The Family - Who's who in Series 3?

Channel 4's observational documentary series The Family returns for a third series in November, with a black British family filmed around the clock over eight turbulent weeks.

The Adesinas are a large family living in the heart of Hackney, East London. Vicky and her husband Sunday have been married for thirty years. They are traditional Nigerian parents with strong views on God, love and family values, with four British-born children from 15 - 27, all living at home. Together they run a family business - a Nigerian takeaway and restaurant. This is the first time in six years all adult children and parents have lived together and tensions simmer as the streetwise kids collide with their parents' old fashioned ways.


Sunday

Age: 60
Place of birth: Ikenne Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria
Role within family: Father
Describe yourself in three words: Honest, hardworking and godly
Describe your role within the family: Provider

Dad Sunday is the patriarch of the family. Father to four children, he sees himself as the provider for his family. Sunday moved to the UK from Nigeria in 1980. His wife, Vicky, joined him a year later. All their children were born in the UK. Sunday describes his wife as “loveable and warm…the watch dog of the family”. His family are extremely important to him and although he has experienced “many great family moments”, his proudest memory is his son, Ayo’s, graduation.

Sunday has always worked long shifts and now he runs a restaurant and take-away in East London those long hours have continued. His first job was as a Clerk and he drove taxis for a period of time before deciding to venture into the restaurant business. Like any parent Sunday worries about his children and is keen to see them take over the family business so that he can enjoy a “peaceful pension life”.


Vicky

Age: 52
Place of birth: Nigeria
Role within family: Mother
Describe yourself in three words: Loving, caring and understanding
Describe your role within the family: The rock

Devout Christian Vicky is the proud mum of four children, who all live at home. She describes her family as “her life” and is at her happiest when her family are together. Vicky has been married to Sunday for thirty years and describes him as her “love”.

Vicky’s family describe her as the “caring” member of the family. She is known as the adviser amongst her family and friends and is passionate about praying and watching Nigerian movies. She ardently believes that until her children are financially stable they should stay at home.

She is a keen enthusiast of Christian music which raises her spirits and can often be seen dancing her way around the family kitchen. Vicky has always worked in catering and currently works at the family restaurant.


Ayo

Age: 27
Place of birth: Hackney
Role within family: Eldest son
Describe yourself in three words: Clever, sociable and laid-back
Describe your role within the family: Technical Support

At 27, Ayo is the eldest of the four Adesina children. He is described by his fellow family members as “an eccentric” who is “brilliant and loveable but at times a little selfish”. He currently lives at home with his parents and has his own business as a freelance web designer.

Ayo’s passion is rapping. A typical day for Ayo consists of “work, work, rap, sleep” and he hopes that the show will “give exposure to [his] many talents”. His passions are music and the internet and he would love to release a UK rap album. Ayo says he found filming The Family exciting and feels that the experience led him on a journey of self discovery.


Julie

Age: 25
Place of birth: Homerton, Hackney
Role within family: Eldest daughter
Describe yourself in three words: Love, pain, and gifted
Describe your role within the family: Philosopher

Twenty-five year old Julie recently moved back home after living away for six years, including a stint at University. Now filming is over, Julie’s worried that all of the facets of her character didn’t show. Family means everything to Julie, she says: “I wouldn’t change my family for any other, or else I wouldn’t be me, and I love everyone especially my siblings”.

Julie says her strengths include being forgiving, strong, loving and intelligent. She also sees being argumentative as being both a strength and a weakness, she fears judgment and her long-term ambition is happiness, for both herself and everyone else.

If she could meet one celebrity it would be Will Smith as he’s a role model for his philosophical approach to life and for being a “great father and husband”, full of wisdom. Julie says the filming made her find herself and decide a course of action. An interesting fact about Julie is that she nearly drowned when she was little, but she promises it is a funny story!


Olu

Age: 23
Place of birth: Hackney
Role within family: Youngest son
Describe yourself in three words: Cool, calm and collected
Describe your role within the family: Mr. Reliable

Olu considers himself “Mr. Reliable” and his family tend to agree. He works for the family business and his family describe him as the “cool guy” of the family; a “loving, gentle” person. Being part of a family means “everything” to Olu. He cites one of his ambitions in life as “a family of [his] own”….including “seven kids”.

Olu is Manager at one of the family restaurants and is a conscientious and hard-working person, even “too hard-working” in his eyes. He wants to be financially stable and is inspired by his father… and a desire to own a new BMW.


Ola

Age: 15
Place of birth: Hackney Homerton Hospital
Role within family: Youngest daughter
Describe yourself in three words: Outgoing, loving and funny
Describe your role within the family: The best – everyone loves me the most!

At 15, Ola is the youngest member of the Adesina household. She was born in Hackney and has lived in the area all her life. She’s currently studying for her GCSEs, as a weekly border at a school in the South East. Ola says that filming The Family was “an exhilarating roller coaster” and although being filmed was a bit weird at first, she soon got used to it.

Ola is scared of snakes, rats (and “anything that looks like a rat”) and cats. She admires American singer and actress Jennifer Hudson and likes any kind of music that “doesn’t make my head hurt.”


The Family returns to Channel 4 on Tuesday 16th November 2010.