The Inbetweeners: Series 3 Episode 1

E4's 'other' homegrown teen show is back for a third series, the point at which many comedies lose steam or go stale, but it's as affable and boisterous as ever.

Despite the rising age of the cast, it really does remind you of how school was, as once again the lads go round in a tragic circle of half-baked plans to get their respective ends away, this time through a charity fashion show.

Will (Simon Bird) makes a political standoff which soon disintegrates in the presence of his soft spot for Charlotte. Jay (James Buckley) labours under his usual delusions of grandeur in his attempts to be a model, and Neil (Blake Harrison) tries to see naked girls but ends up lumbered once again with Paedo Kennedy.

As for Simon, he may often seem like the weakest character, but the stuff they get poor Joe Thomas to do continues to push the boundaries of decency. You'll know it when you'll see it - at first you'll laugh and then you'll wonder much (or how little) the makeup department had to do to create the effect.

Brilliantly cast, written with a clever coquettishness and laid at a cheekily blunt pace so as to smuggle through some genuinely dark jokes, The Inbetweeners is still a very compelling show.



Airs at 10pm on Monday 13th September 2010 on E4.

> Buy the Series 3 DVD on Amazon.

Reviewed by Mike Stephenson.