Kayo's work often explores themes of identity, community, and resilience, establishing him as a prominent voice in contemporary British entertainment.

Early life

Upbringing

Samson Kayo was born on 20 June 1991 in London, England. He is of Nigerian descent and was raised by his single mother who had immigrated to the United Kingdom. Kayo was raised in the Peckham area of , a vibrant, multicultural neighborhood known for its diverse immigrant communities, which profoundly influenced his sense of identity and cultural exposure. Growing up in this environment, he was immersed in a blend of Nigerian traditions—such as home-cooked stews prepared by his single mother and a network of supportive "aunties"—alongside local British staples like from and , fostering a hybrid cultural upbringing that bridged his heritage with his roots. As a child, Kayo aspired to become a professional footballer, a common dream among boys in his community, where street football and local pitches were central to daily life and social bonds. He later recalled, "Every black boy in wanted to be a sick baller," reflecting the sport's prominence in the area's . This passion began to shift during his early teens as he discovered comedy, inspired by performers like , , and British comedian Jocelyn Esien, whose energetic styles and physical humor captivated him and sparked a newfound creative interest. Kayo's childhood was also marked by close friendships formed in , notably with fellow actor , whose mothers were friends, leading the pair to attend the same local church and share early social experiences that strengthened their bond.

Entry into acting

Prior to his acting debut, Kayo trained as a , applying for the role around age 18 and completing three weeks of training as an ambulance support driver. Kayo's entry into acting occurred serendipitously in 2013 when, while running an errand in to purchase an iron for his mother, he stumbled upon an open audition for the comedy-drama series Youngers. With no prior professional experience, he decided to participate on a whim, ultimately securing a recurring role as , which marked his television debut. Lacking any formal acting training or drama school background, Kayo adopted a self-taught approach, relying on confidence, , and "blagging" or faking his way through opportunities to build his skills. This informal method stemmed from his childhood interest in but transitioned into professional pursuits without structured education, allowing him to mirror his own unorthodox path by later advocating for open auditions in his projects to support aspiring actors without connections. Prior to Youngers, Kayo's initial foray into acting came through small-scale credits, including a debut role in the 2011 short film Drink, Drugs and KFC directed by Aml Ameen, where he first experienced the world of professional performers. These early, uncredited or background opportunities in British productions around London provided foundational exposure before his breakthrough in 2013-2014. During his nascent career stages, Kayo received guidance from producer Phil Bowker, whom he met while working on The Javone Prince Show in 2015; Bowker mentored him on script structure and writing basics, encouraging him to channel his ideas into formatted material despite his lack of prior knowledge. This mentorship proved instrumental in transitioning from acting to co-creating content, laying the groundwork for his multifaceted career.

Career

Early roles

Kayo's professional acting career began in 2013 when he landed a role in the E4 comedy-drama series Youngers, portraying the character Boss Fury in a single episode; he secured the part by bluffing his way into an open audition despite having no prior experience or agent. This opportunity marked his entry into scripted television, where he contributed to the show's depiction of aspiring young musicians navigating the London grime scene. In 2017, Kayo joined the cast of the sketch comedy series for its seventh series, performing in historical parodies and satirical sketches that highlighted absurdities from the past. His work in the ensemble format allowed him to hone skills in rapid character shifts and , contributing to episodes like "Monstrous Musicians" and "Exceptional Explorers." That same year, Kayo gained prominence as Horace, the optimistic vocalist in the sitcom , which followed a struggling jazz quartet—comprising characters played by Kayo, , , and —transported back to 1920s London via a malfunctioning . Horace's arc involved navigating racial prejudices of the era with wide-eyed enthusiasm, often using modern slang and attitudes to comedic effect, such as mistaking historical figures for contemporaries. The series, which ran for two seasons through 2019, received favorable critical reception for its innovative blend of time-travel tropes with commentary on and class, earning praise for the cast's chemistry and Kayo's affable performance. Kayo further showcased his comedic talents in 2018 as a core performer in the sketch show , the first major black British-led sketch series since The Real McCoy in the 1990s. The program featured satirical sketches drawing from Black British cultural experiences, including parodies of films, history, and everyday immigrant family dynamics, with Kayo embodying diverse characters like a bumbling Nigerian prince and a hapless detective in a diverse spoof. became a social media hit for its bold representation and humor, running for multiple series and earning Kayo a BAFTA nomination, though awards details are covered elsewhere. In 2019, Kayo co-created, co-wrote, and starred in the Dave sitcom Sliced as Joshua, a pizza delivery driver navigating life in South London with his friend Ricky. The series, which ran for two seasons until 2021, drew from Kayo's own experiences and highlighted everyday struggles with humor, marking an early step into producing authentic Black British stories. Throughout the 2010s, Kayo supplemented these roles with minor appearances in short films, such as his debut in Aml Ameen's 2011 project Drink, Drugs and KFC, and guest spots in shows like The Javone Prince Show and Static, demonstrating his versatility in both writing sketches and performing stand-up-inspired improv. As a newcomer from Peckham with no formal training, he faced challenges like initial skepticism in the industry due to his unconventional entry and concerns over limited roles for Black actors, prompting him to balance acting gigs with self-written material to avoid typecasting in stereotypical parts.

Rise to fame

Kayo's rise in the 2020s began with his role as Elton in the Amazon Prime Video horror-comedy series Truth Seekers (2020), where he starred alongside Nick Frost and Simon Pegg as a broadband technician turned paranormal investigator. The series marked a genre shift for Kayo, blending humor with supernatural elements and showcasing his ability to balance comedic timing with tension in a ensemble cast led by comedy veterans. This momentum carried into Bloods (2021–2022), a Sky One sitcom that Kayo co-created, co-wrote, and starred in as the enthusiastic Maleek. The show follows mismatched crews navigating high-stakes emergencies with wit, drawing from real-life NHS experiences to highlight the resilience of frontline workers. Premiering amid the , Bloods resonated as a to paramedics, with Kayo emphasizing its role in portraying their daily heroism without overt pandemic references to avoid dating the narrative. As , Kayo infused the series with authentic Black British perspectives, earning praise for its representation of diverse NHS staff and cultural nuances in culture. The dual role solidified his transition from to creative force, spanning two seasons and amplifying underrepresented voices in . Kayo's international profile expanded with his portrayal of Oluwande, the optimistic pirate crew member, in Max's (2022–2023). In the Taika Waititi-created pirate adventure, Oluwande's grounded demeanor and budding romance with the non-binary character Jim contributed to the series' layered ensemble dynamics and commitment to inclusivity. His performance highlighted themes of found family among a diverse crew, advancing on-screen representation of Black characters in mainstream fantasy-comedy. In 2024, Kayo appeared as Mujja in season 2 of HBO's House of the Dragon, adding to his dramatic portfolio in a major fantasy series. Venturing into animation, Kayo voiced Baby Bear in DreamWorks' Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022), part of the Goldilocks crime family pursuing the titular feline hero. This marked his first major voice acting credit, adding a youthful, street-smart edge to the fairy-tale spin-off's ensemble of anthropomorphic characters. The film's critical and commercial success underscored Kayo's versatility beyond live-action television. By 2025, Kayo achieved a Hollywood milestone with his lead supporting role as Cashman, the ambitious manager and cousin to rising Formula 1 driver Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), in Joseph Kosinski's F1. The high-octane sports drama, produced in collaboration with the real Formula 1 organization and starring Brad Pitt, featured Kayo navigating the cutthroat world of motorsport promotion and family pressures. Filmed on actual Grand Prix circuits, the project represented Kayo's crossover into blockbuster cinema, blending his comedic roots with dramatic intensity. Following this, Kayo joined the cast of the live-action Voltron adaptation in post-production as of November 2025, further expanding his science fiction roles alongside Henry Cavill and Sterling K. Brown. Throughout this period, Kayo's career evolved from ensemble sketches to multifaceted producing roles, with credits on and development of projects centered on Black British experiences. He has advocated for greater opportunities to tell these stories, stating that his success allows him to "tell Black British stories in a way that feels authentic and fun." This advocacy, coupled with high-profile collaborations, positioned him as a key figure in diversifying UK and global entertainment narratives.

Filmography

Film

Samson Kayo began appearing in feature films in 2020, with roles spanning live-action comedies, animated features, and mockumentaries.
YearTitleRoleNotes
2020Death to 2020Pyrex FlaskNetflix mockumentary special directed by Charlie Brooker.
2020DolittlePirateLive-action family adventure directed by Stephen Gaghan, starring Robert Downey Jr.
2021Boxing DayJosephRomantic comedy directed by Aml Ameen, focusing on British-Caribbean family dynamics.
2021Death to 2021Pyrex FlaskNetflix mockumentary special directed by Toby Haynes, reprising role from 2020 installment.
2022The BubbleBolaNetflix satire directed by Judd Apatow, depicting a pandemic-era film production.
2022Puss in Boots: The Last WishBaby Bear (voice)DreamWorks animated feature directed by Joel Crawford, part of the Shrek franchise.
2025My Mother's WeddingSteveComedy-drama directed by Kristin Scott Thomas, released by Vertical Entertainment.
2025F1CashmanMotorsport action film directed by Joseph Kosinski, co-starring Brad Pitt as a veteran Formula One driver.
TBAVoltronTBALive-action adaptation directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber.
TBAAnacondaTBAReboot directed by Tom Gormican.

Television

Kayo made his television debut in the E4 comedy-drama series Youngers (2013–2014), where he portrayed the character Boss Fury across 16 episodes. He followed this with sketch appearances in Horrible Histories (2015), playing various historical figures in multiple episodes on CBBC and BBC One. From 2017 to 2019, Kayo was a main cast member in the ITV2 time-travel sitcom Timewasters, appearing as Horace in all 12 episodes across three series. In 2018, he featured in the Sky1 anthology Sky Comedy Shorts as Maleek in one episode. Kayo contributed sketches as various characters in the comedy sketch show (2018–2020), appearing in all seven episodes. He co-created and starred as Joshua in the dark comedy series Sliced (2019–2020), playing the lead role in six episodes over two series. In the horror-comedy miniseries (2020), Kayo played , the timorous bass player, in all eight episodes. Kayo portrayed Kwame in the / limited series (2020), appearing in 11 of the 12 episodes. Kayo created and starred as Maleek in the / paramedic (2021–2022), appearing in all episodes across two series. In the Max/Sky pirate comedy (2022–2023), he played Oluwande in 18 episodes over two seasons. Kayo appeared as Mujja, a Riverlands character, in three episodes of the fantasy series during its second season (2024). As of November 2025, Kayo has no confirmed new television projects announced beyond these credits.

Awards and nominations

BAFTA Television Awards

The (BAFTA TV Awards) are among the most prestigious honors in British television, recognizing excellence across various categories including performances. Samson Kayo has been nominated twice in the Best Male Performance in a Programme category, highlighting his contributions to British through versatile and humorous portrayals. In 2018, Kayo received his first BAFTA for his multifaceted roles in the series , where he showcased a range of characters satirizing contemporary experiences. The was announced on April 4, 2018, and the ceremony took place on May 13, 2018, at the Royal Festival Hall in London, hosted by . He competed against for , for , and for , with Jones ultimately winning the award. Kayo's second nomination came in 2022 for his lead role as Officer Joel in the paramedic comedy , which he co-created and co-wrote, earning recognition for his dual contributions to the show's authentic depiction of diverse NHS workers. Nominations were revealed on , 2022, with the ceremony held on May 8, 2022, at the Royal Festival Hall. He was nominated alongside for , for , for , for , and for Jerk, with Demetriou taking the win. As of 2025, Kayo has not received further BAFTA TV nominations for projects such as later seasons of or his role in . His accolades underscore his rising prominence in comedy, particularly as a performer bringing fresh perspectives to the genre.

Royal Television Society Awards

Samson Kayo has been recognized by the (RTS) Programme Awards for his contributions to television, with nominations and a win in the Comedy Performance - Male category underscoring his versatile and heartfelt portrayals. The RTS awards, which honor excellence in program quality and creative achievement across genres, have highlighted Kayo's ability to bring originality and warmth to comedic roles, particularly in sketches and series that amplify underrepresented voices in the industry. In 2019, Kayo earned his first RTS nomination for Best Male Comedy Performance for his multifaceted work in the BBC Three sketch show , where he portrayed various characters in satirical sketches exploring Black British experiences. The nomination placed him alongside notable peers like and from , recognizing his emerging talent in scripted comedy. Kayo's breakthrough RTS accolade came in 2022, when he won the Best Male Comedy Performance award for his role as Maleek, a tough yet vulnerable , in the Sky Original series . The ceremony took place on 29 March 2022 at London's , hosted by comedian Tom Allen, where judges commended Kayo as a performer "with real heart, warmth and originality" for his nuanced depiction of camaraderie in a diverse ambulance service. During his impromptu acceptance, Kayo expressed surprise and gratitude, thanking his family and acknowledging the collaborative effort behind the series, which he co-created. He received another nomination in 2023 for the same category, again for , reflecting the sustained acclaim for his performance amid competition from talents like in [Big Boys](/page/Big Boys). These RTS honors affirm Kayo's pivotal role in elevating contemporary through programs that blend humor with authentic cultural representation.

References

  1. https://www.tvinsider.com/people/samson-kayo/
  2. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/audio/2025/jul/22/s10-ep3-samson-kayo-actor
  3. https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio-web/samson-kayo-i-m-a-london-boy-i-love-my-home-1.4818662
  4. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/apr/22/samson-kayo-jane-horrocks-sitcom-bloods-paramedics-bees-famalam-ab-fab
  5. https://observer.com/2020/10/samson-kayo-truth-seekers-amazon-prime-video/
  6. https://guru.bafta.org/samson-kayo-on-writing-performance
  7. https://rts.org.uk/article/samson-kayo-chewing-gum-inspired-me-tell-my-own-story
  8. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2783314/
  9. https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/samson_kayo/
  10. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7333970/
  11. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/sep/23/how-sci-fi-sitcom-timewasters-subverted-time-travel-genre
  12. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/apr/09/famalam-akemnji-ndifornyen-tom-marshall-black-sketch-shows-tv-comedy
  13. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p062r74v
  14. https://rts.org.uk/article/famalam-sketch-show-defying-gravity
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  18. https://deadline.com/2020/02/sky-paramedic-comedy-bloods-samson-kayo-1202857185/
  19. https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/bloods/interviews/samson-kayo/
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  21. https://www.them.us/story/our-flag-means-death-queer-fandom
  22. https://www.wired.com/story/our-flag-means-death-season-2-queering-history/
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  24. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/puss-in-boots-the-last-wish-animated-character-antonio-banderas-salma-hayek-florence-pugh/
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  28. https://deadline.com/2024/11/voltron-alba-baptista-samson-kayo-tharanya-tharan-1236187934/
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  38. https://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/List_of_actors_of_House_of_the_Dragon
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  43. https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-60925307
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  45. https://www.bafta.org/awards/television/male-performance-in-a-comedy/
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  47. https://rts.org.uk/award/programme2022
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  50. https://www.skygroup.sky/article/sky-celebrates-two-award-wins-at-the-royal-television-society-programme-awards
  51. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dukgGiIzgYk
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