Simon Bird (II)

Simon Bird: 'Inbetweeners fans abuse me'

Simon Bird has revealed that the public often curse at him in the street.

The season finale in this terrific - if gleefully obscene - comedy about the growing pains of four decidedly uncool teenage friends finds Simon (Joe Thomas) in turmoil as his father tells him that changes at work mean that the family will have to move to Swansea. After learning that Swansea is in Wales, Simon is unimpressed. Will (Simon Bird) decides a camping trip is the answer.

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 lovable misfit schoolboys show no signs of shaking off their nerdy charms as sixth form continues to expose their gaucheness in this puerile but funny sitcom. Simon (Joe Thomas) and Will (Simon Bird) are on a double date, with Simon wondering if a snog is worth the price of having his new girlfriend, Tara (Hannah Tointon), redesign his wardrobe, while Will hopes hanging out with Tara's boring friend will lead to some action.

Wayne Rooney wants role on The Inbetweeners

The show's stars Blake Harrison and Simon Bird told the Daily Star: "Apparently, Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand want parts in the show," they said. "And Amanda Holden told us she wants to play a sexy English teacher in the next series."

Let's be honest, there are a couple of things The Inbetweeners could totally afford to lose: chunks of that landfill indie soundtrack and Simon Bird's largely redundant voiceover, for instance. Apart from these minor grumbles, however, it's clearly one of the most accurately observed, snort-like-a-pig comedies around. Series three also signals the start of a new term, and what better way to kick off than with a school fashion show for charity, with all the potential for utter wrongness that suggests. Those who'd rather not see more of actor Joe Thomas than strictly necessary, avert your gaze now.

A welcome return for the award-winning series about the shenanigans of four misfit, uncool teenagers as they negotiate sixth form. This terrific series has been marked by its witty adolescent humour and sharp and engaging observation. As we return, a school fashion show is being organised and Will (Simon Bird) and Simon (Joe Thomas) get involved - but not in a good way.

After their surprising win at the Baftas where they picked up the audience award, TV's sex-obsessed sixth-formers have just started shooting their first feature film in the party resort of Malia in Crete.

They return for a third series with a rucksack full of crude schoolboy banter, wardrobe malfunctions and possibly the first use of the word "Simples" in a sitcom. This week, Rudge Park Comp hosts a fashion show and the boys have very different views on it.

Geeky Will (Simon Bird) thinks it's all just politically incorrect vanity, Jay is desperate to strut his stuff, Neil sees it as a prime opportunity for ogling half-dressed girls and Simon is just eager to do whatever the lovely Carli asks him to - even if it means exposing more of himself than he means to when he pulls on a racy pair of Speedos.

A third series of the Bafta-winning sixth form-set series sees Will (Simon Bird) and his friends subjected to further humiliations. The catwalk of a school fashion show is the last place on earth you'd expect to see Will. So, of course, that's where he ends up...

The Inbetweeners visit The Sun newspaper

Inbetweeners star Simon Bird used to get grief from parents - while working as a kids' football ref.