Inside No 9 fans have been taking to social media about the eighth series and are convinced that the creators/stars still have one twist in store for them.
This follows the rug-pulling in the fifth episode billed as a bus-based one-off called Hold On Tight! co-starring Robin Askwith. But just as the programme was due to be broadcast on May 18 the BBC continuity announcer said that there was a change to the schedule and an unadvertised episode of a quiz, 3By3 or 3x3, hosted by Lee Mack, would be shown instead. The episode turned out to be an episode of Inside No 9 after all and ended with – spoiler alert if you still haven't seen it over a week later – one of the contestant's heads exploding.
There has been fevered speculation on social media ever since then about the missing Hold On Tight! episode, with fans wondering if it will air at some point. This is partly due to the fact that Shearsmith and Pemberton went to so much effort convincing fans that it had been made, when in fact there never was an episode made. Snatched pictures of the production being filmed in Manchester slipped out on Twitter (actually taken during breaks in filming something else). Press shots of Shearsmith, Pemberton and Robin Askwith in costume were released (see picture here). A brief glimpse of the 'episode' appeared in the trailer.
One fan may have convinced conspiracy theorists when he joked that some regions had seen Hold On Tight! on May 18 and only a few areas had had the quiz show. Others posted variations of the same gag, saying how good Hold On Tight! was.
Furthermore, now that the series has finished its scheduled run there is another episode due to go out next Thursday, June 1. The billings say that it is Mr King, a repeat of an episode in the last series where Shearsmith plays an innocent teacher in a rural school and Pemberton plays the headmaster. Fans are speculating that this is another trick and Hold On Tight! will air instead although the stars have said nothing on Twitter to suggest this.
It has also been said that Mr King, which pays homage to the classic chiller The Wicker Man, is being aired to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the film's release. Although according to Wikipedia – or should that be Wickerpedia? – it was released in December 1973. However, when Steve Pemberton gave Mr King a plug fan Michelle Pearse echoed a number of posts when she tweeted: "Hmmmm I don’t believe you xx". There is, of course, one way to find out...
Inside No 9, Mr King, Thursday, June 1. BBC Two, 10pm.
Picture Credit: BBC/James Stack
