The Inbetweeners star James Buckley has detailed why the beloved show could not return, 15 years after hitting screens.
The actor and his wife Clair Meek, both 35, spoke to MailOnline ahead of the release of their new weekly podcast In Sickness And In Health, a follow-up to their wildly-successful YouTube channel At Home With The Buckleys.
While discussing the candid new venture – which the duo admit they have undertaken as ‘everyone else has one’ – James revealed that he does not have concerns about the Channel 4 show’s content as the characters were ‘idiots’.
On the prospect of a return, he insisted that while the jokes were acceptable originally due to the fact the characters were sixth form students, a comeback could not work due to the fact the stars are now in their Thirties.
Meanwhile, James also spoke about his work on Cameo – a platform designed for celebrities to send messages to fans for a fee – and explained that some requests he does reject, despite having made £1million on the app.
Here he is! The Inbetweeners star James Buckley has detailed why the beloved show could not return, 15 years after hitting screens (pictured as Jay Cartwright in 2008)
Happy days: The actor and his wife Clair Meek, both 35, spoke to MailOnline ahead of the release of their new podcast In Sickness And In Health, a follow-up to their wildly-successful YouTube channel At Home With The Buckleys (the couple pictured last month)
No thanks! Meanwhile, James also spoke about his work on Cameo – a platform designed for celebrities to send messages to fans for a fee – and explained that some requests he does reject, despite having made £1million on the app
James and Clair welcomed their son Harrison in 2011, after a whirlwind 10 month romance and married the following year. In 2013, they welcomed second child, Jude.
The Inbetweeners won huge commercial and critical success, which saw the show run for three seasons and shoot two hit films. James was a star of the show playing Jay Cartwright, a foul-mouthed fantasist known for far-fetched sex stories.
As with many dated comedies, topics and jokes have come under question due to sensitive subjects and outdated slurs, yet James insists that is not a problem with The Inbetweeners as the point for the ‘idiocy’ of the young characters.
Due to this, he explained that the programme could not return as the risqué jokes would not work coming from older men.
He said: ‘It was all justified because they were never the heroes. They were idiots and they got what they deserved. That’s why it can’t come back – you can’t have men in their late thirties acting like they’re in sixth form and getting away with that stuff.’
Speaking about his love for the show, he went on: ‘I always get asked if I’d ever do more and I said ‘For no amount of money’ and that quote got run away. I didn’t mean about money – it means more to me than money.’
James reflected on the success of the show and also of his Cameo: ‘I’m always surprised by the success of anything’.
In 2022, he became the first UK celebrity to become a Cameo millionaire as he amassed $1 million (£930,000) on the app.
Lads: The Inbetweeners won huge commercial and critical success, which saw the show run for three seasons and shoot two hit films. James was a star of the show playing Jay Cartwright, a foul-mouthed fantasist known for far-fetched sex stories
Happy days: James and Clair welcomed their son Harrison in 2011, after a whirlwind 10 month romance and married the following year. In 2013, they welcomed second child, Jude
Despite his popularity, he admits that when he is asked to sing songs from The Inbetweeners or recite quotes he often declines, yet admits it is not out of ignorance but more the fact that he cannot remember the requested segments.
He said: ‘On Cameo, I’m asked to do singing things, I’m asked to the Crazy Frog thing, I don’t like doing that even when we filmed it…
‘Another problem I have is I can’t remember it. Even with work I can’t remember things let alone something I did that long ago.’
Shedding light on the Cameo arrangements in the house, Clair explained: ‘He goes up to the guest room, records a few away from us because obviously I have the kids downstairs and he can’t do them in front of them.’
On being married to a famous person, she went on: ‘It’s not hard being with someone famous, sometimes it’s funny and it’s sometimes lovely. They shout a rude word here or there’, while James branded The Inbetweeners’ legacy ‘lovely’.
Detailing their decision to start a podcast, Clair said: ‘I think it was just the next step for us after the vlog’, while James echoed: ‘A lot of our podcasts have just been us chatting and on the move and out and about’.
James’ no holds barred attitude to things appear to be both a plus and negative, as he explained: ‘I have a dangerous trait where I’m the eternal class clown. I will do anything to make someone laugh and that can be quite dangerous…
‘That’s why Clair does the editing.’
While musing over the possibility of their children entering the entertainment industry, James said: ‘I tell my kids they can be anything – an actor, a singer, a musician – but they have to get the grades and concentrate on school…
‘I didn’t pay attention in school and [my education] is something I feel insecure about.’
The first episode of James and Clair’s new podcast, In Sickness and In Health, is available on all streaming platforms from the 5th of September. New episodes every Tuesday.
Starring role: Despite his popularity, he admits that when he is asked to sing songs from The Inbetweeners or recite quotes he often declines, yet admits it is not out of ignorance but more the fact that he cannot remember the requested segments
