One-off special with Jack Whitehall... then a full series without him

Jack Whitehall’s Bad Education is to make a comeback.

The comedian will star as hapless Alfie Wickers in a 45-minute special to mark the comedy’s tenth anniversary.

But he will then leave the show, with a new series of six half-hour episodes reintroducing two former pupils as new teachers.

In the extended anniversary episode, Wickers will be reunited with his old students one last time as they return to Abbey Grove for a ‘joyfully chaotic careers day’.

The episode will be written by Whitehall and Freddy Syborn, the sitcom’s co-creator.

Then, the ensuing series places ‘world class diva’ Stephen (Layton Williams) and soon-to-be-family-man-with-responsibilities Mitchell (Charlie Wernham) as newly qualified teachers struggling with the job

It will be written by a team of breakthrough writers led by Nathan Bryon, and including Laura Smyth, Leila Navabi, Priya Hall, Ciaran Bartlett, Rhys Taylor and Layton Williams.

The series will also introduced a new control freak headteacher,  Ms Hoburn. However Mathew Horne, who plays the outgoing head Mr Fraser will not be leacing, as his character continues to hang around the school in various lowly roles as HR struggle to fire him.

Freddy Syborn will direct the series whilst Jack Whitehall will serve as executive producer.

Whitehall said: ‘I’m so pumped for a ten-year anniversary special of Bad Education, the show that launched my career. I have such fond memories and it will be great for the fans to check in and find out what class K have been up to since they left and if Alfie Wickers is still as much of a melt as they remember.

‘The new rebooted series is so exciting. I’m so old and irrelevant I’ve decided it’s best I take more of a producer role with Bad Education, but we’ve assembled a young, talented group of writers led by the brilliant Nathan Bryon who will be carrying the torch.

‘Charlie Wernham is his generation’s Danny Dyer but with less royal heritage. Hopefully being a lead in this will be a springboard to him doing a decade of violent Brit flicks about hooliganism. Layton Williams is a superstar. I honestly think one day he will be an EGOTT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony, TV Choice Award winner). Abbey Grove and the new class K couldn’t be in safer hands."

Richard Ackerman, co-executive producer at  programme-makers Jackpot added: ‘We’re so delighted to be bringing this amazing show back for the 10-year anniversary special and catch up with Alfie at Abbey Grove for one final time. If it’s possible we’re even more excited to get the chance to do the rebooted series with the extraordinary Layton & Charlie. .’

David Simpson, head of comedy at co-producers Tiger Aspect says: ‘It’s so exciting to be returning to Abbey Grove. Jack and Freddy have written a wonderful script for the ten-year anniversary special and I can’t wait for people to see what the gang have been up to.

‘I also can’t wait for people to meet the new cast at the school in the brand-new rebooted series, led by Layton and Charlie. It has been a joy being in the writer’s rooms with a hugely talented team of writers and this new series will follow in the footsteps of the original – packed full of jokes and brilliant set pieces that fans old and new are going to love.’

News of Bad Education’s surprise return was announced at the BBC Comedy Festival in Newcastle this afternoon.

Published: 11 May 2022