Rare Inbetweeners footage reveals James Buckley wasn't originally cast as Jay
The Inbetweeners is likely returning for a third film after 12 years, with it recently having been announced that a Netflix reunion is in the cards.
Originally airing as an iconic TV show on E4 between 2008 and 2010, the series follows four young guys trying to make their way through the end of school.
This led to two feature films and last year the show’s creators confirmed that they’d struck a deal to bring more Inbetweeners to the screen, with Netflix being reported to be the frontrunners.
Whilst the core four cast members are not yet 100% confirmed to return, it is sure that any Inbetweeners reunion would have to include them.
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How vital their performances are to the characters becomes even more clear when you see rare clips from the never-released pilot, where the entire cast was different apart from James Buckley - but even he played Neil rather than Jay.
The show wasn’t even called The Inbetweeners when they filmed the pilot
The few details we do have of the unreleased Inbetweeners pilot tell the story of a completely different show, and even has a couple of familiar faces in the key roles.
It was called Baggy Trousers, seemingly named after the iconic Madness song, and was still centred around the character of Will Mackenzie, except he was played by comedian Matt Green.
Simon was played by Adam Joselyn, who hasn’t acted since 2016, James Buckley played Neil, and Darcy Thomas played the character of ‘Lee’ who originally fulfilled the role that would go to Jay.
Creator Iain Morris told Vice the pilot ‘wasn’t very good’, and James Buckley once said that it was ‘so bad that human eyes aren't allowed to see it’.
One of the few clips shows Simon writing his love for Carli on her driveway, something we ended up seeing in the eventual show, with his love interest played by Gavin and Stacey’s Laura Aikman.
One of the major differences about Baggy Trousers is that it was set in 1980s, something that surely would’ve killed the show as The Inbetweeners in part became such a cult classic due to how relatable it was for young Brits at the time it was released.
All the actors had to audition for their roles again after the pilot was filmed
Laura Aikman, who went on to play Smithy’s horrible fiance Sonia in Gavin and Stacey as well as roles in This City is Ours and Casualty, posted footage from the unaired pilot Baggy Trousers on Instagram.
In the caption she said: “This is from the original Inbetweeners pilot! (It was originally called Baggy Trousers). Only James Buckley went on to do the show.
“All of the cast were asked to reaudition for their parts when the pilot went to series - I didn’t as I was already cast in a show called Teenage Kicks… which was cancelled after one series.”
Darcy Thomas, who played Lee, also spoke about not being asked to return for his role which would become Jay.
He told Digital Spy: “Lee was basically a similar kind of character to Jay – champion blagger, but there were also truths to accompany his rudeness.
“I knew [James Buckley when we were kids, so I don't know what he's like now, but back then, my boy Buckley was hilarious – he was actually the real-life Jay, not just on screen.
“I loved working with him [on the pilot], I think he's a cool dude and very intellectual.”
Darcy said that the show’s creators Damon Beesley and Iain Morris did their best to give him roles in the show, adding: “They gave me a start in TV. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have wanted to work behind the camera. I learned so much about how the industry works.”
Where are the cast of The Inbetweeners now?
Simon Bird
Since his days of playing briefcase w*nker Will McKenzie, Simon Bird has starred in the beloved sitcom Friday Night Dinner (2011-2020), and Everyone Else Burns (2023-present).
The 41-year-old has also moved behind the camera to direct projects like Days of the Bagnold Summer (2019) and the BBC's BAFTA-winning Such Brave Girls, and is set to feature in the upcoming Star Wars film, Starfighter.
Bird married author Lisa Owens back in 2012, and the pair have two children together.
James Buckley
The Jay Cartwright actor has utilised his character’s crudeness to his advantage, making a mint on personalised video platform Cameo.
Over the years, James Buckley, now 38, has performed in the West End and had occasional roles in TV and film, recently starring in the British comedy-drama film Mother's Pride.
He’s also made a name for himself in the podcast world, including Joe and James Fact Up, which he hosts alongside his Inbetweeners co-star Joe Thomas, and The Buckleys with his wife of 13 years, Clair. The couple share two sons together.
Joe Thomas
After playing Simon in The Inbetweeners series and its subsequent hit films, the actor bagged some major roles on our screens, including Chickens (2011-2013), White Gold (2017-2019) and most memorably as Kingsley Owen in Fresh Meat (2011-2016).
In a life imitates art moment, the 42-year-old is engaged to his Inbetweeners co-star, Hannah Tointon, who played Simon’s girlfriend Tara in the third season of the show. They have been together since meeting on set in 2010 and welcomed a daughter in 2022.
Blake Harrison
From the Dad's Army film (2016) and shows like World on Fire (2019-2023) and Kate & Koji (2020-2022) to voiceover work in the Bob the Builder reboot, Blake Harrison has made moves (perhaps not as good as Neil’s) in the entertainment industry.
The 40-year-old recently appeared in the movie Fing! and is starring in the upcoming Mark Gatiss mystery series Bookish.
Harrison met his now-wife, Kerry Ann Lynch, during a pub crawl for Joe Thomas' birthday in 2009. They got married in 2015 and have two kids together.
Emily Head
Since her breakout role as Carli D'Amato in the E4 sitcom, Emily Head, 37, has built a successful career in TV and theatre.
Most notably, she appeared in Emmerdale (2016-2018), BBC drama The Syndicate (2021), and wrote and performed in her own one-woman play, The System (2021).
Greg Davies
While Mr Gilbert was a memorable character, it’s now just a small part of Greg Davies’ career as he’s since established himself as one of the most recognisable figures in British comedy.
The 58-year-old has starred in sitcoms like Cuckoo (2012-2019), created and fronted Man Down (2013-2017), and regularly appeared on panel shows.
However, Davies’ biggest success has been as the host of the BAFTA-winning game show, Taskmaster.
Topics: Netflix, Nostalgia, TV and Film, The Inbetweeners
Michael Slavin