Simon Bird (II)

The Inbetweeners 2 interview

Joe Thomas, Simon Bird, Blake Harrison and James Buckley sit down to discuss the comedy sequel.

The third series of Robert Popper's sitcom following a dysfunctional north London brood begins with a surprise for Jackie and Martin (Tamsin Greig and Paul Ritter), as elder son Adam (Simon Bird) brings a girl to dinner. Unfazed by Martin washing dog poo off his foot in the toilet, plucky Emma fits right in. Things soon turn sour, however, when Adam's texts are intercepted by eight-year-old neighbour Katie, who makes child's play of blackmail. As usual, FND expertly treads the line between relatable and reliably potty.

After something of a hiatus (the last series screened in 2012) we're back at the North London home of the bickering Goodman family for more middle-class Jewish mayhem. Writer and producer Robert Popper's sitcom may have a modest canvas - it rarely strays beyond its four suburban walls and plot development is minimal - but the show packs plenty of colourful farce into its frantic half-hour slot.

The opener of tonight's third run is no exception, hinging on a premise rife with comic opportunity. Eldest son Adam (Simon Bird) is bringing his new girlfriend Emma (Sophia Di Martino) round for dinner. As expected Mum (Tamsin Greig) has an eye on marriage potential, brother Jonny (Tom Rosenthal) sets out to embarrass and Dad (Paul Ritter) makes no attempt to curb his eccentricities.

Whilst the family dynamics are sharply observed and pleasingly quirky, this is soft-centred, amiable stuff bolstered by some top-notch performances. Ritter, as ever, is superb as shamelessly shirtless Martin, imbuing the character's oddities with pathos. A witty Di Martino also stands out, sweetly unfazed by the chaotic clan she's been invited into.

One-liners are thin on the ground but Popper's real skill is in his structuring, pulling together the episode's separate comic strands into a satisfying, climactic whole. There's no breaking new ground here and a fourth series might stretch things too far, but for now the Goodmans are still worth spending part of your evening with.

Ponderings from the Friday Night Dinner cast

Simon Bird and Tom Rosenthal give an insight into life in their own homes - from mischief to solitary playtime.

Simon Bird interview

TV Choice spoke to Simon Bird, who plays Adam, about the new series...

Simon Bird: The Inbetweeners movie felt like a holiday

"The funniest stuff happens when you're as relaxed as you possible can be with a camera in your face. So to sum up, I'm entirely unprofessional"

It broke UK box-office records for the most successful opening weekend ever for a comedy - not bad for a film based on an E4 sitcom - and has posh Will (Simon Bird), sex-obsessed Jay (James Buckley), dim Neil (Blake Harrison) and just-dumped Simon (Joe Thomas) finally leaving Rudge Park Comprehensive for a post- A-levels jaunt to Crete.

Gags about sex, vomit and hand shandies are all present and correct as our anti-heroes struggle with the challenges of being abroad and meeting girls. Think the English version of American Pie.

Winner of the 2009 Edinburgh Comedy Award for best newcomer, Jonny Sweet is a young talent to look out for. He might be familiar from Sky1's comedy series Chickens, penned by Sweet with his co-stars Joe Thomas and Simon Bird, (the stars of The Inbetweeners, Fresh Meat and Friday Night Dinner).

There is an essence of all of these comedies about Hard to Tell, with the emphasis on the younger characters' trials and tribulations, but I think it's a grower. This episode involves Valentine's Day plans that one knows are doomed as soon as we learn that they involve borrowing the prized touring van of a girlfriend's father...

The teen heroes of the hit E4 series to make it to the big screen in this remarkably well-received TV spin-off. Here a recently dumped Simon (Joe Thomas) and his mates Will (Simon Bird), Neil (Blake Harrison) and Jay (James Buckley) jet off for a jolly holiday to Malia, seeking 'sun, sand, sex, sea and sex'. Obviously they find sunburn, sexual humiliation and a high rate of poo/vomit/ masturbation-based humour instead. Packed with laughs, this broke records to become the most successful British opening weekend for a comedy film ever, grossing more than £2.5million on its first day of release. None too shabby for a supposed bunch of losers, eh?

It's so slight it's in danger of drifting away on the lightest breeze. But in a year when the best TV has generally ranged between solemn and devastating, it feels good to have something as blithe, breezy and just plain daft as Chickens to provide some light relief. This is one of those TV experiences which manages to be enjoyable without leaving any real mark on your memory whatsoever. To see it is to forget it.

Tonight, the chickens' water has gone brown. But they aren't practical types and, with Rittle-on-Sea's menfolk off at the front, there is every prospect of this hardship continuing. Elsewhere George is going to have to relax his principles and cane a miscreant schoolboy if he wants to stay engaged. But might he get a taste for it? Simon Bird, Joe Thomas and Jonny Sweet share an enviable comic chemistry; this more than anything is the key to Chickens transient charms.