February 9th 2025.
Ryan Dylan, along with his partners Rian Lennon and Lee Dobbin, had quite an unusual day on the set of their show Funboys with co-star Jamie Demetriou. After ten long years of creating hilariously absurd sketches, the trio finally landed their big break on TV. And let me tell you, they haven't toned down their comedic genius for this transition.
After countless hours of hard work and plenty of laughter, they were commissioned to create a BBC comedy series, Funboys. "It's surreal," exclaimed Ryan, who not only wrote and produced the series with Rian, but also summarized the mood of the group. And let me tell you, their actual TV show is just as surreal. As the episodes progress, things only get more bizarre. From a talking dead pig to a questionable swan pedalo handjob and accidentally killing a co-worker, there's a lot to take in.
But perhaps the most shocking scene of all is when a naked Callum is seen on all fours smoking a spliff from his bottom, while his ex-girlfriend's brother David comforts him with back rubs and verbal reassurances. Ryan recalled this particular day on set during an interview with Metro, saying, "Having a joint in my ass was the worst. It was cold, it was a bad position, just everything." But thankfully, Jamie was there to support him, constantly reassuring him that he was doing a great job. And let me tell you, Jamie was a natural at improv, which only added to the hilarity of the scene.
When Jamie joined their show, the trio couldn't help but wonder why he said yes to their nutty production. He was already a well-known actor, having starred in popular shows like Barbie, Stath Lets Flats, Fleabag, and Back in Action. But they were grateful nonetheless and even wrote a character with him in mind. "His day on set was the best part of the shoot," Rian reminisced. "It was like the final week and we were on the farm, and the weather was all nice." But Ryan quickly interjected, "I don't know if it was the nicest for you, Ryan, with a blunt up your bum." The group shared a laugh as Ryan replied, "I wasn't thinking about the weather."
But it wasn't just the weather that was on Ryan's mind during certain scenes. In fact, when his character received a hand job while floating on a body of water, Ryan was more concerned about passers-by stumbling upon their filming. "After the first takes, we got the laughs out and then thought we need to do this. There were some pedestrians coming by too so I wanted to get it over with," Ryan explained.
While some of the moments in the show may seem outrageous and made-up, much of it is actually inspired by real life experiences. The trio has spent most of their adulthood working non-showbiz jobs, including stints at HMV, local cafes, and even a supermarket. "Calum's shop personality is kind of what I adopted," Ryan revealed. In the first series, his character becomes mean to get the respect of his co-workers. "He went full bastard, but I went like half bastard," Ryan joked. "I learned how to do that and so that subconsciously came from me. There's a lot in there."
But getting to showcase their reality isn't just a breakthrough for the trio, it's also a win for the Northern Ireland comedy scene. "In Northern Ireland, there has been a particular style of comedy, and a pipeline of stand-up comics to comedy TV series. We never really did stand-up and so the commissioners or producers didn't quite get it, or didn't understand the sketches," shared Rian. "We hadn't really made much contact with people outside of Northern Ireland, and there weren't that many opportunities for funding, so we were just plugging away and hoping that eventually something clicked and the BBC spotted us." And finally, their hard work paid off.
But it wasn't an easy journey. It took a while for Rian and Ryan to secure funding for their show, but once the ball started rolling, everything happened quickly. When asked if they ever felt like giving up, Rian replied with a smile, "Probably a little bit, but not enough." Lee, on the other hand, was always happy to continue regardless, simply for the pure enjoyment of it. "For me, it was just always fun to do sketches so whether it was going anywhere or not, I was always game," he shared.
Now, with Funboys available on BBC iPlayer for viewers across the UK, the trio sees it as an opportunity for people to hear their strong Northern Ireland accents. "Our thinking is that if we get it on TV, then people will acclimatize to it and that's cool," Rian explained. Although Lee has some humorous advice for those watching the first few episodes, saying, "Use subtitles." But in all seriousness, the show is a love letter to their home country and the unique humor that exists there. And they couldn't have done it without the help of producer Simon Mayhew-Archer, known for his work on the hit show This Country.
"With so much material captured through the memories, they have plenty ready to go if fans want a series two," Rian promised. "We've got lots and lots of ideas." So make sure to tune in to Funboys, airing on BBC NI and iPlayer on Feb 10 and BBC Three on Feb 13. And if you've got a celebrity story, video, or pictures, don't hesitate to get in touch with the entertainment team at The Agency. They're always eager to hear from you.
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