Akai Osei (born 12 April 1999) is a British actor, dancer, presenter and musician, who is best known for winning the first series of Got to Dance in February 2010. It is reported that he was inspired by Michael Jackson, Diversity, Flawless and Chris Brown. Akai joined the acting scene shortly after winning Got to Dance. He appears in the film StreetDance 3D alongside Diversity, George Sampson and Flawless, and its sequel, StreetDance 2.

Osei also appeared in Boy Blue Entertainment's street dance hip-hop show Pied Piper – A Hip-Hop Dance Revolution. Osei appeared in the music video for the N-Dubz song "We Dance On" in 2010, which was the main song on the soundtrack for the film StreetDance 3D. He also appeared in an advert for Ministry of Sound Street Dance 2010 CD.

Osei has joined the cast of Into the Hoods. Osei appeared on Blue Peter in mid 2010 and also featured in the annual dance show "Streets Ahead" in London 2010, which featured many dance crews and schools, including Peridot. He is featured in the song by Wretch 32, Unorthodox, featuring Example. He is seen dancing on a rooftop.

In July 2011, Akai was a judge on a talent show on Disney Channel, called Shake It Up Dance Dance. His most recent work was starring in CBBC's 4 O'Clock Club playing Josh's cousin, Nero. From Series 4 to Series 7, he stars as the show's main character as to previously being a series regular in the third series. He also made a guest appearance in Series 8

His character left in the fourth episode of Season 7, because his character was moved to America with his temporal guardian and his girlfriend but he returned as a guest appearance in Series 8 as well as appearing in the Flashbacks for Series 7 and 8 (2018–2020).

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2013Whats Cooking?Guest/HimselfSeason 1 Episode 61
2014–2015Friday Download (Series 8)HimselfPresenter (Season 8 + 9)
2014–20204 O'Clock ClubNero JohnsonSeries Regular (Series 3) Main Role (Series 4 to 7) Guest appearance (Series 8 Episode 9) Guest Appearance (Flashbacks (2018–2020)); 59 episodes in total
20144 O'Clock FilesNero JohnsonRegular
2016Horrible Histories: Gory Games (Series 4)HimselfContestant
2017Drunk HistoryKing Charles IISeason 3 Episode 8

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2010StreetDance 3DDancing Kid in Shopping Mall
2011Horrid Henry: The MovieTalent Show Contestant (uncredited)
2012StreetDance 2Junior
2013All StarsJaden (as Akai Osei-Mansfield)

Awards and nominations

YearNominated workCategoryAwardResultNotesRef.
2011Honorary AwardYoung Achiever AwardBEFFTAWon
20144 O'Clock ClubBest Children's PerformerBAFTANominatedRole: Nero Johnson