The Inbetweeners | |
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Genre | |
Created by | |
Written by |
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Directed by |
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Starring | |
Narrated by | Simon Bird |
Opening theme | "Gone Up in Flames" (instrumental) by Morning Runner |
Composer | Marsha Shandur |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of series | 3 |
No. of episodes | 18 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Producer | Christopher Young |
Cinematography |
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Editors |
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Running time | 22–25 minutes |
Production companies |
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Original release | |
Network | E4 |
Release | 1 May 2008 – 18 October 2010 |
Related | |
The Inbetweeners Movie The Inbetweeners 2 |
The Inbetweeners is a British coming-of-age television teen sitcom, which originally aired on E4 from 2008 to 2010 and was created and written by Damon Beesley and Iain Morris. The series follows the misadventures of suburban teenager William McKenzie (Simon Bird) and his friends Simon Cooper (Joe Thomas), Neil Sutherland (Blake Harrison) and Jay Cartwright (James Buckley) at the fictional Rudge Park Comprehensive. The programme involves situations of school life, uncaring school staff, friendship, male bonding, lad culture and adolescent sexuality. Despite receiving an initially lukewarm reception, it has been described as a classic and amongst the most successful British sitcoms of the 21st century. [2]
The programme was nominated for Best Situation Comedy at BAFTA twice, in 2009 and 2010. At the British Academy Television Awards 2010, it won the Audience Award, the only category voted for by the public. [3] In the 2011 British Comedy Awards, the programme also won the award for Outstanding Contribution to British Comedy.
The Inbetweeners Movie was released on 17 August 2011 to box office success, and a sequel followed on 6 August 2014. [4] An American version was broadcast on MTV, but was quickly axed after low ratings and poor critical reception.
Damon Beesley and Iain Morris met as producers on Channel 4's The 11 O'Clock Show . Following posts as commissioners at Channel 4, where Morris shepherded Peep Show , the two launched their own company, Bwark Productions, in 2004 and landed their first series with The Inbetweeners. [5] A pilot for the programme was produced in 2006 under the direction of James Bobin titled "Baggy Trousers". [6]
E4 originally aired the first series in May 2008, and Channel 4 also broadcast it in November that year. The second series began screening in the UK on 2 April 2009 and finished on 7 May 2009. A third series was commissioned by E4, commencing on 13 September 2010 [7] [8] and ending on 18 October 2010. The first episode of the third series had the highest-ever audience for an E4 original commission. [9] Following the conclusion of the third series, the cast and crew of the programme indicated that there would be no fourth series as the programme had run its course, but that an Inbetweeners movie would be produced, set some time after the third series and following the cast on a holiday in Malia, Crete, Greece.
For Red Nose Day 2011, the stars of the programme travelled around the UK in the yellow Fiat Cinquecento Hawaii featured in the programme in a special named The Inbetweeners: Rude Road Trip. The aim was to try to find the 50 rudest place names in the country.
In November 2018, it was announced that a special retrospective programme featuring the cast would be aired to mark the 10th anniversary of the programme's first airing in 2008. [10] It was called Fwends Reunited and was broadcast on 1 January 2019; it was poorly received by critics and fans of the series, leading to James Buckley making a public apology. [11]
In June 2020, the content on its YouTube channel was removed, due to the licensing rights changing owners. [12]
The four main characters are seen in every episode as well as the 2011 and 2014 films. They consist of:
The three series can be viewed in many countries through Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. Channel 4's catch-up service All 4 also carries it in the UK and Ireland, alongside featurettes "Top Ten Inbetweeners Moments" and "Fwends Reunited". [22]
The opening theme tune to The Inbetweeners is an instrumental version of "Gone Up in Flames" by English rock band Morning Runner. The first series also features music by Rachel Stevens, Tellison, Paolo Nutini, The Maccabees, Air Traffic, Calvin Harris, The Ting Tings, Arctic Monkeys, Theaudience, The Fratellis, Vampire Weekend, The Drums, Two Door Cinema Club, Take That, Mystery Jets, Kid British, Phoenix, General Fiasco, Gorillaz, Hot Chip, Belle and Sebastian, Field Music, Jamie T, The Libertines, Rihanna, Oasis, Jack Peñate, Guillemots, The Feeling, Kate Nash, The Wombats, The Jam, The Cure, Lily Allen, Mumm-Ra, Kylie Minogue and Feist. [23] The second series also featured instrumentals of Adele, Supergrass, Biffy Clyro, Passion Pit, Royworld, MGMT, Maxïmo Park, and The Cribs and the third series also featured instrumentals of Ludacris and Mr Understanding by Pete and the Pirates. A full list can be found on the E4 website. A soundtrack album, The Inbetweeners Soundtrack , was released in 2009.
The music was chosen by the music supervisor and then Xfm DJ Marsha Shandur.
The Inbetweeners received generally positive reviews from television critics. At Metacritic, the first season earned a score of 73 out of 100, based on 7 reviews, indicating "Generally favorable reviews". [24]
Joe McNally, writing for The Independent , commends "exquisitely accurate dialogue, capturing the feel of adolescence perfectly", [25] and Will Dean of The Guardian comments that the programme "captures the pathetic sixth-form male experience quite splendidly". [26] The series is often contrasted with E4's successful teen drama Skins ; commentators have offered that "The Inbetweeners' portrayal of dull suburbia is closer [than Skins] to the drab teen years most of us spent, rather than the decadent time we wished we spent." [27]
The series since its airing has gained a cult following. [28] [29]
The first series began on 1 May 2008, with the pilot episode garnering 238,000 viewers. [30] The series averaged 459,000 viewers, [31] with 474,000 viewers watching the series finale. [32] The Inbetweeners received two nominations at the British Comedy Awards; the programme was nominated for "Best New British Television Comedy (Scripted)" and Simon Bird was nominated for "Best Male Comedy Newcomer". [33] Both won their respective categories. [34] The programme was also voted by the British Comedy Guide website as the "Best New British TV Sitcom 2008". [35] It was nominated for "Best Situation Comedy" at the British Academy Television Awards 2009, [1] ultimately losing out to The IT Crowd . [36] It then won the Audience Award at the British Academy Television Awards 2010. [37]
The first episode of series two, which aired on E4 at 10 pm (BST) 2 April 2009, averaged 958,000 viewers, [30] with another 234,000 viewers watching at 11 pm on the time-shift channel E4 +1 meaning it was watched by 1.2 million, the highest audience of 2009 for E4. [32]
Episode one of series three aired on 13 September 2010 on UK digital terrestrial network E4, attracting a record breaking overnight average audience of 2.6m viewers (12.5% audience share) in its 10 pm slot, the highest ever viewing figure for a programme screened on the channel until 2011 when Glee beat the record. For this series, it was moved to Monday instead of Thursday but kept its 10pm slot. [9]
BBC America began airing The Inbetweeners from 25 January 2010. [38] The network aired both of the first two series as a single 12-episode series. The same was done by MTV Latin America.
In 2010, The Inbetweeners started airing in Australia on the Nine Network's digital channel GO!, on Super Channel in Canada, on the comedy channel TV4 Komedi in Sweden, on TV2 in New Zealand, on MTV Latin America. In Israel, yes Next aired the first two series, while the third series airdate is unknown. The three seasons came in 2012 to HOT VOD. In 2011, the series was premiered in Brazil on I.Sat and on 13 August 2013 the Brazilian streaming site "Muu" premiered the British production.
On 28 February 2011, The Inbetweeners started airing in France on MCM. [39]
The Australian channel ABC2 aired the programme from 8 January 2015. [40]
Country | Network(s) | Premiere |
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![]() | E4/Channel 4 | 1 May 2008 |
![]() | MTV Latin America | 23 July 2010 |
![]() | GO! UKTV ABC2 | 2010 2011 2015 |
![]() | JIM | 2010 |
![]() | MTV Brasil I.Sat | 2010 (MTV Brasil) 2011 (I.Sat) |
![]() | Super Channel | 2010 |
![]() | MTV Latin America | 2010 |
![]() | Yle TV2 | 2012 |
![]() | MCM; NRJ12 | 28 February 2011 |
![]() | RÚV | 2012 |
![]() | Comedy Central (India) | 2012 |
![]() | E4/Channel 4 RTÉ Two | 1 May 2008 9 January 2012 |
![]() | yes Next | 2010 |
![]() | MTV Italy | 2010 |
![]() | TV4 Komedi | 2010 |
![]() | Veronica MTV Netherlands | 6 December 2011 2012 |
![]() | TV2 UKTV | 2010 |
![]() | NRK 3 | Summer 2011 |
![]() | MTV Portugal | 2010 |
![]() | 2x2 | 31 October 2011 |
![]() | 3XL | 2010 |
![]() | BBC America | 25 January 2010 |
All of the DVDs received an 18 certificate in the United Kingdom and MA15+ in Australia due to their high number of strong language, crude humour and strong, frequent, sex references. The theatrical version of The Inbetweeners Movie received a 15 certificate in the United Kingdom, with the extended cut release receiving an 18 certificate.
In September 2009, Beesley and Morris confirmed that a film had been commissioned by Film4. [41] The plot revolves around the four boys, now eighteen years old, going on holiday to Malia, Greece. [42] It was released in cinemas on 17 August 2011 [43] with a 15 certificate in the UK. The original film was also released in the United States on 7 September 2012, it was very successful.[ citation needed ] From a budget of £3.5 million, the film made a global box office of over £57 million. [44]
At the beginning of August 2013, creators Iain Morris and Damon Beesley confirmed that a second Inbetweeners film would be made with a planned release date of 6 August 2014 in the UK and Ireland; they released a statement saying "We couldn't be more excited to be making another Inbetweeners movie. A new chapter in the lives of the Inbetweeners feels like the very least we can do to thank the fans for their phenomenal response to the first movie." This sequel is set in Australia. [45]
There have been two books released:
In 2008, Iain Morris and Damon Beesley were asked by ABC to produce a pilot for a US version of The Inbetweeners. The pilot was not picked up by the network, but they have given Morris and Beesley a second blind script commitment for a future project which the two will create. [5]
On 31 March 2011, it was announced that MTV had ordered a 12-episode first season for a U.S. version of The Inbetweeners. A pilot episode, written by Brad Copeland, was given the green light in September 2010. Copeland also serves as executive producer on the series along with Beesley and Morris. [46] The series ran for one season from 20 August to 5 November 2012, before being cancelled by MTV due to low ratings. [47]
The US version began airing in the UK on 5 December 2012 on E4. A UK DVD release of the US version was released on 8 January 2013. [48] The US version was broadcast on Viacom-owned Freeview channel Viva from 4 August 2014. [49]
On 1 January 2019, Channel 4 broadcast a 10th anniversary special entitled 'Fwends Reunited', hosted by Jimmy Carr. The four lead actors were present alongside supporting cast members; the title is a reference to a joke within the episode Will Gets a Girlfriend .
The special itself was a chat show with multiple segments including a quiz with four fans of the show, a history of the programme's production hosted by Neil Oliver, and awards based on the programme's best characters and moments. The special was met with a mostly negative reception from critics and fans alike; criticism from general viewers was primarily aimed at it being a simple chat show when a number of fans had mistakenly anticipated it as being a one-off special episode. [50]
The Independent noted the "overwhelmingly negative responses" the special received, which included criticism from viewers towards the host Jimmy Carr, viewers claiming the four actors appeared clearly uninterested in the special, while there was also disappointment that they were not given a chance to speak more. [51] Michael Hogan of The Daily Telegraph dubbed it a "shambolic mess that failed to do the show justice", [52] although a more positive review came from Sean O'Grady of The Independent, who considered it "full of nostalgia". [53] The extensive criticism led to James Buckley issuing an apology through Twitter. [54]
Robert Darren Popper is a British comedy producer, writer, actor, and author, best known as co-creator of the mock BBC documentary Look Around You, and creator of Channel 4's sitcom Friday Night Dinner. He also wrote the books The Timewaster Letters, Return of The Timewaster Letters and The Timewaster Diaries under the pseudonym Robin Cooper.
The IT Crowd is a British television sitcom originally broadcast by Channel 4, created, written and directed by Graham Linehan, produced by Ash Atalla and starring Chris O'Dowd, Richard Ayoade, Katherine Parkinson, and Matt Berry. Set in the offices of the fictional Reynholm Industries in London, the series revolves around the three staff members of its IT department: technical genius Maurice Moss (Ayoade); work-shy Roy Trenneman (O'Dowd); and Jen Barber (Parkinson), the department head/relationship manager who knows nothing about IT. The show also focuses on the bosses of Reynholm Industries: Denholm Reynholm and, later, his son Douglas. Goth IT technician Richmond Avenal, who resides in the server room, also appears in several episodes.
E4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation. The "E" stands for entertainment and the channel is primarily aimed at the 16/18–34 age group.
Gregory Daniel Davies is a Welsh comedian, actor, presenter, and writer. He is best known for his roles as Mr Gilbert in The Inbetweeners (2008–2010), Ken Thompson in Cuckoo (2012–2019), Dan Davies in Man Down (2013–2017) and Paul "Wicky" Wickstead in The Cleaner. Since 2015 he has hosted the comedy panel game show Taskmaster and he has also appeared on Mock the Week, Fast and Loose, Live at the Apollo and Would I Lie to You?
Would I Lie to You? is a British comedy panel show aired on BBC One, made by Zeppotron for the BBC. It was first broadcast on 16 June 2007, starring David Mitchell and Lee Mack as team captains. The show was originally presented by Angus Deayton, and since 2009 has been hosted by Rob Brydon.
4Music was a British music television channel owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation. Launched on 15 August 2008, the original incarnation, replacing The Hits television channel, showed a mix of music and entertainment programming.
Emily Head is an English actress. Her breakout role was as Carli D'Amato in E4's sitcom The Inbetweeners and she later played Rebecca White in ITV soap opera Emmerdale and Colette Andrews in BBC drama, The Syndicate.
Simon Antony Bird is an English comedian, actor, director and producer. He is best known for playing Will McKenzie in the multi-award-winning E4 comedy series The Inbetweeners (2008–2010), as well as its two films, and Adam Goodman in the Channel 4 comedy series Friday Night Dinner (2011–2020).
Joseph Owen Thomas is an English actor and comedian. He played Simon Cooper in the E4 sitcom The Inbetweeners (2008–2010) and its two film adaptations, The Inbetweeners Movie (2011) and The Inbetweeners 2 (2014).
James Patrick Buckley is an English actor, musician and YouTuber who played Jay Cartwright in the E4 sitcom The Inbetweeners, and Del Boy in the BBC comedy-drama Rock & Chips.
The 2009 British Academy Television Awards were held on 26 April at the Royal Festival Hall in London. The event was broadcast live on BBC One and was hosted by Graham Norton. The nominations were announced on 24 March. Winners in bold.
Damon Beesley is an English writer and television producer, best known for his work on British comedy The Inbetweeners and New Zealand comedy Flight of the Conchords. He often works alongside his writing partner Iain Morris.
Belinda Anthea Stewart-Wilson is a British actress who played Polly McKenzie in The Inbetweeners.
The 2010 British Academy Television Awards were held on 6 June 2010. The nominations were announced on 10 May. This year new awards were added including the award for Best Actor/Actress in a Supporting Role. Graham Norton hosted the ceremony. Winners are in bold.
The Inbetweeners Movie is a 2011 British coming-of-age teen adventure comedy film based on the E4 sitcom The Inbetweeners, written by series creators Damon Beesley and Iain Morris and directed by Ben Palmer.
The Inbetweeners is an American television sitcom developed by Brad Copeland for MTV. The show stars Joey Pollari, Bubba Lewis, Mark L. Young, Zack Pearlman, Alex Frnka and Brett Gelman. The show is a remake of the original UK series of the same name written and created by Damon Beesley and Iain Morris, who served as executive producers alongside Copeland, Aaron Kaplan and Lauren Corra. It ran on MTV from August 20, to November 5, 2012. On November 28, 2012, the series was canceled after one season, due to poor ratings and reviews.
Beaver Falls is a British comedy-drama that follows a trio of Oxford Brookes University graduates who managed to deceitfully get jobs at Beaver Falls, an elitist American summer camp for the beautiful teenage offspring of California's rich and powerful.
The Inbetweeners 2 is a 2014 teen coming of age adventure sex comedy film and sequel to The Inbetweeners Movie (2011), which is based on the E4 sitcom The Inbetweeners. It was written and directed by series creators Damon Beesley and Iain Morris.
The First Team is a British comedy television series, created by Damon Beesley and Iain Morris, both well known for their work on The Inbetweeners. The series follows the lives of Mattie Sullivan, Benji Achebe and Jack Turner, who are young players of a fictional Premier League football team.