TV & Movies

Killing Eve Fans Will Definitely Recognise Big Boys’ Sexy Lecturer

The British actor is a man of many talents.

by Bustle UK
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
Robert Gilbert as lecturer Tim on Channel 4's 'Big Boys'
Channel 4

Featuring fan-favourite Derry Girls’ cast member Dylan Llewellyn (aka. James, the wee english fella), Channel 4’s new comedy Big Boys is well worth a watch. As it happens, Llewellyn isn’t the only familiar face on the show. University lecturer Tim is set to make an appearance in the upcoming episodes. He’ll appear both fully-dressed and in his pristinely white undercrackers. And it just so happens that Tim is portrayed by Robert Gilbert, who most recently appeared in BBC’s Killing Eve, which wrapped up with its fourth and final series earlier in 2022.

Gilbert portrayed Yusuf, who worked with Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) at a private security firm. Much like the leading lady, he had a dark past of his own. As well as being work mates, Eve and Yusuf also engaged in some extra curricular activities. In pictures obtained by the Daily Mail in 2021, Oh and Gilbert could be seen filming a playful scene in a London park, teasing their flirtatious on-screen relationship. But what do we know about Robert Gilbert away from the small screen?

Raised between the UK and the U.S., the London-born actor has a strong theatre background. He has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company and on the West End. Though his TV appearances are few and far between, the 33-year-old starred in 2018’s Ready Player One as Andrew. He also appeared in Channel 4’s slapstick comedy, The Windsors. Gilbert is a talented voice actor, and played the Titan chief engineer in the animated CBS series Star Trek: Lower Decks.

In Channel 4’s Big Boys, Gilbert portrays Tim — one of three Brent university lecturers with the exact same name. From the moment Tim introduces a guest speech on sexual health from Jules (played by Stath Lets Flats actor Katy Wix) Llewellyn’s character Jack takes an immediate liking to him.

In reality, Gilbert is also a talented singer, and has released music under the stage name Captain Backfire. Like many emerging London artists, Gilbert was given his big break on Jamal Edwards’ SB.TV music channel back in 2011. In a YouTube video, a young-looking Gilbert can be seen standing on the river bank, guitar in hand, singing a song entitled “Love Undertaker.”

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