The spirit of The Inbetweeners lives on, as fans hail their top picks for shows that capture the essence of the hit E4 comedy.
Engaging in a lively debate titled ‘Spiritual successors to The Inbetweeners,’ participants shared numerous recommendations, with many suggesting series featuring familiar actors from the original show.
First aired between 2008 and 2010, The Inbetweeners sitcom chronicled the cringeworthy exploits of four socially inept teenagers, played by Simon Bird, James Buckley, Blake Harrison, and Joe Thomas, as they navigated the trials of adolescence.
The Channel 4 series garnered wide acclaim and even led to an American adaptation.
On social media, one switched-on TV fan asked: “What UK TV shows have been made since The Inbetweeners that had a similar premise/similar feel?” We delve into the most endorsed suggestions, available for your binge-watching pleasure.
White Gold
Two The Inbetweeners actors star in White Gold (Image: Netflix)
Top of the list is the 2017 sitcom White Gold, boasting not one but two The Inbetweeners stars. Set amid the cutthroat world of window sales in 1980s Essex, it stars none other than Gossip Girl heartthrob Ed Westwick as the slick Vincent Swan, with Inbetweeners favourites Joe Thomas (as Martin Lavender) and James Buckley (as Brian Fitzpatrick) rounding out the comedic ensemble.
White Gold shares more than just its cast; Damon Beesley, one of the creative forces behind The Inbetweeners franchise, was the mastermind behind this workplace comedy as its creator, writer, director, and producer.
Fans on are singing the praises of the dramedy White Gold, touting it as the true heir to The Inbetweeners’ throne. One avid viewer posted: “[It’s] Just similar enough to give you that sweet taste but different enough to feel fresh. I can’t recommend it highly enough, I just wish there was more than 2 series of it.”
White Gold is available to stream on .
Fresh Meat
Fresh Meat follows six university students (Image: Channel 4)
Fresh Meat is another show drawing acclaim in the online forum. The Channel 4 series, which aired from 2011 to 2016, dives into the lives of six university students named Vod, Oregon, Josie, Kingsley, JP and Howard.
Sharing its comedic DNA with The Inbetweeners, Fresh Meat explores themes of friendship and young love, featuring a cast that includes Joe Thomas as Kingsley, and other stars such as Jack Whitehall, Zawe Ashton (The Handmaid’s Tale), Greg McHugh (Only Child), Charlotte Ritchie (Grantchester) and Kimberley Nixon (Queenie).
For fans of Succession, Fresh Meat holds extra appeal, as creator Jesse Armstrong also created the HBO heavyweight.
Fresh Meat is up for streaming now on .
Some Girls
Some Girls marked Adelayo Adedayo’s breakout role (Image: BBC)
And let’s not forget Some Girls – a gem that launched from 2012 to 2014, catapulting Adelayo Adedayo into the limelight. Since then, her career has blossomed, with recent highlights including her role in the smash Supacell.
Some Girls sees Adedayo shine as teenager Viva Bennett, grappling with the highs and lows of school and love life alongside her group of friends.
Fans of the comedy have expressed their admiration, with one IMDB reviewer raving: “You thought Inbetweeners was funny? It’s only because you have not watched this.”
Some Girls is now available to stream on iPlayer.
Drifters also stars Inbetweeners alumni (Image: Channel 4)
Drifters features The Inbetweeners stars in its main cast, including Jessica Knappett, Lauren O’Rourke, and Lydia Rose Bewley, who all appeared in The Inbetweeners Movie.
The Channel 4 sitcom, which originally aired from 2013 to 2016, follows three friends in their twenties who share a house after graduating from university, only to discover that the real world presents its own set of challenges.
Drifters is streaming now on .