Harris Kiiza recently joined the cast of Jamie Johnson FC as regular character Lucas, with Series 3 of the spin-off of long-running CBBC show Jamie Johnson having released in October last year. During the release of Series 3, Harris was a guest on Saturday Mash-Up and he works alongside Jim Whitley as Coach Byrne, with Series 4 having an expected summer 2026 release. As a footballer himself, Harris has played for Barnsley FC for the past six years, having previously played for Sheffield United and been scouted by Manchester City. In the 2025 feature film release Giant, Harris played Young Kell Brook, with the film starring Pierce Brosnan as Brendan Ingle and Amir El-Masry as Naseem Hamed, and he was also part of Kris Carr’s (writer/director) short film Grandma Is Thirsty as George. For Harris’s first major role, he played Dec in Your Christmas or Mine? and returned to the character for the sequel (Your Christmas or Mine 2), which was filmed on location in Austria, working with a cast including Asa Butterfield, Cora Kirk, Daniel Mays and Angela Griffin. Answering our questions, Harris talks about joining the cast of Jamie Johnson FC as regular character Lucas, playing Young Kell in feature film Giant and his time filming as Dec in Your Christmas or Mine? for Amazon Prime Video.

You can be seen in the most recent series of Jamie Johnson FC as new regular character Lucas, how was it joining the cast in Series 3 and how did you prepare for your first day on set?

It was really fun and enjoyable joining the cast in Series 3. Everyone on set was welcoming, and it made the whole experience exciting rather than nerve-racking. To prepare for my first day, I made sure to go through my lines the night before or on the day of filming so I felt confident going in. I also focused on staying true to myself while keeping the energy and personality of Lucas consistent throughout each scene.

Had you seen Jamie Johnson FC (or the original Jamie Johnson series) before booking the role and how is it being part of a long-running CBBC series?

Before my audition, I had actually never watched – or even heard of – the Jamie Johnson series. During the audition for Lucas, they asked everyone to raise their hand if they’d seen the show before, and I was one of the few who hadn’t, which was quite funny at the time. So joining the cast was something completely new for me.

Being part of such a long-running CBBC series has been enjoyable. Once Series 3 was released, I started getting recognised a lot more out and about – at play areas and even when I’m just out playing football. It’s a strange but exciting feeling knowing people have seen your character on TV and want to come and say hi.

What is Lucas like to play, and how would you describe the character?

Lucas is really fun to play. He’s enthusiastic, cheeky and always has a positive vibe about him. Bringing that energy to the screen makes the character enjoyable, because he’s the type of person who lifts the mood and brings a bit of humour and brightness into every scene.

When Series 3 of Jamie Johnson FC was released in October, you were a guest on Saturday Mash-Up; how did you find the experience?

It was a completely different experience for me, because I’m not used to live TV, but overall it was amazing. The Saturday Mash-Up team were so welcoming, and travelling up to Glasgow made it even more exciting. The whole day was a lot of fun – especially when I beat Tate (Bullen) in the toilet go-karting race! That definitely made the experience even better.

We understand you also play football for a team; how is it combining your love of football and acting, and what is it like on set of Jamie Johnson FC?

It’s always fun being on set, especially because I get to combine the two things I love: football and acting. On Jamie Johnson FC, we get to play football a lot during filming, which makes the whole experience even more enjoyable. What makes it even better is seeing the scenes back after we’ve filmed them and watching how the crew bring everything together behind the camera. It’s amazing to see how much work goes into making each episode.

Can you tell us about your time as a footballer so far, and when did you start playing?

I’ve always enjoyed playing football – I started when I was about five years old. My football journey really began when I was scouted by Manchester City, which was a huge moment for me. Since then, I’ve also played for Sheffield United, and I even got the chance to go to Barcelona for a football tournament, which was an amazing experience. After that, I was signed by Barnsley, where I’ve been playing for the last six years.

How was it taking on the role of Young Kell Brook in last year’s feature film Giant, which starred Pierce Brosnan as Brendan Ingle and Amir El-Masry as Naseem Hamed?

Taking on the role of Young Kell Brook in Giant was a great experience. I had the chance to meet Pierce Brosnan, which was incredible, and seeing myself on the cinema screen for the first time was a special moment I’ll never forget. The audition process was quite quick, but everything came together really well, and I’m grateful I got to be part of such a powerful film.

What was it like working on Kris Carr’s (writer/director) short film Grandma Is Thirsty as George?

Working on Grandma Is Thirsty as George was quite special. I had a lot of fun filming it – the set was great, and the location by the lake was definitely a bonus. Everyone on the team was funny and really good at what they were doing. Kris and Adam (John Watts) knew exactly how to bring the story to life.

A funny truth is that I haven’t actually been allowed to watch it in the cinema yet, because it’s a 15-plus film.

For your first major role, you played Dec in the Amazon Prime Video film Your Christmas or Mine?, do you remember how you felt finding out you’d booked the project, and what was it like getting into character as Dec?

I remember the whole moment really well. I had just auditioned for a SKY commercial with a very big director, and around the same time I’d also auditioned for Your Christmas or Mine?. One afternoon, I was in the car with my mum when my agent from The Drama MOB called. Esther told me she had good news and bad news.

The good news was that I’d been offered the SKY commercial, which was filming abroad. But then she said the other good news was that I’d also booked the Amazon film. The only problem was that both projects were filming at the same time, so I had to choose. I talked it through with my parents, and I’m really glad I chose Your Christmas or Mine?. It was the right decision for me.

Getting into character as Dec was great fun. He’s funny, cheeky and always getting into mischief – usually just following whatever his big brother says. Playing that kind of playful, energetic character was a brilliant first major role for me.

How was it returning to film the 2023 sequel – Your Christmas or Mine 2, and what was it like filming on location in Austria?

Returning for Your Christmas or Mine 2 was another amazing moment for me – and for my family as well. Flying out to Austria with my mum was such a great experience. The views on the snow slopes were incredible, the hotel was amazing, and the whole trip felt like something really special.

It was also great to be back with the cast and do the sequel with the same gang again. Filming in such a beautiful location made it feel even more exciting, and it’s definitely one of my favourite memories from working on the films.

What did you enjoy most about filming with the rest of the cast, which included Asa Butterfield as James, Cora Kirk as Hayley, Daniel Mays as Geoff and Angela Griffin as Kath?

I enjoyed so much working with these incredible talents. They’re all very enthusiastic about their work, really professional, but also a lot of fun to be around. I learned so much just from being on set with them and watching how they approach their characters. Being around such great people helped me grow as an actor, and I’m forever grateful for the experience.

Do you have any stand-out memories from filming for the Your Christmas or Mine? films that you can share?

I have a couple of stand-out memories from filming the Your Christmas or Mine? movies. One of the biggest was shooting at around 1:30am under fake snow. Because the films were actually shot in the summer, we had to wear big winter jackets in the heat, which definitely wasn’t the nicest feeling – but it made the scenes look great on screen.

Another stand-out memory was arriving at the hotel in Austria for Your Christmas or Mine 2. The view of the hotel was incredible and, as soon as me and Ant arrived, we headed straight to the infinity pool. Filming in that location and experiencing moments like that made it all feel really special.

You have also been involved with commercials, music videos and Judge Rinder, can you tell us about these?

Judge Rinder was actually my first ever TV job, and it was a really fun experience. I even got to have Harry Kane’s signed shirt, which was amazing. I filmed it with my friend who I started acting with, so that made it even more special.

I’ve also been lucky enough to do a few commercials – one stand-out was a campaign I did with the NSPCC. It carried an important message, and I felt proud to be part of something meaningful.

More recently, I filmed a music video with rapper Digga D. He’s really funny in person and an amazing talent, so working on that project was a great experience too.

Where does your love of acting come from and how did you get into it?

My love of acting comes from the excitement of stepping into different characters and bringing people’s stories to life. I really enjoy the creative side of it – being able to shape a character and make the audience feel something.

I actually got into acting by luck. It was one of those right-place, right-time moments. Everything started with my role on Judge Rinder. After it aired, I remember feeling really proud seeing myself on TV for the first time, and that feeling made me want to do more. That’s when I realised acting was something I truly wanted to keep pursuing.

What are some of your favourite films and TV shows to watch, and do you have any favourite football players to support?

Some of my favourite films to watch are the Home Alone movies – they never get old. I also really enjoy watching Dragons’ Den because it’s amazing to see how clever people come up with great ideas and turn them into real businesses.

When it comes to football players, I really like Bukayo Saka, Antoine Semenyo and Noni Madueke. They all have something in common: they’re quick, great dribblers, and exciting to watch, because you never know what they’re going to do next when they’re on the ball.

How do you like to spend your free time?

In my free time, I really enjoy being outdoors. I love fishing and exploring new places, and I like going out on my bike with my friends. I’ve also recently started playing golf, and I like skiing, which has been a fun new hobby to learn. I enjoy long walks with my family too; it’s always a good chance to spend time together and enjoy being outside.

What are you hoping 2026 brings for you, and do you have any projects coming up that you can talk about?

I’m really looking forward to Series 4 of Jamie Johnson FC coming out this summer. I am also waiting to find out whether Season 5 will be filmed in 2026, so that’s exciting too. I’ve recently auditioned for a few new series on different streaming platforms, so it feels like a very positive and exciting year ahead. I’m hoping 2026 brings more great opportunities, more learning, more fun, and more chances to do what I love.