This is a list of characters from the British sitcom The Inbetweeners, which ran for three series from 2008 to 2010 on E4. A 2011 film was also released, followed by a sequel in 2014.
Cast
Main characters
Will McKenzie
William McKenzie is the central character and the narrator of the show as well. In the pilot episode, Will starts his first day in his new school, Rudge Park Comprehensive, with a briefcase, which leads to him being nicknamed "Briefcase Wanker" and other vulgar variations. For his portrayal as Will, Bird has won the 2008 British Comedy Award for "Best Male Newcomer" and the 2009 British Comedy Award for "Best Actor". He was also nominated for "Best Comedy Performance" at the 2008 Royal Television Society Awards, and "Best Male Performance" in a Comedy Programme at the 2009 BAFTA Awards.
Will is shown to have previously been educated in private school and is extremely out of place in the rougher comprehensive school environment. He is shown to be easily jealous, and has a habit of launching into foul-mouthed rants when he becomes annoyed, often getting himself and his friends into trouble or awkward situations as a result. Will often has trouble engaging with girls, generally panicking in situations where he would end up having sex. As a running joke, Neil often ends up hooking up with the girl Will desired instead. Will is shown to be extremely emotionally dependent on his mother, Polly, despite her continually being a source of embarrassment for him in front of others. Much to Will's agitation, his friends (particularly Jay) and others are all attracted to her, and do not hesitate to make open remarks about it to him.
Will often finds himself the target of bullying in school, partly through school bully Mark Donovan bullying him physically (such as taping him to a chair and placing a bin on his head), but mainly through embarrassment from his sardonic Head of Sixth Form, Mr Gilbert. Will seemingly has a special rivalry with Gilbert, with Gilbert intentionally going out of his way to make Will's time at school miserable.
Simon Cooper
Simon Cooper is the oldest member of the group. He becomes best friends with Will after initially avoiding him due to his "actual briefcase", "clumpy shoes" and "gay hair". Simon's first task of the new term is showing Will to his classes – a task assigned by the Head of Sixth Form, Mr. Gilbert. Simon, being the eldest, is also the first to learn how to drive, after passing his driving test in dubious circumstances. His father buys him an old small, yellow Fiat Cinquecento Hawaii – Simon, Jay, Neil and others think the car is inadequate and dislike the colour, and mock the fact that it has a tape deck. The car's passenger-side door is ripped off due to Jay opening the door prematurely during an argument while Simon was parking and colliding with a sign post at Thorpe Park. However, in "Caravan Club", the door has been replaced with a red one.
Simon has been attracted to his childhood friend Carli D'Amato since they were eight years old. Despite many awkward attempts to show her his feelings – including spray painting "I Love Carli D'Amato" on her driveway – for most of the time she does not reciprocate, partly due to having a boyfriend, Tom, and partly due to his occasionally repulsive behaviour, but in the final episode of the second series: "Exam Time", Carli seems interested in Simon after she split up with her boyfriend Tom, and they kiss while revising for A-levels at Simon's house. Carli agrees to meet Simon at the local pub for a post-exam drink, but when she arrives it was revealed she has reconciled with Tom, to the chagrin of Simon. His parents briefly go on a trial separation in "The Duke of Edinburgh Awards", but they have reconciled by the end of the episode.