Weekend with Toheeb Jimoh: ‘It’s just vibes — I give myself space to do what I want’
The Industry actor on his favourite TV shows, being a cat dad and his role in the hit BBC/HBO series
Toheeb Jimoh is an actor from Brixton, south London, best known for his breakout role as Sam Obisanya in the award-winning comedy Ted Lasso — a role that earned him an Emmy nomination for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series in 2022. He’s also appeared in the BBC drama Anthony and Amazon Prime’s supernatural thriller, The Power.
Jimoh is currently starring in the fourth season of the BBC/HBO hit financial drama, Industry, joining the cast as Kwabena Bannerman, a confident trader navigating the high-pressure world of finance.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
How do you usually start your Saturday morning?
I’m either heading to the gym or playing chess. I’ve got this app called Chess.com that destroys your self-confidence every time you open it. You play random people from all over the world who are roughly the same level as you. I won’t tell you my level in case I’m ridiculed online, but I’m trying to get my rating up.
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Are you a morning person?
Definitely. If I’m going to the gym, I’m out of the house by 7.30am. If I can get everything done before the afternoon, then I’m great. As soon as it hits 3pm, my productivity falls off a cliff.
What does the rest of your weekend look like?
It’s just vibes. I give myself space to do whatever I want — watch stuff, hang out with my brother and my cousin, who I live with. A great Saturday is one where I can just chill, stay indoors and watch things.
What are you watching at the moment?
I just finished Industry season four, funnily enough. Last week I was watching Normal People, which is really great. I think I’m going to start either The Sopranos or True Detective. The Sopranos is so long, though, and I don’t know if I can afford to be obsessive. Everyone says it’s the greatest TV show ever, so I might save that one for later in the year.
You’re also a fan of The Traitors, right?
I love The Traitors. I’m obsessed.
Would you appear on Celebrity Traitors?
If I got the chance, I would love to — but then also no. It just seems so stressful. Maybe my arm could be bent, depending on who else was there.
Would you want to be a faithful or a traitor?
Easily a traitor. It looks like so much fun.
Are you reading or listening to anything at the moment?
I’m listening to the audiobook of Al Pacino’s Sonny Boy. He narrates it himself and it’s so great. It feels like Al Pacino’s my best friend.
Eating out or in?
Learning to cook is one of the things on my list this year. I’m the youngest in my house, so my brother and cousin sometimes take pity on me and leave me food they’ve made themselves. I’m going to ride that for as long as I can.
What’s one dish you want to master?
Jollof rice. As a Nigerian, I can’t have my Ghanaian friends trying me — I need to have an elite J rice up my sleeve.
Are there Nigerian stories you’d like to tell one day?
A real priority for me is doing Nigerian stories told by Nigerians in Nigeria. I’ve just finished filming something out there and being back on home turf made me want to do more work there. There’s an authenticity you just can’t fake.
Can you give us three words to describe season four of Industry?
Volatile. Funny. Unpredictable.
Were you a big fan of the series before joining?
I really liked the show. There wasn’t really anything like it on TV showcasing British talent in the same way.
Tell us about your character, Kwabena Bannerman
He’s a trader, public schoolboy — one of those people with a crazy confidence that only private school can give you.
Kwabena works with Harper, played by Myha’la, and they’re also together. Professionally, she’s his boss, and he’s there to collect his cheque. But personally, that dynamic flips. Their philosophies in life are very different and it’s interesting to see whether you can chip away some of that stone in Harper’s heart and personal life.
How did stepping into that world compare to your previous roles?
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Very different. I found that out on day one — my first day was a sex scene. It was like: “Welcome to Industry, take your clothes off.” But I’m really happy I got to play a character who feels so different from roles I’ve done before. It’s been really joyous.
What was it like playing a Black character in that kind of space?
It was a really interesting challenge. We have completely different backgrounds, so researching characters like that and bringing them to life with humanity and compassion is really important to me. And it’s fun to play someone who just doesn’t care that much in a world where everyone cares too much.
What do your days off from filming look like?
If I can just rot at home, I’m in my happy place. My room and my living room are my zone. So I’m chilling at home, playing with my cat, Chess — she’s brown, white and black and looks like a chessboard. I’m a cat dad, so that’s my entire personality now.
Industry is now showing on BBC One and available to stream on iPlayer.
