The Inbetweeners fans are eager to know what Simon Bird has been up to since he first portrayed Will McKenzie back in 2008.
Fans of iconic Channel 4 series The Inbetweeners were thrilled today following the announcement that the hit UK comedy will be making a comeback.
Starring Simon Bird as Will, James Buckley as Jay, Joe Thomas as Simon and Blake Harrison as Neil, The Inbetweeners originally aired between 2008 to 2010 before the characters also returned for two films in 2011 and 2014.
Now, it seems the show will be getting a fresh chapter thanks to creators Iain Morris and Damon Beesley signing a new deal with production giant Banijay UK.
Following the news of a return, fans have been wondering what the cast have been doing since the show ended.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at Will McKenzie star Simon’s life away from the popular E4 sitcom.
Inside Simon Bird’s early life
Simon Bird grew up as the third of four children in Guildford, Surrey, where he attended the Royal Grammar School.
He went on to read English at Cambridge University, where he became president of the Footlights and met Joe Thomas.
The pair were cast in The Inbetweeners after performing together in Edinburgh and Simon won the British comedy award for best newcomer in 2008.
Who is Simon Bird’s wife?
Simon Bird has been married to his wife Lisa Owens since 2012, with the pair first meeting while performing a comedy sketch together at Cambridge University.
The Inbetweeners actor proposed to Lisa during a romantic trip to Paris back in 2011.
Lisa is a screenwriter, with credits including the 2017 book Not Working, which the Observer described as laugh-out-loud funny.
She has collaborated with her husband in the past, with Simon previously adapting her graphic novel into the 2019 film Days Of The Bagnold Summer.
Lisa and Simon live in London with their two children and are generally pretty private about their young family.
However, Simon did give a hilarious family insight last year when he told The Times they had decided on a ‘travel ban’ after realising the stress of going on holiday with young children.
Following one particularly exhausting trip to California, he admitted: “After that my wife and I decided to impose a travel ban, which lasted a few years — it was honestly the best decision we’ve ever made.”
He has confirmed the ban has ‘since been lifted’ now that the children are older and they can ‘enjoy holidays again’.
Simon Bird’s roles from Friday Night Dinner to Star Wars
Aside from his iconic role as Will McKenzie in The Inbetweeners, Simon Bird is also recognised by many Channel 4 fans for playing Adam Goodman in beloved sitcom Friday Night Dinner.
The comedy ran from 2011 and 2020 and starred Tamsin Greig, Tom Rosenthal, Mark Heap and the late Paul Ritter.
Simon’s other credits include You, Me and Him, Everyone Else Burns and Sandylands.
It has also been reported that Simon is set to join the cast of an upcoming Star Wars film.
Starring Hollywood icon Ryan Gosling, new movie Star Wars: Starfighter is also set to feature Amy Adams, Matt Smith and Mia Goth.
Will Simon Bird return for The Inbetweeners comeback?
In a joint statement, The Inbetweeners creators Iain Morris and Damon Beesley said: “It’s incredibly exciting to be plotting more adventures for our four favourite friends (ooh friends).”
Therefore, it can be assumed that Simon Bird will return as Will alongside his three main castmates Joe Thomas, James Buckley and Blake Harrison.
Patrick Holland, Banijay’s chief executive, also gave some further insight into the return, telling The Sun he was “delighted to pick up the conversation about the future of The Inbetweeners”.
“They have an infectious creative vision for the brand which will resonate with audiences old and new,” he said, before adding that the deal “unlocks the rights and potential to bring The Inbetweeners back for new audiences across a range of platforms, including film, TV and stage”.
The Inbetweeners is available to stream now on channel4.com .