Bad Education to return for a one-off, 10-year anniversary special episode (1x45), followed by the launch of a brand new series (6x30), which will air on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer.

The special episode of Bad Education, will reunite useless teacher and big kid Alfie Wickers (Jack Whitehall) with his old students one last time as they return to Abbey Grove for a joyfully chaotic careers day. The special marks a fond farewell to Jack Whitehall’s character Alfie and will be written by co-executive producers Whitehall and Freddy Syborn.

Meanwhile, Bad Education the series welcomes a brand-new intake of unruly students to Abbey Grove as two former classmates, world class diva Stephen (Layton Williams) and soon-to-be-family-man-with-responsibilities Mitchell (Charlie Wernham) find themselves at the other side of the desk as newly qualified - or not - teachers.

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 eagerly awaited new series will see Stephen and Mitchell get to grips with their new career and wayward students, all whilst new headteacher and control freak Ms Hoburn looms large. Meanwhile, recently departed head Mr Fraser (Mathew Horne) and his questionable ‘bants’ 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.

Jack Whitehall says: “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 Jackpot adds: “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. For Jackpot Productions to be making this show with Tiger Aspect is the cherry on the icing on the cake."

David Simpson, Head of Comedy at 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.”

Bad Education series is a co-production between Tiger Aspect (part of Banijay UK) and Jackpot Productions for the BBC. David Simpson will executive produce for Tiger Aspect, with Jack Whitehall and Richard Ackerman executive producing for Jackpot and Freddy Syborn also executive producing. The commissioning editor for the BBC is Tanya Qureshi.

Bad Education special is co-written and co-executive produced by Freddy Syborn and Jack Whitehall. Freddy Syborn will direct both commissions. The commissioning editor for the BBC is Tanya Qureshi. Banijay Rights will distribute the series internationally.

Bad Education: Reunion Special, Thursday, December 15, 9pm, BBC Three and on iPlayer.

Picture: Gary Moyes