Weekend with Aayan Ibikunle Shoderu: ‘There should be some sort of law against alarm clocks’
The actor on faith, dream roles and EastEnders, and why he’ll take anyone on in a game of table tennis
Aayan Ibikunle Shoderu, 28, is a British actor known for his recent role in the long-running BBC soap EastEnders. He graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2023, the same year he converted to Islam. Shoderu has since appeared on stage and on screen, including the BBC One medical drama Casualty, and the short films Area Boy and Tribal Mark. He lives in west London.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
How do you start your Saturday mornings?
Pray fajr. Then I’ll try to just be still for a bit. Usually that doesn’t really work and I’ll check my phone. I’m trying to be more focused and intentional though. I try to start my day with gratitude.
Are you an early riser or do you like to sleep in?
My body clock makes me wake up early but I love lie-ins. I had one today. Well, I say lie-in but what counts? 9am? 10am?
10 is fair
My body just naturally wakes up, which I think is really beautiful — not needing this electronic thing shouting at you. That alarm is very triggering. There should be some sort of law or warning. You can tell how I feel about this.
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What’s for breakfast?
For a month or two I’ll have one breakfast every day. I get super fixated. Then when it’s done, I’m not on it ever again. Over summer, I’d wake up and eat six boiled eggs and coconut water.
Six boiled eggs first thing in the morning is wild
Listen, I was trying to go to the gym and build muscle. Now my breakfast is more simple — just a croissant and a latte.
What does the rest of your Saturday look like?
I work teaching Guildhall Young Artists in King’s Cross. It’s really nice because I remember doing youth theatre and not seeing or hearing people who sounded like me. I try to be the teacher I would have liked when I was younger. I’ll always be on a level where I can talk to them and they can ask me questions.
And after teaching?
There’s a group for revert Muslims at the East London mosque. They do two-hour sessions where you can ask questions, learn new surahs or Arabic. Sometimes a sheikh gives a talk.
Do you go out much on Saturday nights?
My plans are super-flexible. I might catch something at the theatre or sometimes my friends will hit me up.
What’s the last theatre show you loved?
Titus Andronicus at the Globe. That’s one of my top-three favourite Shakespeare plays because no one knows it as well. It’s super-niche and bare dark stuff happens in that play — everyone dies at the end. I like TV shows, plays and movies where endings are dark but also left open-ended.
You act, write, direct and sing. Any hidden talents?
I’m a bad-boy table tennis player. I want the smoke. I came third in my borough in secondary school. I’m not a jokeman when it comes to table tennis. One of my dream roles is to play a professional table tennis player.
Do you still play?
Recently I went to GoHub, a creative hub in Brixton with tennis tables. The guy who runs it was posting on Insta, getting really cocky, saying: “I beat this person, I beat that person.” I DMed him and said: “Bro, pick on someone your own size.” I was already in bed at the time but he said, “Where are you now?” I jumped on a Lime bike to Brixton just for the smoke. Went home, slept like a baby.
What are you working on at the moment?
Whenever I watch or read an interview and they reply with “I can’t speak on it”, I used to be like, for God’s sake… But I’m working on something and I can’t speak on it yet.
Your EastEnders character Okie was quite a menace. Who are your favourite villains?
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Alonzo from Training Day played by Denzel Washington. That first scene in the film might be my top-three favourite scenes of all time. Also the character Curtis in Top Boy, Heath Ledger’s Joker, Thanos, and Omar from the Wire.
Film recommendations?
La Haine — it’s a French cult classic. Also horror thriller Weapons.
If you could star in any existing TV series or film, what would it be and why?
Anything that’s got nuanced storytelling. I’d love to be in something people don’t expect me in.
In fact, Atlanta. If Donald Glover ever watches this — bro, shout me. Or I May Destroy You. That’s one of my all-time favourite shows. It changed the way I look at life.
Last words for our readers?
You’ve got to be absolutely crazy in your dreams to achieve anything. Shoot for the stars, land on the moon, go for it. The next generation of creatives is us and we can’t create things if we don’t dream big.
