Mo Gilligan: Beginning, Middle & End

What’s it really like growing up famous on one of Britain’s biggest TV shows?
This week on Beginning, Middle & End, Mo Gilligan sits down with EastEnders legend Natalie Cassidy. From starting on the show at just 10 years old, to dealing with tabloid pressure as a teenager, Natalie opens up about the reality of growing up in front of millions.
They talk about the surreal moment she realised Walford wasn’t a real place, the pressure of filming 6 days a week, and why people still treat her like Sonya Fowler in real life.
Plus:
The truth about soap rivalries
Growing up on TV
What life is really like behind EastEnders
Why Natalie decided to leave after 30 years
The weirdest fan encounters

This is one of the funniest and most honest conversations about fame, TV and growing up in the public eye.
🎧 Listen now.

Manny Norte is known as “The Name You Can Trust” in UK music — but his story runs deeper than radio. In this episode, Manny sits down with Mo Gilligan to break down the untold journey behind UK nightlife, radio, fashion, and global culture. From dance battles and pirate radio to DJing for Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Drake and Kanye, Manny reveals how he became one of the most trusted tastemakers in the game. They talk about:
The wild West End club era when DJs were superstars
The truth about modern DJs vs vinyl culture
Playing private parties for Dave Chappelle, Naomi Campbell & Stormzy
Launching Kanye’s Yeezy in London
Breaking artists on Capital XTRA radio
The reality of staying relevant for 20+ years in music

Plus Manny reveals the industry secrets behind brand events, fashion circles, and celebrity after-parties. If you love music culture, UK nightlife history, and stories from behind the velvet rope — this one is special.

Ovie Soko finally sits down with Mo Gilligan for a conversation that goes way beyond Love Island.

From playing basketball in America to suddenly becoming one of the most recognisable faces on British TV, Ovie opens up about the surreal moment he realised his life had changed forever — including fans literally stopping traffic when he walked into Selfridges.

They talk about the pressure of being a Black man in the spotlight, life on US college campuses, dating after reality TV, and why Ovie chose to go back to basketball instead of chasing the influencer lifestyle.

This episode is honest, funny and reflective — a rare look at what happens after the villa.

Expect stories about American culture shock, fame, identity and staying true to yourself when the whole world suddenly knows your name.

East London storyteller Hak Baker joins Mo Gilligan to talk about the moments that shaped his life — from growing up on the Isle of Dogs to learning guitar in prison and becoming one of the UK’s most unique voices in music.

Hak opens up about redemption, staying loyal to lifelong friends, refusing to be boxed in as an artist, and the moment that changed everything.

This is a powerful conversation about mistakes, growth, music, and finding your voice when life forces you to sit down.

Isaac Ryan Brown might only be 20 years old — but his career already reads like a Hollywood biography.

He first went viral at 6 years old singing Michael Jackson on America’s Got Talent, before becoming one of Disney Channel’s breakout stars on Raven’s Home. Since then he’s worked on major shows like Black-ish, voiced characters in Family Guy, and is now launching his music career after hitting #1 on UK iTunes.

In this episode, Isaac sits down with Mo Gilligan to talk about:

• Growing up in Detroit before moving to Hollywood
• Auditioning for Disney and landing Raven’s Home
• The reality of child stardom behind the scenes
• Staying grounded while fame hits young
• Working on shows like Black-ish and Family Guy
• Why the music industry is a completely different game

He also shares incredible stories about performing as a kid, the pressures of Hollywood, and the lessons he learned growing up in the spotlight.

This is Isaac Ryan Brown’s Beginning, Middle & End.