From being given away at just three months old in Jamaica to becoming one of the most recognisable faces on British television, Mr Motivator’s story is much bigger than Lycra and morning workouts.

In this episode of Beginning Middle End, Mo Gilligan sits down with the legendary Mr Motivator — Derrick Evans — for an incredible conversation about resilience, fatherhood, ambition, health and the extraordinary journey that made him a household name.

Mr Motivator opens up about arriving in Britain as a child, facing prejudice, becoming a single father, experiencing homelessness and taking whatever jobs he could to keep food on the table. He also reveals the entrepreneurial ventures that came before television, the business mistake that cost him everything, and the TEN-YEAR pursuit that eventually led to his breakthrough on GMTV.

He shares the remarkable story of advertisers initially refusing to back a Black man doing fitness on breakfast television — before viewers jammed the phone lines demanding more.

From selling 1.2 MILLION copies of his first fitness video and working out with some of the world’s biggest stars, to his incredible resurgence during lockdown, receiving an MBE and now tackling bed poverty through Mr Motivator’s Bed Bank, this is a story about refusing to stop moving — whatever life throws at you.

At 73, Mr Motivator says he plans on making it to 114. After hearing this conversation, you might believe him.

Watch to the end for some brilliant stories involving Tony Blair, Luther Vandross, Cindy Crawford and why Mo finally has to promise Mr Motivator he’ll get on a bike.

👇 What’s YOUR earliest memory of Mr Motivator? Let us know in the comments.

👍 Like the episode, subscribe and share it with someone who needs a little motivation today.

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From accidentally discovering stand-up through a pop-up ad to becoming a breakout star of Taskmaster, Fatiha El-Ghorri’s route into comedy has been anything but conventional.

Fatiha joins Mo Gilligan for a hilarious, honest and surprisingly emotional conversation about the reality behind her rise — including starting comedy after her second divorce, being heckled as a Muslim woman, dealing with the pressure of representing a community and why giving her unsolicited comedy advice might be a very bad idea.

She also opens up about what viewers never saw during Taskmaster: while she was making people laugh on screen, Fatiha was privately going through a painful breakup and crying between takes.

Plus, Fatiha talks about her huge family, her debut tour Cockney Stacking Doll, Edinburgh nerves, her upcoming novel The Peaks of My Hijab and the moment her success allowed her to send her mum on a pilgrimage.

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Chip has been doing this for TWO DECADES… and he’s STILL got bars. 🔥

Mo Gilligan sits down with one of the UK’s most respected MCs to go all the way back — from selling CDs in the playground and tearing up pirate radio as a teenager, to MOBO wins, number one records, moving to Atlanta, working with T.I. and Chris Brown, and becoming one of the most fearless clash MCs Britain has produced.

Chip opens up about the story behind Oopsy Daisy, making pop records when parts of the grime scene questioned him, recording diss tracks AND videos within hours, and why he believes today’s clash culture has moved away from the art of simply proving who’s the better MC.

But after achieving most of his musical bucket list by 21, the conversation takes a more personal turn. Chip talks candidly about the years of normal life he missed, rebuilding his relationship with his mum, finding happiness away from music and why these days something as simple as going for a walk can mean more than performing two shows in Dubai.

From 16-year-old grime prodigy to 20-year veteran, this is Chip looking back on the moments, decisions, clashes and sacrifices that made him.

What era did YOU first discover Chip? 👇

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People Just Do Nothing fans, this one’s for you. 👊

Mo sits down with Asim Chaudhry for a proper trip back to where it all started — long before Chabuddy G became one of British comedy’s most iconic characters.

Asim reveals how messing around with his mates, making music, recording ridiculous prank calls and even getting fired from a call centre eventually planted the seeds for People Just Do Nothing. He breaks down where Chabuddy G really came from, why the character is heavily inspired by his dad and the characters he grew up around in Hounslow, and how a show they were barely even bothering to edit became a cult British comedy classic.

But there’s plenty more along the way — growing up in Hounslow, school failures, chasing creativity when nobody around you thinks it’s a real job, football, fame, getting success later in life, acting alongside some huge names and the realities behind a career that can look very different from the outside.

Funny, nostalgic and surprisingly personal, this is Asim Chaudhry beyond Chabuddy G — and the story of how a group of mates messing around somehow created something people are still obsessed with today.

🎧 Watch/listen to the full episode now and let us know: who’s your favourite People Just Do Nothing character?

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From pulling sickies from his finance job to work with some of the biggest artists in the world, to becoming one of the most influential producers shaping the sound of modern Afrobeats — Juls’ journey is all about betting on yourself.

Juls sits down with Mo Gilligan for a proper conversation about leaving the security of a nine-to-five to chase music, the opportunities he nearly missed along the way, and what it’s really like creating with Burna Boy, Wizkid, Stormzy and Lauryn Hill.

He opens up about the politics behind the music industry, dealing with rejection, anxiety at industry events and why networking in the UK feels completely different to America.

Juls also breaks down his relationship with African and Caribbean sounds, why experiencing South African music first-hand changed the way he approached Amapiano, and why he believes the UK has been too quick to abandon sounds like grime, jungle, funky house and Afroswing.

Plus, he talks family, fatherhood, building something that lasts beyond him — and his dream of one day bringing the full Juls live experience to the Royal Albert Hall.

A brilliant conversation about music, culture, ambition, legacy and knowing when it’s finally time to go all in.

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Dizzee Rascal joins Beginning, Middle & End for an unfiltered conversation about the journey that changed British music forever.

From knocking on DJ Target’s door for second-hand records to creating Boy In Da Corner, Dizzee takes Mo Gilligan behind the scenes of the grime movement, revealing how pirate radio, youth clubs and East London shaped an entire generation. He opens up about clashing on the mic, producing legendary beats, winning the Mercury Prize as a teenager, and why he never fully understood the industry’s obsession with awards.

They also dive into working with Calvin Harris, touring with Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake, opening the door for UK artists overseas, sneaker collaborations with Nike, and the surprising stories behind iconic moments that fans have talked about for years.

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From starring on A Place in the Sun and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! to performing in West End musicals and playing alongside football legends at Soccer Aid, Scarlett has packed more into one career than most people do in a lifetime. But behind the TV success are stories of rejection, resilience and rebuilding.

Scarlett opens up about the harsh reality of performing arts training, why I’m A Celebrity didn’t transform her career in the way she expected, chasing opportunities in Hollywood, the challenges Black women still face in television, and how property investing became the unexpected key to her success.

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This week, Mo sits down with one of the most unique minds in comedy – the incredible Nina Conti.

From growing up in an acting dynasty to becoming one of the world’s most celebrated ventriloquists, Nina opens up about the unexpected journey that led her to comedy, the struggles of finding her true voice, and why her puppet monkey might actually know her better than she knows herself.

The pair dive into the pressures of following in famous footsteps, bombing in Edinburgh, creating comedy that feels authentic, and the strange freedom that comes from hiding behind a character. Nina also reveals the emotional story behind her award-winning film, her experiences performing inside a giant monkey suit, and why she plans on taking Monkey with her into the afterlife.

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Professor Green has lived a hundred lives in one.

From growing up on a Hackney estate and becoming one of the UK’s most respected battle rappers, to scoring a No.1 record with Read All About It, making powerful documentaries, and becoming one of the country’s most important voices on mental health, this is a conversation full of honesty.

In this episode, Prof opens up about the early days of battle rap, the pressure of success, addiction, money, grief, losing his dad to suicide, and why talking about our struggles can be life-changing.

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Sir Lenny Henry joins Mo Gilligan for one of the most honest conversations of his career.

From growing up in Dudley as the son of Jamaican immigrants and dealing with racism on a daily basis, to becoming one of Britain's most influential comedians, Lenny reflects on the moments that shaped him, challenged him, and changed him forever.

He opens up about losing family members, finding his voice in comedy, carrying the responsibility of being one of the only Black faces on British television, creating iconic characters, and making the leap from stand-up to Shakespeare. Along the way, he shares incredible stories about Comic Relief, television, acting, Buckingham Palace, and the realities of navigating fame across five decades.

Funny, moving, and packed with wisdom, this is Sir Lenny Henry like you've never heard him before.

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