Big Boys (TV series)

Did You Know?

• The series is based on Rooke's comedy stage shows Good Grief, Happy Hour, and Love Letters.
• The show's commissioning was announced in November 2020, following a pilot shot around 2018.
• All episodes were made available on Channel 4's streaming service prior to broadcast on 26 May 2022.

Cast and characters

Dylan Llewellyn is Jack, a 19-year-old journalism scholarship student who is shy, closeted, and grieving his father's death. Having spent recent years at home with his mother, he is not used to the intense social life of university. Jon Pointing plays Danny, a 25-year-old mature student who enjoys nights out and trying to flirt with female students, all while hiding and managing his own mental health issues, for which he takes antidepressants. Camille Coduri portrays Peggy, Jack's mother, who struggles internally with sending her son away to university after relying on him for company; Jack has kept his sexuality secret from her, fearing a negative reaction.

Izuka Hoyle is Corinne, a serious, studious Oxbridge reject who is also ready to have some fun. Olisa Odele plays Yemi, a fashion student who helps Jack explore his sexuality at university. Harriet Webb appears as Shannon (main in series 2-3, recurring in series 1), Jack's lively cousin whose job running children's parties does not satisfy her ambitions. Katy Wix is Jules, a former Brent University student now working as a student union officer, who is overly enthusiastic and zealous about integrating new students.

Jack Rooke, the series creator, narrates throughout and also makes a few on-screen appearances. Annette Badland plays Nanny Bingo, Jack's grandmother. Sheila Reid portrays Iris, Danny's grandmother, whose Alzheimer's is gradually getting worse. Robert Gilbert is Tim, a young journalism lecturer whom Jack finds attractive and who responds to student questions with caustic remarks.

Lucia Keskin plays Kelly, a student union representative who helps Jules with an apathetic attitude. Ian Burfield appears as Laurie (series 1-2), Jack's father who died of cancer two years before Jack started university, seen only in flashbacks and memories. Kristy Philipps is Leisa (series 1), a feminist student initially resistant to Danny's advances, though they eventually get together. Callum Mardy plays Ash (series 1), a student union representative who also deals drugs to new students.

Rhiannon Clements is 'Mad Debs' (series 1), a first-year student from Newcastle upon Tyne who drops out during her first week. Mark Silcox plays Dhru 'Ru' Pal (series 1), a security officer at the university halls. Shane Zaza portrays Tariq Millar (series 2-3), a delivery driver and the father of Shannon's children.

Reception

Over the six episodes, the series averaged 410,000 viewers including catch-up within seven days post-broadcast. Including viewership prior to broadcast and all viewership on devices aside from televisions, the series averaged 669,000 viewers. Big Boys has been critically praised. Carol Midgley in a four-star review for The Times wrote that it is 'one of the most funny, tender, profound sad-happy comedies I've seen this year' and worth anyone's time because it tackles themes of grief, coming of age and sexuality with a beautifully light touch and because the cast give the impression that they love performing it.

Lucy Mangan in a four-star review for The Guardian wrote that it is 'warm and funny, but with a melancholic undertow that fades in and out as the episode – and the series – goes on, but never disappears entirely', and that although gentler and less frenetic, its combination of frankness, heart and wit evokes the mighty Sex Education, while Rooke makes it entirely its own thing. She noted that the growing friendship between Jack and Danny is genuinely uplifting and praised Katy Wix's tremendous turn.