Kayo, a talented Nigerian-born actor, writer, and producer, grew up in the vibrant London neighborhood of Peckham, where he initially harbored a dream of becoming a professional footballer. However, his interest in comedy was piqued by the works of renowned British comedian Jocelyn Jee Esien, who inspired him to pursue a career in the entertainment industry as a black individual. Interestingly, Kayo's childhood friend, John Boyega, was also a close companion during their church-going days.
Kayo's entry into the world of comedy was somewhat serendipitous. While out running an errand for his mother, he stumbled upon an open audition for the Channel 4 comedy series Youngers, and subsequently landed a role. This marked the beginning of his illustrious career, which has seen him nominated for several prestigious awards.
One of Kayo's most notable achievements is his nomination for Best Male Comedy Performance at the 2018 British Academy Television Awards for his work on the BBC sketch show Famalam. He also had a starring role in the ITV2 sitcom Timewasters from 2017 to 2019, where he played a member of a Black British jazz quartet who find themselves transported through time to 1920s and 1950s London.
In addition to his work on Timewasters, Kayo is the creator, writer, and lead actor of the popular sitcom Sliced, which premiered on Dave in 2019. He also created and stars as Maleek in the Sky One sitcom Bloods, which is based on an eight-minute short film that originally aired on Sky Arts. Kayo's performance in Bloods earned him a nomination for Best Male Comedy Performance at the 2022 British Academy Television Awards.
Despite acknowledging that performers of color may have more opportunities in the United States, Kayo remains committed to creating and working on British films.
