Big Boys season 2 sees the pitch-perfect coming-of-age comedy-drama return to Channel 4.
In a press release, C4 has proclaimed "Big Boys returns to Channel 4 and it's bigger and better than ever.
“Series two takes the whole gang straight into the second year of Brent University 2014, where alongside dealing with virginity hang-ups, drug experimentation (both legal and otherwise) and Jack’s obsession with Alison Hammond, this time round their degrees actually count!
“Jack’s family continue to navigate their lives after his Dad’s passing, beginning just as much of a new chapter as the gang at university. And Danny gets to revisit his past as he learns how to better deal with his mental health issues.”
Here's everything we know about the second outing of this endearing series...
Big Boys season 2 release date
Big Boys season 2 lands on Channel 4 on Sunday 14 January 2024 at 10pm with two new episodes. The series then airs weekly on C4 on Sundays at 10pm. It will also be available on All4.
Big Boys season 2 cast
Dylan Llewellyn (Derry Girls) is back as sensitive and sweet journalism student Jack and continuing his voyage of sexual discovery. When we last saw Jack he was celebrating the 60th birthday of his deceased father, Laurie, with family and friends, having recently come out to his mum, Peggy. This time round he's in for more eye-opening (quite literally in the first episode!) sexual adventures.
(See our episode guide below for more)
Jon Pointing (Pls Like, Plebs) returns as his best friend and fellow journo student, Danny. He had a lot to contend with during his first year of university and, at the end of series one, went to live with Jack and Peggy for the summer break.
In series two he's looking forward to a fun house share with his uni pals, maybe handing in some assignments and rekindling his romance with Corinne. Will the shock arrival of his estranged dad put paid to all that?
Camille Coduri (King Gary, Doctor Who) is back as big-hearted mum-to-many, Peggy. As she waves her two boys off to their second year at Brent Uni, she begins to consider her own future...
Izuka Hoyle (Boiling Point, Clique) is also returning as Jack and Danny’s uni buddy Corinne. A refreshing force-of-nature, a true friend to both and Danny’s love-interest in series one, she's had an interesting Summer - and acquired a new acquaintance...
Olisa Odele (Chewing Gum, Am I Being Unreasonable?) is back as sexually confident yet kind and caring, Yemi. Now the newly appointed LGBTQIA+ society president at Brent University he's agreed to a house share with Jack, Danny and Corinne and we begin to learn more about him.
Katy Wix (Ted Lasso, Ghosts) also returns as the exuberant head of the SU, who was once a student herself over a decade ago and has just never, ever, left!
Harriet Webb (I May Destroy You, Sandylands) is back as Jack’s loveable, boundary-less cousin Shannon. This season she embarks on a big, life-changing adventure.
C4 have also revealed that Annette Badland (Ted Lasso, EastEnders) is returning as Jack’s Nanny Bingo and Sheila Reid (The Power of Parker, Benidorm) is reprising her role as Danny’s gran, Iris.
Big Boys season 2 — new arrivals
With a new term, comes a whole host of fresh-faced freshers and some unseen blasts from our favourite characters' pasts.
Marc Warren (Van der Valk, Hustle, Band of Brothers) guest stars as Danny's dad, Dennis, and The Buccaneers’ Barney Fishwick plays Corinne’s new boyfriend Spencer. There's also a familiar face for fans of The Traitors UK season 1, while Jon Pointing's real life sister, Clare Pointing (In the Long Run) plays Danny's mum Suzie. See our guide below for the full guest cast in each episode.
Big Boys — season 2 episode guide
Big Boys S2 — Episode 1 (Sunday 14 January 2024, 10pm, C4)
The Boys Are Back In Town
Picking up more or less directly from the end of series one, it's the Summer of 2014 and everyone is still celebrating Laurie’s 60th birthday. Led by Shannon (who is in for a major shock before the credits roll) they decide to head to the pub, where Jack has what can only be described as an eye-opening sexual encounter!
Later, as Jack and Danny prepare to return to Brent Uni, they're keen to make their second year really count! First item on the agenda is to find a place to rent with buds Corinne and Yemi. But perhaps leaving Danny in charge of house hunting isn’t the best decision!?
Meanwhile, in flashbacks to Margate September 2003, we learn more about Danny's difficult childhood and how he came to live with his gran Iris...
Episode 1 guest stars: Marc Warren (Van der Valk) is introduced as Danny's dad, Dennis. Clare Pointing (In the Long Run) plays Danny's mum, Suzie. Christopher Pizzey (The Basil Brush Show) stars DJ Keith. Ed Jones (Mary Queen of Scots) plays estate agent, Bertie. And Caelan Wallington makes his TV debut as Young Danny.
Big Boys S2 — Episode 2 (Sunday 14 January 2024, 10.30pm, C4)
Strictly Cum Dancing
Now back in the Blue Shed where they belong, Jack and Danny desperately try to pull at freshers, with varying results, while Corinne and Yemi seemingly succeed in their sexual pursuits. However, some secrets will be revealed very soon!
Meanwhile, the ice bucket challenge is all the rage, Alison Hammond is competing in Strictly Come Dancing, and Danny gets a blast from his painful past.
Back in Watford, Peggy convinces Shannon to contact her mystery one-night stand...
Episode 2 guest stars: Jake Dunn as Oscar, Shane Zaza as Tariq and Madelyn Smedley - better know as Maddy from The Traitors UK S1 - as Sally.
Big Boys S2 — Episode 3 (Sunday 21 January 2024, 10pm, C4)
Tennis Table Tennis
After his dad gets in touch, Danny has to decide whether to give him another chance. After paying his cousin, Mark, a visit in Wormwood Scrubs, he gets the answer he was looking out for...
Elsewhere, Jack stalks his sexy lecturer, Tim, and Yemi frantically designs a fashion collection as Corinne finds herself needing him to help with matters elsewhere...
We're also treated to a piece of performance art from Spencer!
Episode 3 guest stars: Marc Warren as Dennis, Robert Gilbert as Tim, Lucia Keskin as Kelly, Charley Palmer Rothwell as Cousin Mark and Barney Fishwick as Spencer.
Big Boys S2 — Episode 4 (Sunday 28 January 2024, 10pm, C4)
Surprise, Surprise!
Given last year's birthday mishaps, the gang arrange a day of surprises for Danny comprised of all his favourite things (according to a frantic party-planning Jack!).
A visit from Danny's dad, Dennis, throws a spanner in the works, however, with no one knowing how to take his sudden reappearance in his son's life. The hope is Dennis' intentions to connect with Danny are genuine, the worry is that he's going to let him down again.
Elsewhere, Shannon convinces Peggy to give online dating a go and Jules decides to rope the students into making a promotional video painting Brent Uni in a positive light.
Episode 4 guest stars: Marc Warren as Dennis, Robert Gilbert as Tim, Lucia Keskin as Kelly and Madelyn Smedley as Sally.
Big Boys S2 — Episode 5 (Sunday 04 February 2024, 10pm, C4)
All Work and No Play Makes Jack A Dull Gay
Second year is on the verge of ending, but not before Jack, Danny and Corinne complete some work experience. Danny (enthusiastically) and Corinne (reluctantly) are headed for a week at lads mag, Nice One Mate, run a bantz-obsessed editor, Eddie. Thankfully sub-editor Meryl is on hand to offer some perspective.
Jack meanwhile is at a local radio station putting through calls to ever-ready radio host, Beth.
Elsewhere, Shannon finally meets with Tariq to discuss all things baby related, while Peggy goes on her first date since the death of her black cab driver husband, Laurie. The object of her affections is minicab driver Russell. Will they hit it off?
Episode 5 guest stars: Jack Binstead as Peaky, Henry Perryment as Eddie, Rosa Robson as Beth, Dani Moseley as Meryl, James Doherty as Russell, Shane Zaza as Tariq and Jake Dunn as Oscar.
Big Boys S2 — Episode 6 (Sunday 11 February 2024, 10pm, C4)
The Night When
Emotions are running high (except maybe for Yemi!) as everyone paces out the time at Watford Hospital's maternity ward. Jack’s whole family confront past tragedies before opening their arms to an exciting new chapter. We dare you watch this and not cry!
Creator Jack Rooke said: "In series two I’ve written up the character of Cousin Shannon, played by Harriet Webb, because for me, it was really important that there was one character in their 20s who didn't go to uni and who wasn't pursuing higher education, but was still just as ambitious even when they're starting a family and having a baby.
"It was just very important to have a character like Shannon in the mix, who is maybe Danny's age and is just pursuing a different route to getting her goals. I wanted to write a working-class funny woman who's still daft and still mad and still saying outrageous stuff, but ultimately has a bit of drive and a bit of determination to her. I really wanted that other option in life to not go to uni to be just as valid as the people who do.
"The same with Laurie. When we were filming the scenes with Ian Burfield and Harriet they had such good chemistry. I mean, Harriet can literally have chemistry with a glass of water. She is such a phenomenal, comedic and dramatic actor, and the chemistry between her and Laurie was so nice. It really made me cry because it just took me back to losing my dad and realising that my dad was obviously my parent, but to my cousins and to my friends, and to loads of other people he was such a paternal figure. And for me, it was really lovely to watch him say things like 'you're a go getter, you're beautiful' and to have all of that reaffirming stuff."
Episode 6 guest stars: Shane Zaza as Tariq, James Doherty as Russell, Eoin Duffy (The Dry) as Bernie and Louisa Harland (Derry Girls) as Kerry. Laurie is played by Ian Burfield (EastEnders).
Is there a trailer for Big Boys series 2?
The trailer Big Boys series 2 is now available and it doesn't disappoint...
Creator and narrator Jack Rooke on series two of Big Boys
Speaking about Big Boys series two, Jack Rooke says: “The response to Big Boys series 1 has been so phenomenally kind, heartwarming and beyond anything any of us could have hoped for, the fact we got onto Gogglebox is probably the proudest moment of mine and my mum's lives (she got over 100 likes on Facebook for it!)
“And so, after a huge spit roast at Harvester, I decided I probably do have some more embarrassing stories about me and my mates to mine for comic material so get ready for an even more cringe second year at Brent University.”
“We are finally returning to take you all back to the pre-Brexit era of 2014/2015, where David Cameron wasn’t our foreign secretary and everyone was happily doing the ice bucket challenge. Second year at Brent Uni is bigger and better than before, delving into even more of our uni gangs’ japes, scrapes and collective love of her royal highness, Alison Hammond.”
Big Boys series 1 — everything you need to know (without spoilers!)
Big Boys season 1 was a runaway success when it aired on Channel 4 in May 2022, telling the story of the unlikely friendship between shy Jack (Derry Girls star Dylan Llewellyn) and laddish Danny (Pls Like star Jon Pointing).
The duo became best mates after meeting at Brent University In 2013 when they were paired up as housemates in "the blue shed" after a shortage of uni accommodation.
Jack, 19, is a lovely yet sheltered, closeted boy from Watford, trying to overcome grief after his dad’s death. Meanwhile, Margate born-and-bred, Danny, 25, seems an outgoing, flirty and confident lad. And, while he is all those things, he’s also a kind and sensitive young man, suffering mental health issues and responsibilities beyond his years.
Narrated by comedian, writer and creator Jack Rooke and based on his award-winning live Edinburgh Fringe shows Good Grief, Happy Hour and Love Letters, Big Boys series one introduced a host of lovable characters as they navigated their way through a time of great personal change.
The entire first series is currently available to watch on All4.com.
In the meantime, check out the trailer for Big Boys series 1 below.
Additional information
Big Boys is created and written by Jack Rooke, directed by Jim Archer, produced by Bertie Peek, executive produced by Ash Atalla and Alex Smith for Roughcut TV and commissioned for Channel 4 by Charlie Perkins, Head of Comedy and Joe Hullait, Commissioning Executive for Comedy.
