James Buckley

James Buckley cuddles up with girlfriend in Caribbean

The nearest his Inbetweeners character Jay Cartwright could get to a glamour model would be a grubby poster in his school locker - but actor James Buckley had no such problems on holiday in the Caribbean yesterday.

The second prequel to Only Fools and Horses, set in 1960/61, in which Nicholas Lyndhurst plays the cerebral criminal who, it turns out, fathered Rodney Trotter and reappears in the life of Del Boy's dear old mum for more repressed romance. The Inbetweeners' James Buckley stars as the young Del, flogging imported Buddy Holly singles at the market and engaging in multiple dalliances, including one with a young Indian girl. One suspects this will be an annual fixture - it's watchable but apart from a good gag about knitting saris, the mirth of OFAH has been replaced by post-Heartbeat 60s period eye candy.

James Buckley: 'I take playing Del very seriously'

James Buckley returns as a young Del Boy in a Christmas special of Rock and Chips. And he reveals this is where Del's wheeling and dealing begins...

Model receives hate mail for dating Inbetweeners star

Glamour model Clair Meek came out fighting after getting internet hate messages because she's dating James Buckley, aka Jay.

James Buckley starts 'Rock & Chips' filming

James Buckley has revealed that filming has started on the second series of Only Fools and Horses spin-off Rock & Chips.

It was, of course, excruciating, crude and uproariously funny - everything we've come to love from a brilliantly observed British comedy that will be bowing out on a high in three weeks' time. Free of his ridiculous obsession with Carli (Emily Head), Simon's overcome his unfortunate Statue of Liberty haircut and acquired actual human girlfriend Tara (Hannah Tointon); keeping her will be the real challenge.

Helpfully, the ever-loyal Will (Simon Bird) is willing to spend time with Tara's BBF - boring best friend) - if there's the prospect of some - hell, any action at the end of the day.

As The Inbetweeners has confirmed repeatedly and hilariously, the course of both true love and adolescent fumbling never runs smoothly.

Whether it was Will fainting during a gory horror film, Simon appalling Tara's parents after meeting them for the first time or Jay (James Buckley) and Neil (Blake Harrison) encountering a teacher out of his natural habitat, E4's hit series finely captures the continual embarrassment of teenage life.

Not that this third episode ever neared serious territory as The Inbetweeners thankfully avoids the death and depression plots of Skins in favour of a top-notch sight gag involving a motorbike, a new running joke to rival the "Friend!" quip of the first series and revelling in the genuine chemistry between our four loveable leads.

The Comedy Lab strand showcases up-and-coming comic talent, allowing comedians the chance to experiment and the right to fail. But, my goodness, it's a hit-and-miss affair. Take tonight's two sketch shows. You would be well advised to give iCandy a wide birth, but the second, Happy Finish, is a much funnier affair and showcases show fresh new comedic talent. On Wednesday the Flight of the Conchords star Kristen Schaal stars in the very silly Penelope Princess of Pets, before Jack Whitehall carries out a Secret Census to find out how honest Britain is. Filth (Thursday) is a crude comedy set in the offices of a lads' mag and stars James Buckley from the The Inbetweeners and Danny Dyer. On Friday, MovieMash spoofs film magazine programmes, while Hung Out follows four friends newly arrived in London from Bristol.

Filming begins on third series of The Inbetweeners

The cast of The Inbetweeners have started filming series three, James Buckley has confirmed.

Not that Del Boy would have even been troubled by the absence of quality control, but Only Fools and Horses continued several series past its sell-by date and ended up a pale, and stale, imitation of its once great self. Writer John Sullivan then flogged the dead horse even further by giving the least interesting supporting character, Boycie, an ill-judged and mirth free spin-off, The Green Green Grass.

So my expectations were suitably low as I approached Rock & Chips, a feature length Only Fools and Horses prequel set in 1960.

Guess what? It was terrific. Freed from the tyrannical demands of a studio audience, Sullivan was able to explore his characters in greater depth, fashioning a genuinely moving love story infused with poignancy and charm. The laughs may not have come as thick and fast as in Only Fools' sitcom heyday, but the comic moments were of the highest quality and beautifully crafted into the narrative. For once the description comedy-drama was fully appropriate.

Sixteen year old Del Boy (James Buckley) and his Nags Head cronies were all present and correct, seen mounting the first rung on the entrepreneurial ladder by selling nylon fibre carpets that electrocuted anyone who set foot on them. However, the focus of the film fell upon Del's mother Joan (Kellie Bright), and how she met Rodney's father, career criminal Freddie "The Frog" Robdal. In a crowd-pleasing piece of casting, Nicholas Lyndhurst played Robdal and did a fine job of it, nicely capturing the conflicted emotions of a ruthless, self-serving, amoral ex-con bewildered by love.

The period setting was lovingly recreated, the performances top notch and the script - apart from a couple of instances where Sullivan needlessly spelt out the jokes - was first class. Lovely jubbly work, John. Now leave it alone.