Simon Bird may quit The Inbetweeners
Simon Bird, who plays the central character of Will McKenzie in Channel 4's hit sitcom The Inbetweeners, may be leaving the show over a row about money, according to a tabloid newspaper.
The third series has already been filmed, and will be shown on E4 and Channel 4 later in the year, but the production team are now preparing for a special feature-length episode of the multiple award-winning comedy. Filming is due to begin later this month, but The Sun reports that the star has yet to sign up to the episode as his agents are trying to get more money for his services. The plot of the one-off special is expected to involve the four lads going on holiday and travelling from Spain across to Gibraltar on a pedalo.
The sitcom's other stars, James Buckley, Joe Thomas and Blake Harrison, have all signed up for the special (which is being labelled a 'feature movie' in some places), but Simon Bird's agents Avalon have advised the star not to accept the pay offer and hold out for more money as they believe the show can't go ahead without him.
But, according to The Sun, Bwark Productions are now calling Avalon's bluff by sending out casting notes to find a possible replacement actor to either take over the role of Will, or play a new but similar character.
A source told the paper: "The movie is definitely going ahead. It will start shooting in Malia, Crete, later this month and then from November onwards. Simon's agents at Avalon won't accept the offer that Joe, James and Blake have all said they'd accept. So Bwark are moving on without Simon to pretty much call his agents' bluff. They sent out casting notes last week to show they are serious." The insider added: "Simon's agents have always tried to push him as the star of the show and everyone's fed up with it. If some high-profile young actor won the role then Simon won't be in the film. Avalon will have to come crawling back to accept the offer. It's sad, but he has kind of shafted himself."
However, Iain Morris, one of the show's writers, creators and executive producers, has been refuting the suggestions on Twitter.