UK:I Was Washing Dishes; Working In Freezers; You Will Wear 2 Gloves And Hand Is Still Freezing—Afod

Nigerian actor, singer, filmmaker, director and producer Lanre Afod has recounted the difficult working conditions he experienced in the United Kingdom, revealing how the challenges eventually influenced his decision to return to Nigeria.

Afod shared his experience during an interview on Talk To B, aired on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, where he discussed his return to the UK, the jobs he undertook and the difference between his expectations and the reality he encountered.

The actor, who is the younger brother of veteran Nollywood actor Kunle Afod, explained that he initially decided to return to the UK because he had a multiple-entry visa that allowed him to travel back to the country.

However, he said his experience changed when he returned without the circumstances and support that had characterised his earlier stay, forcing him to confront the difficulties of making a living.

“I now said, let me go back to the UK. I have a multiple-entry visa. I went back to the UK. So, when I went back on my own, it was when I realised all those things that were there, all the packaging, were no more,” Afod said.

According to the actor, returning to the country meant accepting jobs that were different from what he had expected, as he struggled to adjust to the demands of working and earning money abroad.

He explained that he had to take on various responsibilities, including jobs that involved washing dishes and working in extremely cold environments.

“So I had to do the regular jobs. I went to auntie space. I was doing all sorts of crazy jobs,” he said.

Afod’s account highlighted the physical demands of some of the work he undertook, particularly assignments that required him to work inside freezers, where the low temperatures made the experience uncomfortable even when he wore protective gloves.

Recalling the conditions, the actor described how difficult it was to keep his hands warm while working in the cold environment.

“I was washing dishes; working in freezers. You will wear two gloves and hand is still freezing,” Afod said.

His account offered a glimpse into the challenges some migrants encounter when they move abroad in search of better opportunities but find themselves having to accept physically demanding jobs to meet their financial needs.

For Afod, the experience appeared to contrast with the expectations he had developed before returning to the UK. He explained that the difference became clearer when he had to navigate the working environment independently.

The actor’s experience also highlighted the reality that living abroad can involve demanding labour, difficult working conditions and adjustments that may not be apparent to people who have not experienced them firsthand.

Watch the video below from minutes 19:08 to 19:33:

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