Iremide Adeoye likes to joke about being the internet’s favourite TV boyfriend. It’s a title he wears with a knowing smile; half internet nickname, half self-branding, fully aware of the energy he brings on screen and how audiences have chosen to receive it. Now he’s extending that energy somewhere else: radio.
After years of focusing almost entirely on acting, Adeoye is officially stepping into broadcasting with Bounce FM. He will be hosting The Global Radio Show on Fridays from 5 to 9pm, a pop culture and music-driven countdown that moves from Nigeria to the rest of the world and Back to the Future on Saturdays from 8am to 12pm, a weekend starter blending ’90s nostalgia with current hits.
Radio isn’t random for him. It isn’t a side quest or a vanity add-on. It’s something he has wanted since he was much younger. He just didn’t expect it to happen now. He had always believed it belonged to a later version of himself: one with more experience, more polish, and more preparation. Acting was the priority. Acting is still the core. That part hasn’t shifted. But timelines have a way of rearranging themselves.
In October, he guest-hosted on The Bounce FM. It wasn’t meant to be a turning point. It was simply a test run: step in, hold the mic and see how it feels, but the chemistry worked. The audience responded. And what started as a temporary seat became something more permanent.
Iremide Adeoye is open about the fact that he doesn’t feel 100 percent ready. He doesn’t think anyone ever truly does. Waiting for perfection, he suggests, can quietly become procrastination. Growth sometimes happens in motion.
If television made him the internet’s favourite TV boyfriend, radio might just introduce a new title: your favourite radio boyfriend.
In an exclusive conversation, Adeoye talks about timing, balance, spontaneity, and why this move feels less like a pivot and more like an expansion.
Nollywood shoots can happen any day, even weekends. How do you plan to manage your acting call times alongside your Friday and Saturday radio shows?
I’m very big on structure and planning, especially now that my career is expanding. Acting is still my core; that’s my foundation. Radio is an extension of my creative expression, so both deserve commitment.
Before anything was finalised, I had that conversation. I said, “You all know I’m an actor, right? If I have to be on set, what are we going to do?” And we talked it through. Communication is everything.
Bounce FM has been incredibly supportive. My producers on both sides understand the demands. We’ve put proper arrangements in place. So radio isn’t going to affect my availability as an actor at all. It’s really about honouring every space you’re in and being fully present there.
I think with clear communication and good planning, you can make things work.
Radio relies entirely on your voice. How will this new platform let you express sides of yourself that acting doesn’t capture?
What excites me most is that this is a completely different form of storytelling. With acting, I’ve mostly expressed myself visually — characters, costumes, scenes, worlds you can see. Radio strips everything down. It’s just me, my voice and the listener. There are no props. No set. No camera angles to hide behind.
And while there’s structure, it’s not like film, where everything is tightly scripted. On radio, you have to be present. You have to be honest. People may not see your face, but they can hear your intent.
There’s something vulnerable about that. It feels like new territory. But it’s thrilling. It forces you to rely on tone, energy and emotion. And I think that’s beautiful.
You’ve described this as an evolution of your artistry. How do you see acting and radio complementing each other creatively?
In many ways, they’re more similar than people think. When I’m acting, I’m painting a world people can step into on screen or on stage. With radio, I’m still creating a world; only now I’m doing it through voice, tone and presence instead of visuals.
As an actor, I always strive for honesty. I treat characters like real stories. Radio demands that same level of genuineness because you can’t really hide. Even if people aren’t seeing you, they can tell when something is forced.
Radio sharpens you. It keeps you hungry. And I think hungry people are successful people. If you ever feel 100 percent ready, you might get complacent. This keeps me learning. It keeps me growing.
So yes, it’s an evolution. It’s expanding the same artistic muscle, just in a different way.
Are there aspects of your radio show that might influence the types of roles you take in Nollywood going forward?
Absolutely. Radio sharpens your listening skills and your spontaneity. You have to think on your feet. You’re constantly engaging with different people, different opinions and different conversations, especially around music and pop culture.
As an actor, my job is to observe. I pick from everything around me. Radio puts me in a space where I’m constantly absorbing new perspectives. That deepens how I approach characters and storytelling. Everything is connected. It strengthens the work.
And plus, if I ever have to play an OAP on screen, I won’t look confused. I’ll know what I’m doing.
For fans who know you on screen, what’s one surprising thing they should expect when they tune in?
I think the biggest thing is that you’ll experience me. On screen, you see characters I’ve played. On the radio, you’re a little closer to experiencing Iremide as a person: my personality, my humour and my energy.
I’m intentional about creating a space that feels genuine, warm and exciting every time I’m on air. It’s built on connection and good energy. People know me as the TV boyfriend. Maybe now I’m stepping into being your favourite radio boyfriend too.
