Laughter on the menu!

New cast member Okorie Chukwu and Brenda Blethyn on the latest series of the hit seaside sitcom...

- ELAINE REILLY

KATE & KOJI

NEW WEDNESDAY / ITV / 9PM / EP 1 of 6 / COMEDY

Tea, laughs and an unlikely friendship are again on the menu as we return to the fictional seaside town of Seagate for a second outing of ITV’s cafe-set sitcom Kate & Koji.

But there are cast changes afoot, as while Brenda Blethyn (Vera) is back as prickly cafe owner Kate Abbott, actor Okorie Chukwu is taking over the role of asylum-seeking African doctor Koji from Jimmy Akingbola, who’s now in the US starring in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reboot Bel-Air.

Storylines in the new six-parter will include Koji having a stint managing the cafe, Kate running for election against her long-term nemesis, Councillor Lavinia Bone (Barbara Flynn), and Kate’s resourceful nephew Medium (Blake Harrison) writing a book!

TV Times caught up with stars Brenda and Okorie to find out more…

How have you found working together?

OKORIE It’s been wonderful; Brenda’s a riot! When I read the script, I connected with Koji instantly. Then it was about, ‘How am I going to play him and stay true to what was developed in the first series?’

His relationships with Kate and the other characters are building. The work was understanding creators Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin’s comedy and timing, while working with everyone.

BRENDA Naturally, when we heard Jimmy wasn’t going to be here, we thought, ‘How are they going to fill his shoes?’

But Okorie is perfect; we were very lucky to get him.