From behind the door to centre stage

With Christmas behind us and the New Year underway, National Prison Radio has got two inspiring stories to keep your spirits up and to help keep those New Year resolutions burning bright. 

If you’re one of the many people who find January a bit tough, make sure you tune in to NPR Talk on Wednesdays to hear stories from people who have found success after time behind bars. 

Nabil Abdulrashid is an award-winning comedian and writer and he will be telling us his story, how he survived a prison sentence, and how he achieved global success on the comedy circuit. His last show was called N.A.B.I.L (Nobody Actually Believed I’d Last) and in it he shared stories about his experiences of the school system in Nigeria, his return to England, and how he spent a short time in prison. 

The show was declared “moving and captivating as well as split-your-sides funny” (Evening Standard) and he was praised for his “genuine humanity…” and described as “an easy comic to like.”(Chortle) 

Nabil has also appeared on the BBC’s Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News for You and Celebrity MasterChef. 

You can also hear an interview with a former National Prison Radio presenter who has become a successful stage and screen actor. Michael Balogun’s dream began in a prison cell during one of a number of stints in prison during his younger years. He worked as a presenter for NPR and also worked in the Clink restaurant. He initially thought he wanted to be a chef and the Clink set him up with a job in the restaurant at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). But this wasn’t to be; the head chef told him after less than a day that he was too slow and he was moved across to work in the bar. It was here that he discovered he could act. 

Michael describes being in a really low place during his time in HMP Elmley. It was at this moment that he realised he had a dream and made the decision to put all his energy into becoming an actor. 

Ten years on, Michael is now a successful TV and stage actor. He has appeared in ‘Top Boy’, ‘Vera’ and ‘War of the Worlds’ – as well as a number of high-profile West End plays. 

Looking back on his time in prison, he tells National Prison Radio that; “tough times build character and make us who we are.” 

NPR Talk is on every Wednesday at 12:00 & 18:00. 

National Prison Radio is the world’s first national radio station for people in prison. It’s available on in-cell TVs in prisons across England and Wales. If it’s not available in your prison, or you would like to get involved by asking a question, sharing a story or requesting a track you can call us on 0808 123 1234.