EastEnders' Kojo star Dayo Koleosho's life away from soap including real name
Over the past few years, EastEnders has seen a flurry of new faces gracing Albert Square, along with some well-known names making a comeback.
One of the major plotlines on the BBC soap last year revolved around George Knight (portrayed by Colin Salmon) discovering his biological family after being adopted as a child. The ensuing revelations led him to his two brothers, Kojo and Kobina, who eventually made their way to London.
Kojo was introduced as a regular character, with actor Dayo Koleosho stepping into the role. He's since been embroiled in a fair share of drama, including an attack from Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) and more recently, striking up a friendship with Harry Mitchell (Elijah Holloway).
Let's delve into Dayo's life off-screen....
Who is Dayo Koleosho?
Dayo, whose full name is Oludayo Koleosho, was born in 1984 in Stoke Newington, located in the London Borough of Hackney. The star is autistic, reports Belfast Live.
Dayo is a long-standing member of Access All Areas, having been involved for over two decades. Access All Areas is a theatre group based in Hackney, specifically catering to adults with learning disabilities and is overseen by the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
He graduated from Access All Areas' Performance Making Diploma in 2014, but made his professional acting debut in 2010 in an episode of BBC's Holby City.
What has Dayo starred in?
After his television debut, Dayo secured a part in BBC's Doctors as Michael Dunham, with his Access All Areas classmate Yvonne Swift playing his on-screen wife.
Dayo's first foray onto the stage came in 2014 with the UK tour of Eye Queue Hear. His theatre credits have since expanded to include roles in productions like Behind Closed Drawers, Elexion, Madhouse, Jitney, and Imposter 22.
Beyond Holby City and Doctors, Dayo has graced our screens in Channel 4's Damned and the BBC drama Strike. In 2023, he joined the cast of Casualty, bringing to life the character Jay Henderson in the episode Tinderbox.
Dayo's EastEnders role
Come 2024, it was revealed that Dayo would become a regular face on BBC One's EastEnders, portraying Kojo Asare in the iconic soap.
Kojo, along with his brother Kobina (Jonathan Nyati), entered the scene as the long-lost siblings of George Knight. After finding George in Walford, Kojo makes the decision to settle down in London.
On his EastEnders gig, Dayo expressed: "It's been absolutely amazing - I'm loving every minute of working with the cast and crew. It's an incredible storyline for Kojo and his family."
He added: "It is a dream that has become reality. They are many surprises and I'm taking every opportunity to work creatively with other talented actors."
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