Mo Gilligan

British comedian Mo Gilligan has gotten some big gigs hosting the Brit Awards and having his own Netflix specials, but he’s not yet in the rarefied air of celebrity where you’re able to slap someone. “To me it just felt like two massive celebrities colliding,” he says. “[Will Smith and Chris Rock] know each other, so someone can afford to make a joke at someone else’s expense and someone can afford to slap someone. I’m not in that position just yet.” Gilligan continues to introduce himself, and Black British comedy, to American audiences.

You gained fame mainly through something you posted on the internet. Is that the preferred path comedians take nowadays?

Yeah. 100%, man. It works. It helped me, and that’s where I gained my audience from. Social media is probably more powerful than it ever now. You can get your own pocket of fans that will rock with you.

Obser vational humor is your thing. What’s the key?

I have to make it relatable. There’s no bigger disconnect than a comedian talking about things that you know your audience is not going through. Like, “Oh, don’t you hate it when you go on business class and you’re trying to put your luggage up and they’re offering you Champagne?” That’s not a problem most people face!

What, if any, is the difference between U.K. and U.S. audiences?

The two things I find is, one, I can speak very quickly. Also some of the words we use are totally different. For example, in one of my specials, I have this material where I say, “The one thing you have to do, guys, in a relationship is take the bins out.” You guys would say “take the trash out.” That is such a cultural difference because that is my punchline! Some of those little nuisances can get lost in translation. In terms of Black British comedy, it isn’t really showcased around the world. The U.K., we export “Harry Potter” and “Downton Abbey” and “Bridgerton” to the world, so sometimes that’s the world’s perception of the U.K. Having a Black guy with the queen’s English onstage can sometimes throw people off.

You’ve had a couple of Netflix specials, done some big hosting gigs — what’s the big career goal now for you?

To bring the transatlantic leap even closer. Bring over Black British comedy to the U.S. and vice versa. Bring over some of the lesser-known comedians from the U.S. to the U.K. I think that’s my long-term goal. There were some really cool comics out there that welcomed me with open arms.

Mo Gilligan performs at 7 p.m. at the Regent, 448 S. Main St.