Inside No. 9: Series 1, Episode 5 - The Understudy

TV comedy drama
BBC Two
2014 - 2024
55 episodes (9 series)

Dark comedy anthology series from Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton. Each episode focuses on the goings-on around something to do with the number 9.

Returns tomorrow on BBC2 at 9pm with Documentary
Series 1, Episode 1 repeated tomorrow at 10pm on BBC2
Streaming rank this week: 163

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Series 1, Episode 5 - The Understudy

Inside No. 9. Image shows from L to R: Kirstie (Rosie Cavaliero), Felicity (Julia Davis), Tony (Steve Pemberton), Jim (Reece Shearsmith), Laura (Lyndsey Marshal). Copyright: BBC

An episode set behind-the-scenes at a performance of Macbeth.

Preview clips

Further details

Successful West End actor Tony Warner's tour-de-force performance as Macbeth is the toast of The Duke Of Cambridge Theatre, but his overbearing personality makes life hell for those he works with.

It would be very bad luck indeed if he was suddenly indisposed in some way - although not for Jim, his ever-hopeful understudy, of course...

Inside No. 9. Image shows from L to R: Felicity (Julia Davis), Tony (Steve Pemberton). Copyright: BBC

Inside No. 9. Image shows from L to R: Jim (Reece Shearsmith), Laura (Lyndsey Marshal). Copyright: BBC

Broadcast details

Date: Wednesday 5^th March 2014
Time: 10pm
Channel: BBC Two
Length: 30 minutes

Cast & crew

Guest cast
Reece Shearsmith	Jim
Steve Pemberton	Tony
Lyndsey Marshal	Laura (Jim's Girlfriend)
Julia Davis	Felicity (Company Manager)
Rosie Cavaliero	Kirstie (Dresser)
Roger Sloman	Bill (Tony's Neighbour)
Di Botcher	Jean (Tony's Neighbour)
Richard Cordery	Nick (Company Manager)
Bruce Mackinnon	'Malcolm' (Voice)
Jo Stone-Fewings	'Macduff' (Voice)

Writing team
Reece Shearsmith	Writer
Steve Pemberton	Writer

Production team
David Kerr	Director
Adam Tandy	Producer
Jon Plowman	Executive Producer
Steve Pemberton	Associate Producer
Reece Shearsmith	Associate Producer
Joe Randall-Cutler	Editor
Brian Sykes	Production Designer
Christian Henson	Composer