The Inbetweeners is a British sitcom written by Damon Beesley and Iain Morris which follows the life of suburban teenager Will and three of his friends at the fictional Rudge Park Comprehensive as they navigate the minefield of education with their hormones at full blast.
The series aired in the UK on E4 from 1 May, 2008 to 18 October, 2010. There are 18 half-hour episodes in three seasons.
The Inbetweeners premiered in South Africa on DStv's BBC Entertainment channel on Thursday 6 January 2011, at 21h05. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 3 premiered on BBC Entertainment on Tuesday 3 April 2012, at 22h00. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are six episodes in the third and final season.
Season 1
The Inbetweeners follows the misadventures of four British, suburban, high school boys (Will, Simon, Jay and Neil) intent on having a good time, bunking school, and trying to get in the underwear of their much savvier female peers.
It's a sitcom set in an environment where the real stories are about trying to get served in pubs using archaic legal loopholes, passing your driving test and accidently smashing the passenger door off, or throwing up all over your unrequited love's 5-year-old brother.
The Inbetweeners follows the four lads' fallings-out, bad relationships and stupid behaviour. We see them trying to avoid scrapes with the school's resident psychopathic bully, go out hunting for girls to chat-up, and master the art of slow dancing.
Will McKenzie (Simon Bird) is on a bad run. His parents have just divorced and, to make matters worse, his mum has moved him from a posh private school and into the sixth form at the local comprehensive.
Despite the twin handicaps of being the new kid and carrying 'an actual briefcase', Will quickly makes new friends – Simon (Joe Thomas), Neil (Blake Harrison) and Jay (James Buckley).
Unfortunately, they are far from the coolest kids at school.
Together they attempt to navigate the perils of sixth form life – namely the school nutter, Mark "I'll rip your throat out" Donovan (Henry Lloyd Hughes), and the psychotic head of year, Mr Gilbert (Greg Davies) – while trying to make girls, like the gorgeous Carli D'Amato (Emily Head), 'notice them for who they really are'.
Which is a bad move, because they are idiots.
Over the course of their first term alone, the boys' roll call of dishonour includes accidentally hitting a disabled girl in the face with a Frisbee, gate crashing a funeral cortege in Simon's tiny, bright yellow car, and calling Neil's dad a "bumder".
Season 2
At Rudge Park comprehensive school, our four dysfunctional friends are still desperately trying to work out how to survive.
Will is still trying to be part of the crowd, but now also has a new challenge; to raise the social standing of his new friends to 'cool'. It's not going to be easy...
At his side is Simon, who is still hopelessly besotted with Carli D'Amato and immediately goes along with anything she thinks is cool.
Jay is still boasting of impressive exploits and sexual conquests that are just a little too fantastical to believe.
And Neil is still not the brains of the outfit and his dad is definitely not gay.
In Season 2 the friends get into more scrapes including getting into serious trouble at an underage disco, falling out with a tramp on a night out clubbing, and Will and Jay disgrace themselves at an OAP home.
Season 3
After a term's worth of the usual teenage-boy stuff (you know, wanking at OAPs, punching fish to death and wearing pissed-stain tramps shoes), Season 2 finished in a flurry of tears, beers and malfunctioning rears.
It's the end of the school year and time for revision and exams. But there is plenty of important stuff going on too, of course.
After a whirlwind romance with Chloe, Jay finds himself dumped and single again with only Will's shoulder to cry on. No worries, "plenty more clunge in the sea."
Simon substituted homework for hormones, too. And, guess what, it paid off with his first sniff of affection from his longterm stalkee, Carli... only for her to get back with her ex Tom. Oh well, better luck next time, Si.
Will, of course, turns all his attention to the books. The books... and a shed load of energy drinks. And this is a winning combo until his last, all-important politics exam. Did we mention that energy drinks are laxatives?
One packed exam room, a dodgy stomach and a misjudged shart later and Will has earned himself a load of new nicknames: "Shitty shitty bang bang, Wayne Pooney, Dr. Poo."
And Neil? Neil's confused.
Season 3 promises loads more fist-bitingly tragic situations. The four friends are the top year now which should - should - make life easier, right? Nope, expect cringeworthy fashion shows, camping trips, gigs and girlfriends.
Yes, girlfriends.
All these lads care about is sex, cheap booze, kid brothers and the sexual persuasion of Neil's dad. None of our heroes are exceptional, all are distinctly average. And trying to convince the world they are sophisticated, sexy human beings usually ends in wretched disaster.
The Inbetweeners delves into the psyche of the British teenage boy and discovers equal amounts of porn, sick and cheap lager.
Seasons
Series exclusive to BBC Entertainment
Season 1 (6 episodes)
Premiere: 6 January 2011 | Finale: 10 February 2011 | Thursdays, 21h05
Season 2 (6 episodes)
Premiere: 1 March 2011 | Finale: 5 April 2011 | Tuesdays, 21h30
Season 3 (6 episodes)
Premiere: 3 April 2012 | Finale: 8 May 2012 | Tuesdays, 22h00