Olisa Odele is a talented actor known for his breakout role as Yemi in Channel 4's acclaimed comedy-drama Big Boys. The series, created by Jack Rooke, follows the lives of two unlikely friends navigating university, identity, and mental health with humor and heart. Odele's portrayal of the confident, stylish, and fiercely loyal Yemi brought warmth and charisma to the show, earning him recognition as a rising star in British television.

Odele chats with us about the final series of Big Boys, funny times on set, and the one thing he would like to see revamped. 

Hi Olisa! Thanks for chatting with us today. Congratulations on a brand new series of ‘Big Boys’! What can you tell us about this season?

The Big Boys are wrapping it up. Uni is coming to an end, and naturally, the bubble is bursting. There’s plenty of laughs and love as always, but there is friction that occurs when they try to figure out their next steps, and people’s paths appear to be going in polar directions. I’m really invested as a viewer this season. I’ve only seen episodes 1-2, and I intentionally avoided reading scenes beyond those that didn’t directly involve my character. I’ve never been able to experience the show in this way and am excited to see how it all unfolds.

What can we expect from Yemi in this season?

Yemi has checked out of uni; that’s the general vibe. The Yemi we meet in season 1 is a hustler driven by a specific goal: to become an iconic fashion designer. He quickly realizes Brent isn’t the place to be, but he suppresses his frustrations and stays for the next two years because he wants to live with Jack, Corrine, and Danny. In this way, Yemi and I are completely alike. Through random selection, I was given the most beautiful housemates at uni, and every time I threatened to leave, they talked me out of it. My acting course was intense; we had no time off, but I would call in sick to stay home and chill with my flatmates. My grades suffered, but I was happy. No regrets.

Growing up, who did you look up to?

So many people, mostly musicians, to be honest. Music was my first love, and it was a time that artists did it all. Usher, JoJo, Aaliyah, S Club 7, the whole Disney Channel. They sang to the best of their ability, they danced joyfully, and they acted well. As a performer, that’s always been my goal. Obviously, I prostrate at the feet of the children of Destiny. I had a brief encounter with Kelly Rowland a few years back, and I teared up instantly. I’m a self-professed girl group connoisseur, and there are so many unsung heroes who have inspired me on my journey and encouraged me to pursue excellence. Mel C held it down for the Spice Girls in every department. My girl Melody Thornton—they did her so dirty in the Pussycat Dolls—but she took the limited space she was given and gave us some of the greatest ad-libs in pop girl group history. Vanessa White, serving elite vocals in The Saturdays, holding those choruses and ad-libs down. Her vocal performance on their first two albums should be studied. I had two favorite actresses growing up: Jessica Alba because Honey Daniels is Mother, and Raven Symone... just for being Raven Symone. They both taught me so much; I would love to work with them one day.

Any funny behind-the-scenes stories from the set of Big Boys?

I remember filming Yemi’s webcam cabaret show in series 2. I was stressed about it because I didn’t get it. I was like, “What’s the angle on this?” “What would a Yemi webcam show look like?” I remember asking the costume designer, Rachael Clarke, for help. So, she ordered some boxing gloves and a bunch of outfits for me to play with. The props department came through too. Then, on the day, we rehearsed a bit, and our director, a friend of many years now, just let me loose. I went wild, and he shouted things out over the music. I was throwing myself around, humping the air, badly imitating football hooligans. I broke the bed halfway through. I finished, covered in sweat, to smiles and applause. It was a wild day in the office, but no one was fazed. That’s what makes me laugh; this was a normal day for Yemi in Big Boys’ world, and we all had fun. I will miss moments like this.

Are there any dream roles you would like to grab your hands on?

I would love to be in Star Trek Discovery; my family loves that show. Give me a sci-fi action thriller. Something where I can read you for filth, send you to another planet, and then kick your ass when you get back. Comedy-drama has always been my sweet spot; I would love to be in more of those. Obviously, I would love to do a TV/film musical moment because I love to singand dance, but I will be doing pre-records only. None of this live sound stage like Ari and Cynthia. I’m a studio vocalist.

Lastly, if you had the chance to revamp anything in the world, what would it be and why?

Ooooh okay, I gotta keep it real. I would personally love to see dancers take the stage more in the UK nightclub entertainment scene. Every day, I see videos of dancers taking class, learning a detailed routine in an hour, and executing the steps with finesse. I'm obsessed with them, and I would pay to watch them take the stage in the clubs. We love a lip-sync moment with a death drop to finish, we love a high-fashion moment. We love art, period! We also love and crave a well-executed eight-count. Laurie Ann Gibson Boomkack style, Fatima Robinson, Brian Friedman, Sean Bankhead, Frank Gatson style. We love to celebrate the cultural icons that raised us. This is why we love Mighty Hoopla! How amazing would it be to see Tinashe, Victoria Monet, Tate McRae, Ms. Jackson (if you’re nasty) choreography executed with precision before your eyes on a night out? Imagine the costumes. We need investments, budget, and, mostimportantly, hours of rehearsal. I'm gonna make this happen; I want to experience an immersiveperformance of Christina Aguilera’s “Dirrty” taking over a UK dance floor in 2025.

The new and final series of 'Big Boys' is now streaming on Channel 4.