Comedian and actor Guz Khan is cementing an unexpected reputation as a modern-day Christmas icon. With the release of his new Lapland-set BBC comedy special Stuffed, and following roles in festive projects like Richard Curtis's That Christmas and a Home Alone science test with James Acaster, Khan jokes that the holiday season has become his most reliable employer. "It sounds like, based on all the projects you've just listed there, Christmas paid for the extension on my house," he laughs.
From Small Heath to the Snowy North: A New Kind of Christmas Special
While best known for creating and starring in the critically acclaimed Birmingham-based sitcom Man Like Mobeen, Khan's latest project, Stuffed, represents a deliberate shift in tone. Co-starring Morgana Robinson, the one-hour special tells the story of a cash-strapped father who uses an erroneous Christmas bonus to fund a dream family trip to Lapland, only to face the consequences.
"Was it all right?" Khan asks with characteristic nervous energy about the film. "You never know when you make something. I never thought we'd ever be in this kind of slot." He admits the project required a different approach from his usual improvisational style. "Where I'd usually express myself with dialogue, I had to try and get the same feeling with an expression."
Despite the idyllic setting, filming had its challenges. "Most of it was made just off a roundabout in Reading, bro," he reveals. The brief stint on location in Lapland, however, left a lasting impression. "My brown arse will never enter that place ever again. Unless the sequel is changed to somewhere warm with a beautiful beach, I'm out."
Quietly Groundbreaking: Depicting an Interfaith Christmas
Beyond the slapstick and family chaos, Stuffed carries a subtly pioneering element. The central couple comprises Robinson's character Hannah, who celebrates Christmas, and Khan's Arslan, a Muslim who participates with "detached bewilderment."
"I don't know if at Christmastime there have been many depictions of interfaith couples," Khan notes. "They just live a normal life. There's nothing aggy, nothing stressful. It's all the stuff that any couple would go through." He acknowledges that for some viewers, this normalised portrayal might be a first, and it may not be universally welcomed. "Maybe it'll piss some people off. And you know, that's also part of the journey."
Closing the Chapter on Mobeen and Riding the 'Crazy Rollercoaster'
This year also saw the conclusion of Man Like Mobeen, the show that launched Khan's career. He felt a "personal responsibility" to avoid a fairy-tale ending. "In Small Heath and the West Midlands, we have some of the most dangerous levels of crime... It's a bad life. I never want a kid to watch the show and be like: 'I want to be like Mobeen.'"
While he believes ending the series was right, he doesn't rule out a future special. "I'd love to see what those characters look like in their late 50s... But you never want to outstay your welcome."
Looking ahead, Khan's slate is packed, including roles in The Gentlemen and Riz Ahmed's highly anticipated autobiographical Prime Video comedy, Bait. Yet, his ambitions remain grounded. "I just want to work with good people and catch good vibes," he says. "I'm not worried about Hollywood. We're just trying to have fun, bro, for however long this theme park carries on."
Stuffed airs on BBC One on 23 December at 9pm.
