EXCLUSIVE: The Inbetweeners star James Buckley reveals the REAL reason the hit show cannot return and which Cameo requests he refuses (despite £1m pay cheque!)

Inbetweeners star James Buckley has detailed why the beloved show couldn’t return 15 years after it hit the screens.

The actor and his wife Clair Meek, both 35, spoke to MailOnline ahead of the release of their new weekly podcast In Sickness And In Health, a follow-up to their hugely successful YouTube channel At Home With The Buckleys.

While discussing the candid new venture – which the duo admit to having undertaken because “everyone has one” – James revealed he shouldn’t worry about the content of the Channel 4 show as the characters were “idiots” .

At the prospect of a return, he insisted that while the gags were originally acceptable because the characters were sixth grade students, a comeback couldn’t work because the stars are now in their thirties.

Meanwhile, James also spoke about his work on Cameo – a platform designed for celebrities to send messages to fans for a fee – explaining that he turns down some requests despite earning £1 million from the app.

Happy days: The actor and his wife Clair Meek, both 35, spoke to MailOnline ahead of the release of their new podcast In Sickness And In Health, a follow-up to their hugely successful YouTube channel At Home With The Buckleys (the couple pictured previous month)

No thanks! Meanwhile, James also spoke about his work on Cameo – a platform designed for celebrities to send messages to fans for a fee – explaining that he turns down some requests despite earning £1 million from the app.

James and Clair welcomed their son Harrison in 2011, after a whirlwind ten-month romance, and married the following year. In 2013, they welcomed their second child, Jude.

The Inbetweeners achieved massive commercial and critical success, leading the show to run for three seasons and spawn two hit movies. James was a star of the show, playing Jay Cartwright, a foul-mouthed fantasist known for his far-fetched sex stories.

As with many dated comedies, topics and gags have been questioned due to sensitive subject matter and outdated insults, but James insists that’s not a problem with The Inbetweeners pointing out the young characters’ “idiotism.”

That’s why he explained that the program could not return because older men’s risqué jokes wouldn’t work.

He said, ‘It was all justified because they were never the heroes. They were idiots and they got what they deserved. That’s why it can’t come back. You can’t have guys in their late thirties pretending to be in sixth grade and getting away with it.’

Speaking of his love for the show, he continued, “I always get asked if I would ever do more and I said, ‘For no money’ and that quote was walked off. I didn’t mean about money; it means more to me than money.’

James reflected on the success of the show and also his Cameo: “I’m always surprised by the success of anything.”

In 2022, he became the first British celebrity to become a Cameo millionaire when he amassed $1 million (£930,000) from the app.

Lads: The Inbetweeners won massive commercial and critical success, leading the show to run for three seasons and spawn two hit films. James was a star of the show, playing Jay Cartwright, a foul-mouthed fantasist known for his far-fetched sex stories

Happy days: James and Clair welcomed their son Harrison in 2011, after a whirlwind ten-month romance, and got married the following year. In 2013, they welcomed their second child, Jude

Despite his popularity, he admits that when asked to sing songs from The Inbetweeners or recite quotes, he often refuses, but admits it’s not out of ignorance, but more from his inability to remember the requested excerpts .

He said, “On Cameo I get asked to sing things, I get asked for the Crazy Frog thing, I don’t like doing that even when we filmed it…

“Another problem I have is that I can’t remember. Even with work I can’t remember things let alone something I did so long ago.”

Clair elaborated on the Cameo arrangements in the house, explaining, “He goes into the guest bedroom and takes a few away from us because I obviously have the kids downstairs and he can’t put them in front of them.”

On her marriage to a famous person, she continued, “It’s not hard to be with a famous person, sometimes it’s funny and sometimes it’s lovely. They shout a rude word here and there,” while James called the legacy of The Inbetweeners “delightful.”

Clair said of their decision to start a podcast, “I think it was just the next step for us after the vlog,” while James reiterated, “A lot of our podcasts are just chatting and on the road and on the road. ‘.

James’ unconditional attitude towards things seems to be both a plus and a minus, as he explained, “I have a dangerous quality: I’m the perpetual clown of the class.” I will do anything to make someone laugh and that can be quite dangerous…

“That’s why Clair does the editing.”

While musing on the possibility of their children entering the entertainment industry, James said, “I tell my kids they can be anything – an actor, a singer, a musician – but they have to get their grades and get into school.” to concentrate…

“I didn’t pay attention in school and (my education) is something I feel insecure about.”

The first episode of James and Clair’s new podcast, In Sickness and In Health, will be available on all streaming platforms from September 5. New episodes every Tuesday.

Main role: Despite his popularity, he admits that when asked to sing songs from The Inbetweeners or recite quotes, he often refuses, but admits it’s not out of ignorance, but more from not being able to do the requested segments can remember.