BBC Three to make The Young Offenders series
- BBC Three is to film The Young Offenders, a series based on the hit 2016 Irish film
- The six-part series will continue to follow the adventures of the characters Conor and Jock, and Conor's mum
- Creator Peter Foott says that it is "incredibly exciting" to be bringing the characters back to the screen
BBC Three is to film The Young Offenders, a six part comedy series based on the hit 2016 Irish film of the same name.
The Young Offenders film - which was a box office hit last year and scored awards for writer and director Peter Foott - followed two Cork inner-city teenagers, Conor and Jock, as they embarked on a 160km road trip on stolen bikes, in the hopes of finding an unrecovered bale of cocaine.
The characters will now make a move to television screens to bring viewers "the continuing misadventures of the loveable rogues." The TV series will also feature Conor's long suffering mother Mairead.
Acting newcomers Alex Murphy and Chris Walley will return as Conor MacSweeney and Jock O'Keeffe, with Hilary Rose as Mairead MacSweeney. All three actors received Irish Film and Television Academy award nominations for their performances in the film.
The BBC says: "Many other familiar faces from the film will also feature in the TV series and will once again film in Cork, Ireland."
Peter Foott says: "It's incredibly exciting to be able to work with the BBC and with RTÉ to bring these characters back to the screen. They have been so supportive of the project and will be a wonderful home for it. The public response to the film, and specifically the characters themselves, was just so overwhelming that we really felt there were a lot more stories to tell, so we're very excited to be doing this as a six part television series. It's a real honour to have a chance to take these characters on their new adventures and we can't wait to start filming in Cork."
BBC commissioner Shane Allen says: "Peter has created a very sure-footed and wholly original world that combines a winning blend of hilarity, charm and emotional impactful moments. It will, stand nicely alongside BBC Three stablemates Fleabag, Uncle, This Country and People Just Do Nothing as a sharp and naturalistic portrait of endearing characters with a unique comic voice."
The Young Offenders goes into production in Cork this summer, to be shown on BBC Three and RTÉ at a later date.
Below is the trailer from the film: