Jack Whitehall

The third series of Jack Whitehall's sharp secondary school comedy kicks off with some big surprises for his incompetent educator Alfie Wickers. Abbey Grove's new deputy head is none other than his dad Martin (Harry Enfield), and money worries at the school mean that Alfie's job is on the line. As usual, the pupils are on fine form: as the teachers begin a strike, Stephen's (Layton Williams) ignorance sparks a hatchet job from a local journalist, while Joe (Ethan Lawrence) struggles to adapt to his newfound veganism.

Bad Education: 10 reasons Whitehall is top of the class

As Bad Education, the sitcom both written by and starring the 'comedy king', returns to BBC Three for its third series, here's why we think Jack Whitehall has become such a popular performer.

Radio Times review

Back for a new term at school, the third series of the super-childish Bad Education has some new faces in the classroom... and one of them is Harry Enfield.

The comedy legend has made occasional appearances as the dad of Jack Whitehall's idiotic and needy teacher Alfie Wickers but is now the headmaster. And as well as making puerile jokes about his son's sexuality, budget cuts mean that he has to sack a member of staff, with Alfie the most obvious candidate.

This is a comedy that requires a bit of patience. It is idiotic, perhaps even offensive at times, and Whitehall's character does not seem enormously different from the posh buffoon he plays in Channel 4's Fresh Meat. But there's something engaging about this ensemble, it's skilfully directed and sometimes the gags do hit home. Will we ever look at Whitehall again without thinking of him as "a Topshop Peter Sutcliffe"? I think not, Sir.

Jack Whitehall wants to be in Call the Midwife

Asked whether he's keen to follow in the footsteps of his Fresh Meat co-star Charlotte Ritchie and try his hand at a little serious drama, Whitehall revealed that he'd like to literally follow in Ritchie's footsteps and bag a part alongside her in Call the Midwife.

The genial host reopens his globe drinks cabinet as he returns for a 13th series. Years of chat and a bunch of other successful shows, radio gigs and stand-up tours now separate him from The Friday Night Project with Justin Lee Collins. What a long time ago that seems. He now stands alongside Graham Norton as the kingpin of British chat and rightly so. Among those confirmed for tonight are Jack Whitehall, talking about Bad Education, and the formerly hairy Kasabian, now smooth as a baby's bum.

Bad Education preview

When asked at the screening what his favourite scene has been, Jack Whitehall hinted that this may be the final ever series of Bad Education - "It's basically the last scene of the series when Alfie says goodbye to the kids."

Jack Whitehall interview

Jack Whitehall, who plays Alfie, to chat about the final series of Bad Education.

It's the eighth series of this bantzier, nearer-the-knuckle alternative to A Question Of Sport, hosted by James Corden. For this opener, he's joined by Kevin Bridges, Jack Whitehall, Jamie Redknapp, Freddie Flintoff, Frank Lampard and Judy Murray ("Who's your favourite son?"). Among the items is a ribald take on footballers-turned-authors, while the chaps are put through their paces at a tennis training court to play John McEnroe, conducted in a suitable atmosphere of mutual mockery. Tim Henman and Nigel Havers also appear.

Burning questions for the stars

To celebrate the return of the show, we headed out to Elstree to hang out backstage with the boys - James Corden, Jack Whitehall, Jamie Redknapp and Freddie Flintoff - while they prepared for another show.