The Young Offenders stars Chris Walley and Alex Murphy have admitted they never thought the show run for as long as it has – as a new season is set to hit our screens.
Season five sees Conor, played by Alex Murphy and Jock, played by Chris Walley, back together after a disastrous brush with the law saw them spend time in jail on two different continents.
After a chance opportunity allows Jock to escape back from Colombia to Cork, the lads slip back into their old ways quickly, wreaking havoc everywhere but still only wanting the best for themselves and their families.
Conor faces losing the love of his life; Jock tries to rebuild his relationship with Star; and crazy plans with locals to try to improve their lives leave them taking big risks, but that’s what best friends do.
Reflecting on the series success, Alex said they didn’t realise they had a hit show on their hands, admitting he started off with such low expectations.
Speaking to EVOKE, the actor said: ‘We definitely didn't think we'd be still going to this stage. But because we started off with such low expectations, to the point where Chris thought it would just be a film that was on YouTube and everything after that was just a bonus. Like there was no script.
‘We just were told it was two young Cork fellas trying to make a bit of money and then the script was kind of developed through that.
Chris added: ‘I remember being in the first year of drama school, and I was going into second year and we found out that we were getting a TV series.
‘And I was like, I just couldn't quite wrap my head around it because I'd only ever really seen that happen a few times.
‘And obviously, like, This Is England was one of those shows that went from a film to a series. That's not really a traditional route. So when that was happening for us, it was like, Oh, my God. And I think it was when we were at drama school, so we were like, geez, this is working very well.’
He added that it was ‘the gift that keeps on giving.’
The pair are great friends away from the cameras, which often helps while they are filming.
Chris said: ‘Myself and Alex being such good friends really understand each other so well that, you know, we have a lot of silliness and come out with some pretty silly things dancing back and forth.
‘So I kind of think there's whether it's a good thing or a bad thing, there’s unfortunately no end to us just coming out with outrageous things and improv scenes.’
And they even managed to get their families involved.
Alex said: ‘We do pull a few strings now that we're on season five. We get a few like, my dad's been in it a couple of times. Chris's dad is in this season.
‘And our brothers so it's always a bit of a pinch me moment to be doing filming a scene, and you look over your dad's there in a garda uniform,’ he said laughing.
The new series of The Young Offenders will drop on RTÉ Player on Good Friday 3 April. The show will also air weekly on RTÉ One television starting on April 4 at 10.30pm.
This is when The Young Offenders lands back on our TV screens
