Young Offenders to be made into six-part series

Director Peter Foot had spoken of his desire to do a “big budget” TV show that “picks up where the film leaves off,” and his wish has been granted by BBC Three and BBC Comedy in association with RTÉ.

They’ve commissioned a six-part series, with 30 minute episodes that will see IFTA nominated Alex Murphy and Chris Walley reprise the roles of Conor MacSweeney and Jock O’Keefe respectively. Hillary Rose, also IFTA nominated for her role, will return too as Conor’s long-suffering mother Mairéad.

The film won prizes in the Best Feature Direction, Best Feature Screenplay and Best Feature Film categories at the LA Comedy Festival last year - the US’ largest comedy festival.

Foot returns to write, direct and executive produce the series, and says: "It's incredibly exciting to be able to work with the BBC and with RTÉ to bring these characters back to the screen. They have been so supportive of the project and will be a wonderful home for it.

"The public response to the film, and specifically the characters themselves, was just so overwhelming that we really felt there were a lot more stories to tell, so we're very excited to be doing this as a six part television series."

Keeping thing local contributed to the film’s success, Murphy told Hot Press’ Colm O’Regan last year.

“Everyone knows a Conor, and everyone knows a Jock,” he said. “I think that’s why people can relate to it so much, thinking, ‘That’s just like Johnny’, or whatever. There’s a bit of them in everyone, and everyone’s grown up knowing these stories. If it isn’t what you were like when you were 15, then it’s at least like someone you knew at that age.”

Production on the series will start in Cork this summer.