A chat with Neil from 'Inbetweeners'

Since it was announced that The Inbetweeners had been handed a third series, we've been waiting patiently for the laughs to begin again. Sadly, we recently learnt that filming for the new run doesn't begin until March - meaning it could be aaaaaaages until Will, Simon, Jay and Neil are back on our screens. To help pass the time, Tube Talk got on the blower to Blake Harrison to talk girlfriends, gay dads and those movie rumours.

Where are you at with series three of The Inbetweeners?
"It's being written at the moment. We won't be filming it until March-ish. Hopefully it'll go well. We've had a brainstorming session and come up with a few ideas for plot and where we want the characters to go but other than that, after we've given our rough ideas, the writers go into a tiny cave and write their stuff."

What would you like to see happen to Neil this time?
"I already have a rough idea of little bits and bobs that he's going to be doing so I can't really say too much. I think because it's the third series now there's going to have to be a slight change of dynamic so that it's not the same-old same-old again. But I think all the bits that everyone loves - the banter between the characters and that hopelessness of the characters - will obviously stay in there because it's what people seem to enjoy."

When we spoke to Iain Morris he mentioned he was thinking of giving one of the characters a girlfriend. Could it be Neil?
"I have no idea!"

How do you think he would cope with a girlfriend?
"I think Neil would actually cope the best with a girlfriend because he wouldn't care as much at the other lads. The others would be incredibly neurotic and worry about losing her whereas Neil would just go about doing whatever he was doing anyway. I think he'd do alright with a girl but we'll have to wait and see if that's the case."

Do you think his dad will ever come out as gay?
"He's not gay! Why does everyone think this? He just plays badminton - leave him alone!"

How long do you see the show running for?
"I don't know. As far as I'm aware for the next series we're moving into the upper sixth and it would be incredibly contrived to have them all at the same university so it depends how long the third series spans for. If they span it for just a term or two maybe there will be another series but if they span it for the whole year I think it would be quite weird if there was another series. They wouldn't all end up at the same uni - obviously - so it would be quite contrived."

Where would you like to see Neil end up by the time the show finishes?
"I'll be happy if he's still alive, the way he goes on! The thing with Neil is, even though he's an absolute moron, he's got a heart of gold. Because he's got such a positive outlook on life, life just seems to give him positivity back. I think Neil would be lucky in whatever he did and whoever he was with. He's so sweet and nice and oblivious that I think he's not going to do too badly but we'll have to wait and see!"

And what's the situation with the Inbetweeners movie?
"Nothing has been confirmed as far as I'm concerned. The rumour's been batted around for a while. The premise, if it were to happen, could be the lads outside the normal area - maybe a holiday somewhere or something. I think the whole idea of this being a big Brit teen comedy would be fantastic. There's not really any out and I think we could definitely fill a market because we've already got a fanbase. There's so many American teen comedies with the American Pie series and the Road Trip series and Superbad so I think it's about time that Britain pulled its socks up and made a really good teen comedy."

Would it be a fitting end to the series to have a movie?
"As an actor it would be fantastic. We'd just be doing a slightly different medium and it would be a very grand and brilliant way to top it off, as you said. But until I get a script in front of me and it's all confirmed and we're doing read-throughs I don't like to count my chickens! We'll just wait and see."

You're doing a short film for Lynx aren't you?
"Yep. I play a geeky average guy - pretty much myself! I randomly meet up with Keeley Hazell and it's me trying to keep her interested in me for as long as I can. Mike Fielding's involved too and he was really funny! He's such a lovely gentleman - he's got a heart of gold."

Blake can be seen in new online film Keeping Keeley at www.facebook.com/lynxeffectuk