Allan 'Seapa' Mustafa and Hugo Chegwin speak about the new Kurupt FM movie

Allan 'Seapa' Mustafa and Hugo Chegwin starred as MC Grindah and DJ Beats in five series of People Just Do Nothing, the BBC mockumentary about Kurupt FM, Brentford's number one garage pirate radio station. Now, as they return for the film People Just Do Nothing: Big In Japan, co-writer Mustafa and Chegwin tell JAY RICHARDSON all about getting the band back together…

You finished shooting just before coronavirus hit. Has it been frustrating waiting for the film's release?

Hugo: It was frustrating that it couldn't come out when it was originally meant to. But people seem to like it now, so maybe now is the right time.

Allan: One good thing is that it gave us a lot more time in the edit. You can never be one hundred per cent happy with anything, you've just got to get it done in a certain window. But it gave us a little bit more time to revisit it and iron out a few more things. Now we're getting back to normal-ish, hopefully people need a bit of a laugh.

Hugo: I feel like the world needs a bloodbath. Laff.

Does it feel like you've got a legitimate claim to be the UK's version of Spinal Tap, in that you perform live and fans want to see more of the characters?

Allan: That's a massive compliment. I'm not saying that. It's a good reference though because it was one of our inspirations. Definitely. I hope people want to see more of it. And if they relate to it, that's great.

Hugo: But Spinal Tap? That's … a lot. I don't know if we're that.

Allan: I think I am.

Hugo: You are. I'm not. I'm more like a party magician.

Available for kids' birthday parties?

Hugo: I'm not a nonce! I'm just really good with children. I'm not good at magic. Does that answer your question?

Rappers have comparable egos to those of heavy metal musicians I guess. The fact that you've actually been an MC and a DJ, versed in spontaneity, how much does that feed into the improvisation in People Just Do Nothing?

Allan: One hundred per cent. Music-wise, our influences are obvious. But we also have that improv ability, thinking on our feet in a scene. We used to freestyle together with rap music in his room all the time. That's where you get a bit of a back and forth and a rhythmic connection. That translates into comedic improv I suppose.

Hugo: Yeah, definitely. But also, like any bunch of friends, the back and forth comes from always trying to outdo each other. And fortunately, we have this platform where we can use it to our strength.

Can you relate to Grindah and Beats chucking in their creative dreams for a regular job?

Hugo: I still think about that now. I definitely don't feel like one hundred per cent this is what I'm doing, that I'm secure in this. But that's good.

Allan: That's how it should be. It keeps you working and it keeps you trying.

Hugo: Not complacent.

Allan: When people ask us, did you ever imagine having a film, did you ever imagine winning Baftas? No, we never look that far ahead. We make sure we work on our craft, we enjoy doing it. We put something out that we're proud of and anything else is a bonus.

There's an inglorious history of sitcoms being turned into movies. And I understand you were initially reluctant to make the film. What changed your mind?

Allan: What we said was, let's all get into the writers’ room together and if something comes out of it … It just needed to be something that started making us laugh and thinking this could be fucking amazing actually. This could be hilarious. That's all it takes.

We thought, we've always just seen [these characters] in their world. We've never seen them make it either. The only thing left is to see them have a taste of what it is they think they want, which is fame I guess, success in their musical field. Then we started looking at other UK comedy films that have been made from TV. And most of them go abroad. So we originally said we wouldn't go abroad because we didn't want to follow the format, it's generic.

But we went wrong somewhere because that's what we did. We were talking about setting it at a UK festival. But Jon Petrie, the producer, was like: 'how about Japan?' And we thought that could work because you get all these niche acts in different countries that suddenly get big in Japan. Then we thought about the gameshow aspect and it kind of made sense. We were thinking of different versions but kept coming back to the Japan idea. We're very fortunate that it worked.

Hugo: It's just about plausible that it could happen. Everything to do with People Just Do Nothing and Kurupt FM, there has to be a reason. It has to be realistic to some extent.

Allan: We just really wanted to see those characters out there too. Characters that barely even go to their own city, London, they're on the periphery. And you're putting them in Tokyo!

It's like they're on the moon.

Hugo: Yeah. I mean, they're barely in their element at a service station.

When Kurupt FM first meet the Japanese executives who are set to make them stars, were you recalling your first meeting with PJDN's production company Roughcut, you lot full of swagger and ambition but essentially clueless?

Allan: [Laughs] That's a good point, we actually never even thought of that. But yeah, maybe so, maybe subconsciously.

You're releasing your album Kurupt FM: The Greatest Hits (Part 1) two days after the film and performing live in Amsterdam in October. Can we expect a UK tour?

Allan: For sure. We're looking to release tickets very soon actually and start touring the first quarter of next year. If the law says we're allowed with everything that's going on. We'll just do the festival circuit and have some fun in character. We love doing it, we love hanging out as friends. It's always a celebration.

Hugo: Live music has been a big part of our life as well for a long time. So having three years off has been weird.

So is this film truly the end for People Just Do Nothing? Or are there other storylines that you want to explore?

Hugo: It is for now …

Allan: Series five was the end of all of the storylines that we had in mind, that was the wrap up. And then the film is like the icing on the cake. Yeah man, I feel like we've got to let them breathe a little bit these characters, we've put them through a lot.

Hugo: They've got to relax after Japan.

Allan: The jet lag lasts a couple of years apparently on the way back, something to do with the chemtrails or something… Five series and a film, that's a nice thing, the characters will always be there. Never say never in the future, who knows? We're all still a team. We've all got other ideas we're working on together and separately. The essence of it will live on, whether it's People Just Do Nothing or something else.

Do you worry about being pigeonholed now in terms of the scripts that you're offered?

Allan: We do want to try different things …

Writing your own material?

Allan: Exactly. Most of the things we enjoy doing is stuff that we've created ourselves. Because it gives us that freedom I guess. And we're not trained actors. I need to know the character inside out through being part of the writing process.

Hugo: I feel like now is the time, if opportunities present themselves, to experiment and do other things that are interesting.

Allan: He's applying to be the new Batman.

* Read our interview with Steve Stamp and Asim Chaudhry 

• People Just Do Nothing: Big In Japan is released in cinemas on August 18 and Kurupt FM: The Greatest Hits (Part 1) is released on August 20. Order here.

Published: 14 Aug 2021