The Young Offenders, the perfectly rated Irish show from the BBC, has been renewed for a fifth season.
The series, based on the 2016 film of the same name, follows the “adventurous and delinquent lives” of Conor MacSweeney (Alex Murphy) and Jock O’Keefe (Chris Walley) as they run amok in the city of Cork.
Following a feature film, four successful seasons and two festive specials, Peter Foott’s coming-of-age sitcom has been renewed for a fifth season by the BBC, with another six episodes being ordered by the broadcaster.
Following the pair’s incarceration in separate prisons, the upcoming instalment will see “loveable rogues” Conor and Jock reunite for “mischief and chaos”, with the logline adding that “there’s nothing that they can’t do, although whether they’re successful at it is a different matter.”
In addition to Murphy and Walley’s return as the “hapless heroes”, Hilary Rose, Dominic MacHale and Shane Casey will reprise their respective roles as the “long-suffering” Mairéad, “former nemesis” Tony Healy and the “unpredictable” Billy Murphy.
BBC
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“All the original characters who audiences know and love since the show started are back in season five,” said Foott in a statement. “We have the funniest, most heart-warming stories in the new season that will show Conor and Jock getting into scrapes like never before.”
“We hope audiences will share our excitement to have all the gang back together, bringing more laughs, thrills and moments to remember to TV screens,” continued the series creator, who also wrote and directed the 2016 film.
“We’re thrilled to reunite with Conor and Jock in Cork for more gloriously misguided misadventures,” added Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy. “This fifth series is brimming with the wild heart, raucous charm and razor-sharp wit that have made The Young Offenders a true fan favourite.”
BBC
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The announcement will surely delight fans and critics, with the original film receiving a perfect 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 23 reviews upon its release, with several reviews noting the film’s heartfelt quality amid all the tomfoolery of its central duo.
“An incredibly enjoyable experience that never falters in keeping you invested,” wrote Little White Lies of the film, while Empire Magazine said the project was “raucously funny and winningly played”.
The Young Offenders airs on BBC One and streams on BBC iPlayer.
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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.