Hit comedy The Inbetweeners, which forever embedded phrases like “completed it mate” and “bus wanker” in the collective psyche, looks set to return to screens.
- READ MORE: Soundtrack Of My Life: ‘The Inbetweeners’ star James Buckley
Banijay UK and Fudge Park Productions, the company founded in 2015 by show creators Iain Morris and Damon Beesley, have struck an agreement which they say “paves the way for the return of the hit comedy title”. In what format it’ll return is as yet unknown, although Morris and Beesley have suggested it will involve the original cast.
“Incredibly exciting to be plotting more adventures for our four favourite friends (ooh friends),” they said in a statement, per Variety.
Originally broadcast on E4 in the UK, the much-loved sitcom followed Will MacKenzie (Simon Bird) through various struggles with school, family, fitting in and finding a girlfriend, with his many failures always laughed at by friends Simon Cooper (Joe Thomas), Neil Sutherland (Blake Harrisson) and Jay Cartwright (James Buckley).
Originally conceived as a far more grounded answer to fellow hit teen show Skins, which is now considered something of a prototype to Euphoria, the show highlights adolescence in all its awkwardness.
Across three seasons, The Inbetweeners set new ratings records for the channel and won multiple awards. Two hit films followed in 2011 and 2014, with the first setting a record for the biggest opening weekend for a UK comedy at the time of its release.
Last year, Buckley reflected on the show’s unflagging popularity ever since then, telling NME: “I think it’s just because it’s quite funny – that’s it really. It’s not particularly big or clever; some of it’s really silly. The whole ethos was we just wanted to make people laugh. We had this rule where we tried our hardest to make sure that something funny happened every 30 seconds.”
“We are thrilled to announce this exciting partnership with Banijay who share our vision and ambition for one of the most iconic comedies in British history,” said Jonathan Blyth, managing director of Fudge Park. “This is a wonderful moment for fans, there are exciting conversations afoot and more news to follow.”
Patrick Holland, CEO Banijay UK added, per Variety: “I have worked with Damon and Iain on a number of Fudge Park projects over the years and was delighted to pick up the conversation about the future of ‘The Inbetweeners’ with them. They have an infectious creative vision for the brand which will resonate with audience old and new so I can’t wait to get going.”
