Mo shared how ‘lovely’ Jimmy was when they met (Picture: Rex/PA)
Mo Gilligan has opened up on meeting Jimmy Fallon for the first time, after becoming the host for the UK version of the US TV personality’s music game show That’s My Jam.
Over the past few years, Mo’s star has been on an ever-climbing rise, with the comedian becoming a fan-favourite on the judging panel for The Masked Singer UK and sparking laughter on Celebrity Gogglebox with his close friend Babatunde Aléshé.
In his latest mega career move, the 34-year-old is hosting a primetime Saturday night programme called That’s My Jam on BBC One, where celebrity guests are tested on their musical skills and knowledge in a dynamic and hilarious series of challenges.
During a recent press event attended by Metro.co.uk, Mo was asked what it was like to make Jimmy’s acquaintance for the first time, considering That’s My Jam first launched in the US after being inspired by musical segments the 48-year-old featured on The Tonight Show.
The comic recalled flying out to Los Angeles – where the UK spin-off was filmed – where he was able to watch how the American show was put together behind the scenes.
When Mo was there, he was able to watch Ariana Grande and Kelly Clarkson taking part, doing a game called Impossible Karaoke, which is a musical memory challenge.
The comic was watching the rehearsals and ‘chilling in the back minding my business’ when an assistant kept assuring him that he would met Jimmy soon, he recollected.
‘It’s so funny, in LA they’re very like… everyone has an assistant of an assistant of an assistant,’ he explained.
Mo insisted that he was fine and would meet Jimmy later, but it was a ‘big thing for a few hours’ for the assistant to attempt to set up the meeting.
Finally, their first encounter took place – and it was in an unexpected setting.
‘It just happened, I think I was going to the toilet. He was like, “Mo, what’s up man,”’ Mo said, adding how shocked the assistants were by their off-the-cuff exchange.
Jimmy wanted to see Mo ‘do his own version’ of the show (Picture: Andrew Lipovsky/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Speaking about Jimmy, Mo added: ‘He’s lovely man, he was really cool. He was like, thanks for doing the show and pretty much was like just do your vibe, just do your thing.
‘He’s not trying to school me. He was like, I want to see you do your version of it. We’re very different.’
Emphasising how ‘different’ That’s My Jam is on the BBC, given there’s no adverts and wanted people at home to feel ‘involved’ while getting to know the celebrities, Mo was asked to what extent Jimmy had a hand in launching the UK series
‘The thing with Jimmy is he’s got his thing going on. He’s got this thing going on, and he kind of let us do our thing,’ the stand-up comedian responded, sharing how Jimmy offered his congratulations the last time he visited LA a couple of months ago.
‘That’s kind of what you want from someone doing the UK version of your show, because it’s totally different. We have a different style,’ Mo said, admitting that he thinks the UK show can be ‘a little bit more witty’.
‘I think we were able to have similarities with the show and still keep the foundations of the show,’ he stated.
That’s My Jam airs on Saturday nights on BBC One and is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
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