The Inbetweeners ‘returning to TV screens after 16 years’ – but with a major change

It’s been reported that a streaming service will be behind the much longed-for revival of noughties TV sitcom The Inbetweeners.

Netflix is said to be be investing in a multi-million-pound movie reboot, which could star all of the original cast.

This includes Simon Bird, Joe Thomas, James Buckley and Blake Harrison, who first portrayed Will, Simon, Jay and Neil as hapless, foul-mouthed sixth-formers in the original E4 TV show, as well as Rivals star Emily Atack, who played Charlotte ‘Big Jugs’ Hinchliffe.

A TV insider told The Sun: ‘Inbetweeners fans will be thrilled and relieved because when talk of a reboot emerged last year, there were fears it might not turn out to be a telly project.

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All of its stars have previously expressed interest in returning for a sequel to the show, which ran from 2008 to 2010.

Phrases from the show that became part of popular mainstream culture included Buckley’s Jay’s insults ‘bus w***er’ and ‘briefcase w***er’ (directed towards Bird’s Will), as well as his memorable boast about being ‘knee-deep in cl**ge’.

It was followed by two film sequels released in cinemas, The Inbetweeners Movie (2011), about a lads’ holiday to Malia, and The Inbetweeners 2 (2014), which saw them jet off to Australia.

Both were written by series creators Damon Beesley and Iain Morris and were box office hits – especially the first, which grossed over $88million (£65.4m) from a budget of around £3.5m.

The source added: ‘Netflix have been keen to make the project happen partly because its enjoyed a bit of a renaissance since old episodes aired on the streaming service and introduced a whole new generation to the show.’
With the streaming giant on board though, The Inbetweeners will be offered to ‘households around the globe’ as well as British fans who made it such a success the first time around.

According to the publication, the deal ‘is on the cusp of being fully rubber stamped, with discussions still happening about production timelines, storylines and cast’.

Production companies Banijay UK and Fudge Park Productions had struck an agreement at that point, which they confirmed ‘unlocks the rights and potential to bring The Inbetweeners back for new audiences across a range of platforms, including film, TV and stage’.

However, the 42-year-old Fresh Meat star also issued a warning to fans about what to expect from a reboot, given that the actors are in their middle age – a very different stage to the awkward teenage years that made the show such a hit.

‘I think wisdom does not make a very good narrative.

The Inbetweeners is full of characters who are delusional to a large extent,’ he told The Sun.

‘It’s a show about delusion.

Simon is naïve and romantic and thinks that he’s going to have this love story and Will is pompous, he’s intellectually delusional.

Neil’s obviously stupid and Jay’s clearly delusional.

He thinks that he’s this kind of sex god when actually he’s just this very vulnerable young man.

‘When you get older, your delusions fall away, you look at life as it is.

It means you get into less stupid situations I suppose, also the challenges get bigger you can make larger mistakes when you get older.’
Comedian and Taskmaster star Greg Davies famously played teacher Mr Gilbert – having previously taught in his former career – and is another character many are desperate to see return somehow.

Metro has contacted Netflix for comment.
All episodes of The Inbetweeners are available to stream on Channel 4.
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