Top Boy and Heartstopper star Araloyin Oshunremi has opened up about playing contrasting roles in the hit TV shows.
In an exclusive interview with Digital Spy, Oshunremi explained how he juggled his role as Otis Smith in Netflix's light teen drama Heartstopper with his more serious role of Stefan in the drama Top Boy.
"It wasn't really difficult because in Heartstopper, I don't really have heavy, heavy scenes, and there's not a lot of dialogue that I have, and the character of Otis is quite bubbly and cheerful," Oshunremi said.
Related: Top Boy's Araloyin Oshunremi breaks down season 5 finale including who killed [SPOILER]
"Everyone on set is quite happy. He's very happy, actually. He's always bubbly and has a good energy. I think when I go onto set, it was all about the energy being up and bubbly. So I'm not really bringing Stef's moodiness and anger onto set."
He continued: "But at the same time, on the way to set with Heartstopper, I would probably listen to uplifting music. But on Top Boy, depending on the scene, most of the time I was listening to depressing music, or music that would fill you with anger."
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Both Heartstopper and Top Boy released new seasons this year and Oshunremi spoke to Digital Spy about Top Boy's final season. He opened up about his response when hearing about the shocking end for the first time.
Related: Top Boy season 5 review: The crime drama's grittiest season yet is almost perfect
"I didn't know the end until very late. I was told on the way to a meeting in the car. When I got told the end in the car, I was kind of shocked. I didn't really expect it.
"But at the same time, everything has to come to an end. All characters must have an end, too."
Toy Boy leading man Ashley Walters told Tudum about why it was agreed that the show would end with season six.
"With something as great as this, you should end on a high, and that's what we're doing," he said. "We're all battling on a daily basis to make sure that we give our audience and the fans of the show the most amazing ending that we can."
Heartstopper is streaming on Netflix, where season 2 will premiere on August 3.
Reporter, Digital Spy
Jacob is a freelance writer who specialises in narrative TV and film.
He graduated from the University of Roehampton with an MA in Journalism and has written for several publications since, including Gold Derby, Insider, and Screen Daily.
Jacob has covered major events in the world of film and TV, including numerous BAFTA ceremonies and the Cannes Film Festival, while he's also been an awards expert for several publications, including Korea's Arirang. His particular areas of interest include Star Wars, the MCU, the Oscars, and Hugh Grant.
TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since. For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing. She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.
