Nicholas George Mohammed (born 1980) is a British actor, comedian and writer. In the UK, he is best known for portraying the comedic character Mr. Swallow, originally on radio and later across both stage and television. He is also the creator, writer and star of the Sky One/Peacock comedy series Intelligence. Outside of the UK, Mohammed is best known for his role as Nathan "Nate" Shelley in the first three seasons of the Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso, for which he was nominated in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series category at the 73rd and 74th Primetime Emmy Awards.
Early life and education Nicholas George Mohammed was born in Leeds, England. His mother was a Cyprus-born general practitioner and his Trinidad-born father worked in law.
Mohammed was educated at Abbey Grange High School in Leeds. He turned down an offer to study at the University of Cambridge and instead chose to study for a BSc in geophysics at Durham University, where he was a member of St Aidan's College and played violin in the university orchestra. He auditioned for the Durham Revue twice but failed to get in, and instead frequented the local comedy circuit.
After graduating from Durham in 2003, Mohammed began studying for a PhD in seismology at the Bullard Laboratories and Magdalene College, Cambridge. He did not complete his doctorate, after dropping out to pursue comedy. Whilst in Cambridge, he successfully auditioned for the Cambridge Footlights.
Career From ages 16 to 30, Mohammed worked as a close-up magician for hotels and weddings.
Mohammed is known for his character Mr Swallow, a megalomaniac magician. Developed during his time in Cambridge Footlights, the character's voice and attitude were inspired by his English teacher in secondary school, who spoke in the same high-pitched Northern accent as Mr Swallow does, and named for the fact she would swallow a lot in between sentences.
In 2010, Mohammed featured in the second series of BBC One's Reggie Perrin and was a co-presenter in BBC Three comedy series The King Is Dead alongside Simon Bird and Katy Wix. He made guest appearances in Pete & Dud: The Lost Sketches, Miranda, How Not to Live Your Life and Life's Too Short, and appeared in Series 2 Episode 4 of the BBC Radio 4 musical comedy show Alex Horne Presents The Horne Section.
Following his Radio 4 debut (Quarters), Mohammed had a second series Nick Mohammed in Bits (2010). He was a cast member of BAFTA-nominated CBBC sketch show Sorry, I've Got No Head, and supported Angelos Epithemiou (as one of his radio show characters, Mr Swallow) on his 2010 national tour. He had a supporting role in all three series of the E4 comedy Drifters.
In 2011, Mohammed wrote and starred in the original comedy-drama 'Magic', an episode of the Channel 4 anthology series Coming Up. From 2014 to 2016, he played Mr Love in CBBC show Hank Zipzer. He appeared in two episodes of Uncle in 2014 and 2015. In 2015, he joined the cast of ITV comedy The Job Lot. He wrote and starred in two series of Detective Sergeant Nick Mohammed, a comedy set in a police station, for BBC Radio 4.
In 2018, he voiced Piglet in the Disney film Christopher Robin. Also in 2018, it was announced that he would collaborate on a new comedy series titled Intelligence with David Schwimmer for Sky One. In 2019, Mohammed appeared in the second series of Stath Lets Flats. That same year, he also wrote and starred in the TV pilot, The Mr Swallow Show, for Channel 4, based on his Mr Swallow character; the show was not picked up to series.
From 2020 to 2023, he played Nathan "Nate" Shelley in the Apple TV series Ted Lasso. During the three series he appeared on the show, he was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards (2021 and 2022) and won a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the ensemble in 2022.
In 2023, Mohammed starred as a policeman in the film Maggie Moore(s), alongside Jon Hamm and Tina Fey. He was a contestant on the 17th series of the Channel 4 show Taskmaster, which launched in March 2024.
In 2024, Mohammed opened A Christmas Carol(ish) at @sohoplace in London's West End for a Christmas run. The show was a re-telling of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol with Mr Swallow as the protagonist, also starring Martha Howe-Douglas, David Elms, and Kieran Hodgson. He originally developed the show at Soho Theatre in 2022.
In 2025, he appeared in the fifth season of Apple TV's Slow Horses as Mayor Zafar Jaffrey. Also in 2025, he starred in the action comedy film Deep Cover alongside Bryce Dallas Howard and Orlando Bloom.
In 2025, he toured the UK as Mr Swallow in new live show, Show Pony, with dates extended into 2026. He also appeared as a contestant on the first series of The Celebrity Traitors, about which he said, 'This is the first thing I've ever done as myself'. He made it to the final as a 'Faithful' alongside David Olusoga, before losing out to traitor Alan Carr.
Mohammed was in the 2025 Big Fat Quiz of the Year special, and was on the same team as Jonathan Ross; their team won.
In June 2026, he became the main face of the "World Cup Watchers' Rights Association" campaign with Australian broadcaster SBS, as part of their coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Mohammed was awarded an honorary Doctor Of Letters by Durham University in July 2026.
Mohammed will play The Host in the world premiere of The Traitors: Acts of Betrayal at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London's West End from May 2027.
Personal life
Mohammed learned the violin as a child and played in his university orchestra at St Aidan's College at Durham University. There he met his future wife, Becca, whom he married in 2014. They have three children.
Mohammed moved to Richmond, London, in 2014, and lived there for nearly a decade before moving on. His eldest son, Finn, has an eidetic memory, which was showcased when they both appeared on an episode of 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
Mohammed is allergic to fish and seafood.
Acting credits Film Year Title Role Notes 2012 Asylum Seekers Adeem Akwal Short film 2014 Benny & Jolene Orlando 2015 Baguettes Man Short film The Martian Tim Grimes 2016 Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie Casper Bridget Jones's Baby Ariyaratina The Darkest Universe Benny 2017 The Sense of an Ending Postman Danny Bridget Jones' Baby: Extended End Credits Ariyaratina Uncredited; short film; direct-to-video The Designers Comic Relief short film Smear Dr Wyndham Short film 2018 Christopher Robin Piglet Voice role The Nutcracker and the Four Realms Short Butler 2019 The Kid Who Would Be King Mr Hyde 2020 Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse Mr Entwhistle 2022 Pragma Professor Francis 2023 Maggie Moore(s) Deputy Reddy Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget Dr Fry Voice role 2025 Deep Cover Hugh TBA Control Post-production
Television Year Title Role Notes 2006 No Easy Task with Daniel Thornthwaite Daniel Thornthwaite Also writer; television film 2008–2011 Sorry, I've Got No Head Various 17 episodes 2009–2010 Reggie Perrin Steve 9 episodes 2010 The King Is Dead Himself With Simon Bird and Katy Wix The Persuasionists DVD Shop Assistant Episode: "The Charity" Miranda Pete (Skydive Receptionist) Episode: "Before I Die" 2011 Pixelface Pharaoh Episode: "High Spirits" Life's Too Short Toby Episode: "#1.5" 2013–2015 Drifters Ash 7 episodes 2014 Uncle Roopesh 6 episodes 2014–2016 Hank Zipzer Mr Love 16 episodes; main cast (Season 1); recurring cast (Season 2); guest cast (Season 3) 2014–2018 Cuckoo Policeman Episodes: "Neighbourhood Watch" and "Ken's New Friend" 2014 Morning Has Broken Mike Also writer; television film 2015 Murder in Successville Dynamo Episode: "Bunch of Cults" Yonderland Electrician Episode: "Panic on the Streets of Yonderland" 2015–2017 Uncle Roopesh 5 episodes 2015–2016 Drunk History William Burke/John William Polidori 2 episodes 2015 The Job Lot Ash 5 episodes 2016 Fresh Meat Nas 2 episodes Camping Dr Tolley Episode: "#1.2"; television miniseries Sexy Murder Simon Schinwold 3 episodes; television miniseries The Last Dragonslayer Brian - Dragonslayer Television film 2017 Mr. Swallow's Valentine Mr Swallow Also writer; television film 2018 Collateral Fuzz Gupta 2 episodes; television miniseries Urban Myths Horace Lambardi Episode: "Agatha Christie" Oi Leonardo Disciple Television miniseries; Episode: "The Last Supper" Sally4Ever Mark Episode: "#1.4" Comedy Blaps Benton Episode: "Furious Andrew" 2018–2019 Space Chickens in Space Finley (voice) 23 episodes 2019 Stath Lets Flats Anthony Stappan Episodes: "A Battle Of Our Lives" and "Congratulations, Please" Comedians Giving Lectures Mr Swallow Episode: "#1.7" Harry Hill's Clubnite Episode: "#1.2" 2019, 2021,2023, 2024 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Episode: "18.4", Christmas special 2021, Christmas special 2023, Episode: "26.2" 2020–2023 Intelligence Joseph Harries Also writer Ted Lasso Nathan "Nate" Shelley Main castNominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, 2021 and 2022 2020 Hitmen The Human Spider Episode: "Birthday" 2021 Inside No. 9 Gavin Episode: "Simon Says" 2022 Mandy Future Doctor Episode: "The Curse of Mandy Carter" 2023 Killing Sherlock: Lucy Worsley on the Case of Conan Doyle Himself Episode 3: “Shadows and Sleuths” 2024 Renegade Nell Billy Blind 8 episodes Taskmaster Himself Season 17 contestant Inside No. 9 Himself Episode: "Plodding On" Alma's Not Normal Jules Goodwin Series 2 2025 The Planets and Star Wars at the Proms Host A BBC Proms concert Slow Horses Zafar Jaffrey Season 5 The Celebrity Traitors Himself Contestant; series 1The Big Fat Quiz of the YearHimselfContestantLOL: Last One Laughing UKMr SwallowGuest 20262026 Laurence Olivier AwardsHimselfHostWarMichael Stefano
Theatre +YearTitleCharacterVenueNotes2023The Very Best and Very Worst of Mr SwallowMr. SwallowUK tourAlso writer2024A Christmas Carol (ish)Mr. Swallow@sohoplaceAlso writer2025Inside No. 9 Stage/FrightGuest starWyndham's TheatreOne night only2025Mr Swallow: Show PonyMr. SwallowUK tourAlso writer20262027The Traitors: Acts of BetrayalThe HostGillian Lynne Theatre
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.2021 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy SeriesTed Lasso20222021Hollywood Critics Association Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Series, Comedy20222021HCA TV Gold Derby AwardsComedy Supporting ActorInternational Online Cinema Awards (INOCA)Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy SeriesPena de PrataBest Ensemble in a Comedy Series (shared)Online Film & Television AssociationBest Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series 2021 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 2022 2024 2022Royal Television Society Programme AwardsComedy Performance - Male Intelligence 2022 Offies Best Performance Ensemble A Christmas Carol-ish
References
External links
Nick Mohammed on Spotlight