Actor Joe Thomas, best known for playing the hapless Simon Cooper in the iconic Channel 4 comedy The Inbetweeners, has bravely revealed a secret and debilitating health battle he faced during the show's peak.
The Hidden Struggle Behind the Laughter
In a candid conversation on his podcast, Joe and James Fact Up, with co-star James Buckley, Thomas detailed his long-term battle with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). He explained that the condition, which involves intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviours, was severely exacerbated by the intense pressure he felt while filming the beloved series between 2008 and 2014.
"There was loads of pressure. I felt tons of pressure," Thomas admitted. "I also just had crippling OCD and I kept thinking I'd messed up the continuity." His anxieties were so specific and persistent that he would frequently apologise to the sound team for potential chair noises, only to be reassured it was fine.
A Breakdown Caught on Camera
Thomas revealed his OCD was so acute during production that the show's producers paid for a therapist to visit the set. In a surreal twist, the therapist initially believed the situation was a prank for the Channel 4 show. "She thought it was like a candid camera show and it was a stitch up," he recalled.
Feeling "completely insane" in an era when such conditions were rarely discussed, Thomas developed physical tics, including excessive blinking, to cope. This was noticed by the show's creator, Ian Morris, an act of observation that made Thomas feel "seen."
The toll of his condition became a tangible part of the show's legacy. James Buckley revealed that one of Thomas's moments of overwhelm was included as a DVD extra for The Inbetweeners Movie. "There's an outtake where Joe's having a breakdown... He says can I just have 10 seconds and then he goes 'well that did absolutely nothing,'" Buckley recounted.
Legacy and Looking Forward
Reflecting on the experience, both actors acknowledged the immense, self-imposed pressure to be funny. "We were obsessed with being funny," Buckley said. Despite the challenges, Thomas's affection for the cast remains undimmed. He has expressed enthusiasm for a potential return of the series in 2026, telling The Mirror, "I just love them. I love being around them."
If you are struggling with your mental health, you can speak to a trained advisor from the Mind mental health charity on 0300 123 3393 or email info@mind.org.uk.
