Inside No. 9
- 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
Episode menu
Series 8, Episode 5 - 3 By 3
Notes
This episode was billed in advance as Hold On Tight, with publicity photos released of Shearsmith, Pemberton and Robin Askwith on and in front of a traditional London Routemaster bus; apparently a spoof of hit 1970s sitcom On The Buses, whose three feature films were produced by Hammer.
The episode doesn't actually exist. The accompanying synopsis read: "Wolfie and Clarke love their bus - but perhaps not as much as the mysterious Mr Cole and his dolly-bird nieces. As Clarke would say, 'plenty of room up top!'"
Broadcast details
- Date
- Thursday 18th May 2023
- Time
- 10pm
- Channel
- BBC Two
- Length
- 30 minutes
Cast & crew
| Gemma Page | Margaret |
| Saskia Wakefield | Catherine |
| James Tucker | Stephen |
| Tiajna Amayo | Maisie |
| James Bailey | Gavin |
| Ronay Poole | Bella |
| Jim Rastall | Niall |
| Kiran L Dadlani | Shindu |
| Mary Keegan | Enid |
| Lee Mack | Self |
| Reece Shearsmith | Writer |
| Steve Pemberton | Writer |
| Barbara Wiltshire | Director |
| Kim Crowther | Producer |
| Adam Tandy | Executive Producer |
| Josh Cole | Executive Producer |
| Steve Pemberton | Associate Producer |
| Reece Shearsmith | Associate Producer |
| Ursula Haworth | Line Producer |
| Patrick Hall | Editor |
| Paul Rowan | Production Designer |
| Tracey Gillham | Casting Director |
| Yves Barre | Costume Designer |
| Rowena Dean | Make-up Designer |
| Christian Henson | Composer |
| Andy Elliott | Production Designer |
| Hannah Robinson | Production Designer |
| Gemma O'Sullivan | Lighting Designer |
| Rachel Armitage | 1st Assistant Director |
| Gregor Sharp | Commissioning Editor |
Press
Lee Mack lied to fellow comedy star to keep Inside No. 9 episode secret
The Would I Lie To You? favourite put all that experience of telling fibs to good use.
Christian Tobin and Katelyn Mensah, Radio Times, 5th September 2023Inside 'Inside No. 9': How a dark British comedy punked an entire nation
A game show with a shocking, grisly finale was part and parcel of an elaborate prank pulled on TV viewers in the UK by Inside No. 9, the BAFTA-winning BBC Two black comedy anthology series.
Michael Starr, The New York Post, 22nd August 2023Inside No. 9 hoax proves broadcast TV can do what streaming can't
Without getting all 'old man yells at cloud', sometimes TV tradition beats innovation.
Juliette Harrisson, Den Of Geek, 23rd May 2023Inside No. 9 - 3 By 3 review
Say what you like about the Inside No. 9 boys, but when they want to trick you, they really go for it.
Reece Goodall, The Boar, 21st May 2023Inside No. 9: 3 By 3 review
Although the episode title of Hold On Tight was advertised, at 10pm, it was introduced with "In a change to the publish episode of Inside No. 9", we were going to have an episode of a new quiz show, 3 By 3 (also styled as 3×3), and hosted by Lee Mack.
Dom Robinson, DVD Fever, 19th May 2023Insider reveals more about Inside No. 9 On The Buses quiz show stunt
The crew even had to sign NDAs - non-disclosure agreements, the sort of thing Hollywood actors have to sign, so that they would not give anything away in advance.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 19th May 2023Bringing Inside No. 9 to life in a virtual studio
How dock10 helped the Inside No. 9 team deliver a surprise episode in a virtual studio.
Jon Creamer, Televisual, 19th May 2023Inside No. 9 just pulled off another trick (and served up series 8's best episode)
TV tricksters Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton prove they still have surprises up their sleeves. Spoilers.
Louisa Mellor, Den Of Geek, 19th May 2023Inside No. 9 - 8.5 Review: 3×3 / Hold On Tight!
I have to say part of me was disappointed that we didn't get to see Robin Askwith in an episode of Inside No. 9, but what we got instead was the show at it's most daring - further proof that now the end is nigh for the series, the Shearsmith and Pemberton are pushing the boundaries of what is possible within the format more than ever before.
Nick Bartlett, Critical Popcorn, 19th May 2023Inside No. 9 fools viewers with bus replacement service
Creators and stars Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton played an inspired 'trick' on fans of their anthology series Inside No. 9 this week by creating an episode that didn't even 'exist' and broadcasting an alternative episode that nobody expected.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 18th May 2023