Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

Still Game actor Sanjeev Kohli takes part in ‘pretty unique’ private Q&A session in front of select audience in Aberdeen

Neo Sessions, whose panel included comedian Dom Holland, aims to bring people from different backgrounds and walks of life together.

Five people standing together.
Sanjeev Kohli, Erin Thomson, Aisha Kasim, Dom Holland and Steve Beedie took part in the latest installment of Neo Sessions in Aberdeen. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson.

Sanjeev Kohli, best known for his role as shopkeeper Navid in Still Game, was in Aberdeen tonight for a question and answer session.

The Glaswegian actor was joined by army veteran Steve Beedie, comedian Dom Holland, The Apprentice star Aisha Kasim and professional bodybuilder Erin Thomson at the private event held at the city’s Neo House.

Speaking to The P&J, Mr Kohli, who said he has gotten to know Aberdeen “a wee bit”, described Neo Sessions – taking place for the second time – as being a “kind of corporate event, but isn’t”.

Sanjeev Kohli standing up with hand on seat.
Sanjeev Kohli, or Navid from Still Game, was one of the panellists. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson.

He added: “It’s about creativity and storytelling, big ideas to get a mix of people with interesting backstories together.”

Mr Holland, who has appeared on comedy panel TV game show Never Mind the Buzzcocks, said he was “delighted” to be back in Aberdeen.

“I think audiences across the United Kingdom are the same. Pretty much they all want to come along and laugh their socks off,” he added.

‘Pretty unique kind of experience’

Describing how the event works, organiser Johnny Brooks, who described it as a “pretty unique kind of experience”, said it starts off like panel show Would I Lie To You?

“Instead of the panelists asking the questions, it’s the room and they’re trying to figure out how many of us are raging liars.”

Telling stories of the life of the panellists,  the audience – who are not told in advance who is going to appear and is made up of local business owners, educators and students – get to guess who they are.

The panellists standing next to a DMC DeLorean car.
The panellists were welcomed by a DMC DeLorean. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson.

Describing the panel as “eclectic”, Mr Brooks said the event is a “nice thing” for Aberdeen due to their being nothing else like it in the Granite City.

During the first show, another Still Game actor was on the panel, Gavin Mitchell who plays Clansman barman Boaby.

As well as this, Aberdeen singer Fiona Kennedy and a former international spy called Simon, who was kidnapped three times, was also on the panel.

Dom Holland, Sanjeev Kohli and Steve Beedie sitting next to each other.
Dom Holland, Sanjeev Kohli and Steve Beedie preparing for the show. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson.

Explaining what happened, Mr Brooks said: “Halfway through Simon’s story, he fondles his pocket and pulls out a bullet and it was the bullet that he was shot in the leg with years prior.”

It is things like this happening that Mr Brooks hopes will turn Neo Sessions into a regular occurrence.

“Just some of the stories that come out when you actually let people talk and don’t try and force it is pretty amazing,” he said.

‘Humbled and pretty excited’

Mr Beedie – who campaigns for military veterans and lives in Kemnay – served in wars in both Kosovo and Iraq, and said he was “humbled and pretty excited” by being invited to take part.

Miss Thomson – who appeared in Vogue magazine in 2018 – said she would be encouraging the crowd to “just be whoever they want to be”, adding: “Anything is possible if they continue to work hard and pursue their goals.”

Outside of Neo House.
The event took place at Neo House in Aberdeen. Image: Kami Thomson/DC Thomson.

Meanwhile, Miss Kasim, who appeared on The Apprentice in 2015 and currently works as a startup manager at Robert Gordon University, wanted to encourage business ideas.

She told The P&J: “Even though it didn’t quite work out with me and Lord Sugar, I still get to get to promote entrepreneurship and support other people with their business dreams.

“Just because you’re from Aberdeen, you never know what life has for you.”

Conversation