In a surprising career pivot, veteran actor Bill Nighy has become an unlikely podcast sensation with his new show Ill-advised, where the 75-year-old offers personal advice and reveals intimate details about his life to listeners worldwide.
From Hollywood to Headphones
The Surrey-born actor, renowned for his impeccable suits and distinctive acting style, is finally playing himself after nearly five decades in the entertainment industry. Launched just last month, the podcast has already developed a cult following, with Nighy describing it as a "refuge for the clumsy and awkward."
Listeners from Italy to Mongolia to Scotland are tuning in to hear Nighy tackle wildly varying questions, from how to avoid parties to why someone's horse doesn't like them. His advice remains consistently conversational, generous, and refreshingly uncertain, always delivered with his trademark self-deprecation.
Unexpected Revelations and Marmite Secrets
The podcast has revealed several surprising facts about the actor: he's single, has never read a self-help book, never intended to become an actor, and once went deaf after putting toilet paper in his ears to sleep. He lives alone and doesn't cook because "it would be too sad," though he's apparently good at making custard.
Callers initially come for the advice - including his sybaritic cure for insomnia involving a Marmite sandwich, two types of cake and a good book - but most stay for the digressive life stories. These include how he left home inspired by a Bob Dylan album and later ended up owning one of Dylan's harmonicas, and his commitment to smuggling Marmite on set that saw him stopped twice at Heathrow customs.
The Celebrity Podcast Phenomenon
Ben Kerr, CEO of Cold Glass Productions, explains the appeal: "The best celebrity and celebrity-led podcasts put you in an intimate space and make you feel like you're part of something bigger." He notes that streaming has eliminated those "gather-round-the-TV moments" that people crave.
While celebrity podcasts are nothing new - even the notoriously private Tom Hanks has appeared on three this year - Nighy's offering stands out for its authenticity. Fellow actor Johnny Flynn, who starred with Nighy in the 2020 adaptation of Emma, describes him as "viscerally honest and kind" and notes that "Bill is everyone's agony uncle within five minutes of meeting him."
Kerr suggests the podcast's success lies in Nighy's unique personality: "It's the ones with a sense of fun, the ones that are honest, and with a personality, which in case of Bill is that of a stylish guy with a weird authority."
Bill Nighy's Rules for Living
The actor has shared several of his personal style and life rules through the podcast:
- Keep collars long - spread collars make him "uneasy"
- Glasses are for hiding behind - avoid coloured specs
- Every man should own a navy suit and Levi's 501s ("just not too tight - don't be weird")
- The minimum age to get a tattoo should be 12
- No men should wear linen, and never go sockless
- The words "beverage", "moist" and "sheathed" should be banned
In the most recent episode, Nighy has even threatened to create merchandise, suggesting the podcast's popularity shows no signs of waning. As Kerr observes, "We are living in the age of people never feeling more lonely... We're looking for company, and a good podcast can make you feel that." For thousands of listeners, Bill Nighy has become that comforting voice in their ears.
