Renegade Nell star Nick Mohammed has revealed his character Billy Blind's special connection with the show's creator Sally Wainwright.
The Ted Lasso star takes on the role of the magical sprite in the new Disney+ series, which follows the titular Nell Jackson (Louis Harland) as she becomes a female highwayman in the 18th century.
Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy about his character, Mohammed explained how Billy needs Nell as much as she needs him.
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"I think they're one of the same, really," he said. "I think that's the thing. You know, Billy doesn't have magical powers independent of Nell, because he can't do magic.
"You never see him do that. At least that's what we know at the moment. We never see him do anything on his own. It's only through Nell. So they're sort of one and the same person."
Comparing Billy to the show boss, Mohammed said: "I think of Billy as Sally, actually, as sort of the guiding force within Nell, trying to kind of carve this path, but not quite – just feeling it out.
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"So he's this sort of Jiminy Cricket. He doesn't even know why he's there sometimes. I feel like they are one of the same. We call him 'him', but he's not gendered, really. He's a sprite. But he's part of Nell, really."
Mohammed also spoke to us about the "enigmatic" nature of Billy, elaborating: "I mean, he's a funny… Not 'funny', I don't mean that, actually. He's quite enigmatic, Billy.
"When he first appears, he doesn't quite know why he's there. He even voices that. He says, 'I don't quite know why I'm here, but I know I'm here for a reason, and I guess we'll have to find it out.' He almost says that verbatim to Nell, much to her frustration."
Renegade Nell is available to stream now on Disney+.
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
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.
