The Inbetweeners cast now - millionaire video career to becoming parents

02 August 2023 , 18:00

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It's been 15 years since The Inbetweeners first aired on our screens and the cast have become big stars since (Image: Channel 4)

Celebrity MasterChef is back on our screens tonight and this year's series will see everyone from Love Island to Strictly Come Dancing battling it off in the kitchen.

The first episode will feature The Inbetweeners' Jay Cartwright actor, James Buckley, amongst the celebs whipping up a two-course dinner for Gregg Wallace and John Torode.

But what does James Buckley's life look like off-screen now? It's been over 15 years since the legendary E4 sitcom first aired in 2008, and a whole lot has happened to the cast.

From starring in Emmerdale to I'm A Celebrity and Doctor Who, here is a look at what happened to The Inbetweeners stars after the show ended, and how James is racking in £10,000 a week online.

James Buckley - Jay Cartwright

James is the UK's first celebrity to earn $1 million on Cameo selling personalised videos to fans

Wannabe ladies' man Jay was always knee-deep in his own fictional tales. From taking a pedalo from Spain to Africa to having trials at West Ham, Jay claimed to have done it all, even if no one believed him. When he wasn't making disgusting comments about the opposite sex, Jay did sometimes show his delicate side.

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Actor James Buckley hasn't left our screens, appearing in American found footage horror film The Pyramid in 2014. He also starred as Del Boy in Rock & Chips, Zapped, White Gold and an episode in the latest series of Doctor Who, as well as featuring in stage play 2:22: A Ghost Story last year. While Jay was bad with the ladies, it's a very different story for James, who married former model Clair Meek in 2012 and has two kids with her.

Aside from acting, James, 35, has a family YouTube channel and makes insane amounts of money charging fans for personalised messages on Twitch. He recently became the first UK celeb to make $1million from Cameo videos. "So if you want me to congratulate your brother's birthday or maybe hurl some abuse at a friend of yours who's getting married or something like that – I can do that all for you now, for a fee. Again, here for the money," he said.

James is taking part in the new Celebrity MasterChef (BBC /Shine TV)

Among the messages that he has recorded for Inbetweeners fans, he's also slipped in some classic foul-mouthed lines from the show. James' videos are priced at £40 and he's raking in more money than the likes of Snoop Dogg, Mike Tyson and Lindsay Lohan. He recently told Made in Chelsea star Spencer Matthews on his podcast that he never lets his sons watch The Inbetweeners - and not just because of its explicit content.

"I'm supposed to be their dad," he said. "You know I'm supposed to be respected. The last thing I want them to do is watch The Inbetweeners because the tiny last bit of respect that I do have from them would go completely out the window." On the secret to a happy marriage, Buckley advised couples to "let the little stuff go" and to "lower your expectations." "Then you can't be disappointed, because if Clair wanted to raise the bar, I would disappoint her four times an hour," he said. "That's not a sex joke, by the way, even though it sounded like it."

Simon Bird - Will McKenzie

Simon is best known for playing Will McKenzie in multi-award-winning show (Channel 4 TV)

He is now directing a BBC Three sitcom and is a father to two children with wife Lisa

Briefcase-carrying Will McKenzie was the nerd trying to fit in at a new school. Despite his goofiness and horrible pick up lines, who could forget "feisty one you are", Will was a hit with some beautiful women. The last time we saw Will he was reeling from the bombshell that Gilbert is dating his mum.

After The Inbetweeners, actor Simon Bird starred in another hit E4 comedy, Friday Night Dinner, basically playing exactly the same character. He co-created and co-starred in Sky comedy Chickens in 2013 and took to the West End for The Philanthropist in 2017. As well as hitting the big screen in The Inbetweeners movies, Simon has had roles in The Look of Love, The Harry Hill Movie and You, Me and Him.

His voice can also regularly be heard on The Trainline's adverts. Despite all of his other roles, Simon has admitted that he still gets called a "bus w***er" on a daily basis. In 2012 he married Lisa Owens, who he met at Cambridge University, and they have two kids. Simon, 38, has taken a recent career change and is now the lead director on new BBC Three sitcom Such Brave Girls.

Joe Thomas - Simon Cooper

Joe Thomas starred in Channel 4 comedy Fresh Meat and numerous popular films (PA)

He is currently engaged to The Inbetweeners co-star Hannah Tointon and they have a child (PA)

Tragic Simon was forever chasing after the love of his life - Carli - in his disgusting yellow car with one red door. The hapless lad could never get that spiky hair looking right and was sickened by hearing about his mum and dad's sex life. Like Simon Bird, actor Joe Thomas played a seemingly identical character in Channel 4 comedy Fresh Meat.

Kinglsey was just an older version of Simon who had gone to university. Joe can't keep away from his Inbetweeners co-stars and even got engaged to one... more on that later. His movie career includes Straw Donkey, Scottish Mussel, The Darkest Universe and The Festival. After co-writing and starring in Chickens with Simon Bid he went on to join James Buckley in White Gold. He's also become a bit of an internet sensation as fans of the show regularly spot him on the tube and post hilarious snaps.

Blake Harrison - Neil Sutherland

Blake Harrison has stayed in the spotlight as an actor and now has two kids with his wife Kerry (mirror.co.uk)

Neil Sutherland was the least intelligent but the nicest of all the lads. The dim-witted teen didn't have much going on upstairs and did a run to revise for his PE exam, then forgot his kit on the big day. Blake's character was known for his cringeworthy dance moves and for having jokes made about his dad.

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Since it all ended, Blake has appeared in a wide variety of other TV shows including Prime Suspect 1973, A Very English Scandal, Houdini and Doyle, Death In Paradise and Trust Me. He also played Private Pike in 2016 Dad's Army reboot and voiced Scoop in an update of Bob The Builder. More recently, he was in the second series of BBC drama World on Fire.

In 2018, he stepped behind the camera to direct award-winning short film Hooves of Clay, which he also starred in. Blake has also shown off his football skills for Soccer Aid and scored the winning penalty in 2018. He married theatre publicist Kerry Lynch in 2016 and they have two children.

Emily Head - Carli D'Amato

Emily Head is the daughter of famous actor Anthony and is now best known for Emmerdale (Channel 4)

The 34-year-old is still an actor and presenter and played a role in The Syndicate (ITV)

The woman of Simon's dreams, Carli D'Amato was always just out of reach and cruelly dumped him when they finally did get together at the start of the first movie. Actress Emily Head is the daughter of famous actor Anthony, who starred as Will's dad in The Inbetweeners movie. She went on to be a star of the theatre and the small screen, best known for her role as Rebecca White in Emmerdale - the rich daughter of Lawrence who had a son with Robert Sugden.

She was part of some major storylines, including a kidnapping plot, traumatic brain injury and her whole family either died or ended up in prison. After two years in the Yorkshire Dales, Emily's character decided to leave with village to start a new life with Ross Barton. Emily, now 24, landed a role in The Syndicate alongside fellow former soap stars Kym Marsh, Katie McGlynn and Ganor Faye.

Emily Atack - Charlotte Hinchcliffe

Emily is still best known for playing schoolgirl Charlotte in the smash-hit Channel 4 sitcom (John Wright)

Emily has presented her own documentary and television series as well as starring in others (@emilyatack/Instagram)

Charlotte 'big jugs' was the unobtainable popular girl who had a fling with geeky Will. The gorgeous blonde then ripped out his heart by revealing it was just to get back at her nasty ex Donovan. After the series ended, actress Emily Atack switched school uniform for skates to take part in the fifth series of Dancing On Ice.

She is known for her roles on Keith Lemon's many shows, including Lemon La Vida Loca and The Keith & Paddy Picture Show. Emily really rose to fame in 2018 when she finished runner-up on I'm A Celebrity to Harry Redknapp - famously asking the football manager to set her up with his son Jamie. She loved the Australian jungle so much she returned to host spin-off show Extra Camp 2019.

Emily was reportedly axed from The Inbetweeners 10 year reunion show just 24 hours before it started. According to The Sun, James Buckley was afraid his wife would discover their fling during their time in the show, so told producers "it's her or me". Emily said there was a "lot of snobbery" around the reunion and branded her ex co-star as "James F**kley."

In 2020, Emily hosted her own show on ITV2 named The Emily Atack Show, and this year she presented the BBC Two documentary, Asking For It?, about her experience of cyberflashing. She is currently 33 years old and still works as a comedian, actress and television personality.

Hannah Tointon - Tara Brown

Joe and Hannah got engaged in 2017 after they met working on the hit show (getty)

Hannah has continued acting and starred in numerous programmes like Call the Midwife (Ian West/PA Wire)

Former Hollyoaks star Hannah was already famous for playing Warren Fox's sister Katy when she joined the Inbetweeners in series three. Hannah played Simon's girlfriend Tara, who he never shut up about, but they split up when he started slapping his member and shouting at it to "get big".

It wasn't just a fictional romance, as Hannah started dating Joe Thomas after they met on the show. The pair got engaged in 2017 and had a child together last year. Aside from The Inbetweeners, Hannah, 35, has starred in Call the Midwife, Midsomer Murders and Mr Selfridge.

Greg Davies - Mr Gilbert

Greg Davies was a former teacher for 13 years before playing the role in The Inbetweeners (PA)

He has gone on to become a well-known and loved actor and presenter on television (John Wright)

The terrifying head of Sixth Form, Mr Gilbert liked watching the lads suffer and hated Will from the very start. The sarcastic and bitter teacher even got particularly upset when Will referred to him as "Phil" and even ignored him when he was tied up to a chair with a bin on his head. At the end of the second movie, it was revealed that Gilbert was dating

Gilbert was played by real-life former teacher Greg Davies, who spent 13 years in the classroom before going on to become a stand-up comedian and actor. Greg, 55, has gone on to appear in many more comedies including Cuckoo, Man Down and This is Jinsy, as well as hosting the quiz show Taskmaster. In 2021, Greg wrote and starred in the BBC One comedy series The Cleaner and has been the host of Never Mind the Buzzcocks.

Celebrity MasterChef airs tonight on BBC One at 9pm.

Kyle O'Sullivan