The Inbetweeners Cast Reunion: A Look Back After 16 Years
The beloved British comedy The Inbetweeners is set to make a triumphant return to screens after a 16-year hiatus, with Netflix reviving the series in a new movie slated for release next year. This revival has sparked excitement among fans, prompting a closer look at the lives and careers of the original cast members since the show ended.
Simon Bird: From Will McKenzie to Family Man
Simon Bird, now 41, rose to fame portraying the awkward yet endearing Will McKenzie in The Inbetweeners. Since the show concluded, he has remained a familiar face on television, starring in Friday Night Dinner and the Channel 4 series Everyone Else Burns. Bird co-created and starred in the Sky comedy Chickens in 2013 and made his West End debut in The Philanthropist in 2017. His voice has also become recognisable through advertising campaigns for The Trainline.
Off-screen, Bird is happily married to writer Lisa Owens, whom he met at Cambridge University. The couple tied the knot in 2012 after a romantic proposal in Paris in 2011. They are parents to two boys, with Bird keeping the arrival of their first son private until he was six months old.
Joe Thomas: Simon Cooper's Journey to Parenthood
Joe Thomas, 42, played Simon Cooper in the series and has maintained a successful career post-The Inbetweeners. He starred as Kingsley Owen in Fresh Meat and reunited with Simon Bird for Chickens. Thomas has also appeared in shows like White Gold and the 2022 sci-fi comedy We Are Not Alone, as well as the film The Festival in 2018. In 2023, he featured on Celebrity Bake Off.
Thomas met his partner, actress Hannah Tointon, on set, and the couple welcomed their first daughter in 2022. He humorously reflected on their romance, noting that while their on-screen scenes involved unglamorous moments, their relationship has thrived away from the public eye.
Blake Harrison: Neil Sutherland's Diverse Career Path
Blake Harrison, 40, is best known for his role as the lovable Neil Sutherland. Since the show ended, he has diversified his career, appearing in Agatha Christie adaptations and participating in Bake Off. Harrison starred in the 2018 drama A Very English Scandal with Hugh Grant and provided voiceover work for the Bob the Builder reboot. He also played roles in Dad's Army and I Hate Suzie Too.
Harrison hosts a weekly podcast, The MMA Fan Show, which he describes as being presented by "two over-excited lads having a blast." He is married to Kerry Ann Lynch, and they live in Kent with their two children.
James Buckley: Jay Cartwright's Entrepreneurial Success
James Buckley, 38, gained fame as the outrageous Jay Cartwright. Post-The Inbetweeners, he has built a thriving career through entrepreneurial ventures. Buckley reportedly earns up to £10,000 weekly from selling personalised videos on Cameo, becoming the first British celebrity to achieve millionaire status on the platform in 2022.
He also runs YouTube channels, including a gaming vlog called Completed It Mate and At Home With The Buckleys, where he shares insights into his family life with wife Clair Meek and their two sons. The couple co-wrote a book in 2022, At Home With The Buckleys: Scummy stories and misadventures from modern family life.
The Legacy and Future of The Inbetweeners
The Inbetweeners originally aired three series from 2008 to 2010, followed by two films in 2011 and 2014 that grossed nearly £67 million at the box office. The show propelled its cast to stardom, and their reunion on Netflix is highly anticipated by fans worldwide. As the cast prepares for this comeback, their journeys from on-set romances to surprising career moves highlight the enduring impact of this iconic comedy.
