Joe Thomas and James Buckley, two stars of The Inbetweeners, are set to lead a new four-part travel series for Channel 4, just weeks after a reunion was announced for the sitcom. The show, with the working title Joe and James: Boys to Men, is described as a comedy travelogue in which the pair learn “how to be (and not be) a grown up”.
What the series will involve
Channel 4 said: “Now a little bit older, but not necessarily any wiser, best mates Joe Thomas and James Buckley – who first hit our screens as Simon and Jay in The Inbetweeners – are back on Channel 4 and on a mission to work out how adulting works and how exactly you make the most of midlife without a crisis.”
“Joe recently entered his 40s and James is joining him there next year, so they’re embarking on an epic-ish journey to figure out what that means and what’s acceptable for them to be doing now they’re ‘grown up’. Who should and shouldn’t they be hanging out with and where can and can’t they go?”
The broadcaster also shared that Joe and James have very different approaches to life and travel, with Joe being “more introspective” while James is “more straight-talking”. Their differing perspectives will come into play as they embark on a road trip “full of funny and unconventional adventures” where they will “search for people and experiences that might give them some answers to their big (mid) life questions”.
Commissioning editor’s reaction
Channel 4’s commissioning editor Vivienne Molokwu said: “Whether you rewatch an ep of The Inbetweeners or catch them on their hilarious podcast, the chemistry between Joe and James is undeniable.”
“Their genuine friendship and different perspectives on life make them both engaging and entertaining so I can’t wait to see them explore the very modern question of what to do when you’re too old to be young but too young to be old.”
Reunion film confirmed
The news comes just weeks after it was announced that the Inbetweeners cast would reunite for a third film. Netflix will produce the spin-off, which continues from the two prior films from 2011 and 2014, as well as the original sitcom that aired from 2008 to 2010.
Joe and James have already been confirmed for the film, alongside Simon Bird and Blake Harrison, who will all reprise their roles as Simon Cooper, Jay Cartwright, Will McKenzie and Neil Sutherland. In the original series, all four boys were teenagers navigating school, friendship and romance.
A 40-second trailer for the new film, released earlier this month, shows the foursome reuniting in a garage before they hop into Simon’s yellow Fiat. As he turns the key in the lock, the engine fails, to which he replies: “Ah for f***s sake.”
