![Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody reveals the gig that changed his life - 'It's probably the reason I'm sitting here today' Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody reveals the gig that changed his life - 'It's probably the reason I'm sitting here today'](https://cms.virginradio.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Web-CE-x-Gary-Lightbody-2-vruk.png?w=920&h=518&crop=1)
Gary Lightbody has recalled the first ever gigs he attended, and spoke about how one of them was...
Virgin Radio
11 Apr 2023, 09:22
Credit: Getty
Actor and comedian Nick Mohammed joined the Chris Evans Breakfast Show with cinch to talk about taking his acclaimed character comedy show, The Very Best & Worst of Mr Swallow, on tour. He also chatted about starring in hit football comedy Ted Lasso, and what the future holds for the series.
Speaking about playing Nate in Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso, Nick told Tom Allen, who was in for Chris: “I feel so indebted to that show. I mean, I don't think it'll ever happen again in my life. But it was the casting that happened to work out, and obviously it's gone on to become a show that you can only sort of dream of really. I just feel very lucky to be a part of it, and it is such a nice cast and crew. It feels a real cliche to say that, but it is the truth. And obviously, we've got to hang out together for the last three, four years.”
With Ted Lasso’s co-creator and lead actor Jason Sudeikis having recently described the current third season as the “end of this story”, Nick said: “Who knows if this is the end or not? I genuinely don't know.”
Speaking more about his character, who went from loveable kit man to the narrative’s main antagonist, the actor explained: “He gets seduced by the increased responsibility, power, and maybe the glamour of football and social media, and so on. And it's very seductive for him. He kind of quickly turns quite sour and bitter.
“He started out as Nate The Great, and now he’s Nate The Snake.”
Talking about the “hate” that he gets on social media due to his character, Nick said: “On the whole, it's been absolutely wonderful, but just every so often, people do get confused between the character and the actor!”
Regarding whether Nate will achieve any kind of redemption, after he ripped up the iconic BELIEVE poster in AFC Richmond’s dressing room and defected to join Rupert Mannion at West Ham, the star said: “This whole season three of Ted Lasso, I think, is exploring issues of forgiveness, but… it's not as clear cut as, ‘Is he redeemed or not?’
“For some people, I think what Nate does at the end of season two sort of crosses a line and that they will never forgive him for that kind of act of betrayal and stabbing Ted in the back, who was the guy who kind of got him to where he is now. So, you have to wait and see, but it's certainly not clear cut.”
The comedian is currently on the road with his live show, The Very Best & Worst of Mr Swallow. Speaking about the character, which has wowed audiences multiple times on Channel 4’s Cats Does Countdown, he said: “The origin story is actually based on the teacher I had at high school and she taught me English.
“He’s just this busybody know-it-all. He feels like he's the best person in the room to take charge on whatever it is he's meant to do. He's in a musical where he's decided to take on the lead role of Dracula, but he’s underprepared, he’s on roller skates for no real reason.”
Nick added: “Actually, I'm on roller skates for the whole hour, which has been a real challenge!”
When Tom asked what happens if the stage is sloped, he replied: “I just have to keep moving! I don’t know why I’ve given myself this challenge, but you just have to keep going round in circles.
“If there’s not enough stage depth, then the turning circle is really, really quite narrow. And for the people on the front row it’s genuinely quite traumatic.”
Explaining that he has been “doing the character for 10 or 12 years or something”, Nick told Tom: “It's quite interesting, because people are coming to see Mr. Swallow for the first time, coming to it from Ted Lasso, which would be quite weird. You can sense it. And I do have to address it right at the top of the show, because they are very, very different beasts!”
The busy actor and comedian recently filmed the upcoming feature film Maggie Moore(s), opposite co-stars Jon Hamm and Tina Fey. He said: “It's called Maggie Moore(s) and it's sort of a thriller, but there is a comedy aspect to it. It's sort of a dark comedy, I guess. Fargo, sort of tonally, is what it's closest to. It’s about these murders that happened in this small town desert community. I mean, it was a complete departure from anything else I’ve done.”
On working with Tina Fey, he said: “I just had to tone down any kind of fanboying really, because I’m just such a big fan. So I had to play it cool. Same with Jon Hamm.”
Regarding Mad Men legend John Slattery, who directed the upcoming new movie, Nick added: “He was an absolute gent. He was wonderful.”
Tickets for The Very Best & Worst Of Mr Swallow are available now at berksnest.com. Watch Ted Lasso on Apple TV+.
For more great interviews listen to The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with cinch weekdays from 6:30am on Virgin Radio, or catch up on-demand here.
Advertisement
Gary Lightbody has recalled the first ever gigs he attended, and spoke about how one of them was...
The thrilling series brings together some of TV’s hottest talent, with murder, mystery, and a...
Former Top Gear boss Andy Wilman has opened up about how Richard Hammond’s 2006 car crash is “still...
Gary Lightbody has recalled the first ever gigs he attended, and spoke about how one of them was...
The thrilling series brings together some of TV’s hottest talent, with murder, mystery, and a...
Former Top Gear boss Andy Wilman has opened up about how Richard Hammond’s 2006 car crash is “still...
Advertisement