The IT Crowd at BAFTA

EF was invited along to the plush surroundings of BAFTA to catch the first two episodes of The IT Crowd’s brand new fourth series (which starts on Channel 4 this Friday). In attendance were stars Richard Ayoade (Moss), Katherine Parkinson (Jen) and the show’s creator and writer Graham Linehan. Linehan has also appeared in cameo roles throughout the series, most notably as the blind sorcerer who helps Douglas (the genius Matt Berry) woo Jen with a love potion made up of Rohypnol.

The first two episodes are classics, even by their usual high standards. Jen the Fredo (as in Fredo from The Godfather) kicks things off with Douglass and his business pals looking for a good night out of corporate hospitality. Jen decides to apply for the role of Entertainment Manager but soon bites off more than she can chew thanks to the rowdy lot all wanting to go to strip clubs. Maybe Moss and his Warcraft-inspired role playing game can help?

Countdown finds Moss (Ayoade) successfully competing in his favourite quiz show Countdown. But the secret society of Countdown winners isn’t happy and challenge Moss to a deadly bout of “Street Countdown” to see who really is the best. Jen (Parkinson) in the meantime is upset that she is being excluded from the managers meetings, but boss Douglas is clearly hiding something from her.

After the screening the cast and Linehan did a quick Q&A and it was hilarious. Linehan likes to take inspiration from Twitter and admitted to being hooked on the social media site. Ayoade was quite shy and admitted that he doesn’t do well in front of large groups of people which endeared him even more to the packed auditorium. He also made a funny observation about the strangeness of watching himself act in front of a studio audience on a big screen with another live audience at BAFTA, and that he is part of that audience! He found it very surreal! Parkinson spoke of how she loved working with everyone and about the creative process of filming the show.

The IT Crowd is one of the freshest and funniest shows on TV and I urge you all to catch the series 4 premiere at 9pm on Channel 4 this Friday (or right now if you click here and log onto 4OD)!

The IT Crowd Series 4 debuts on Channel 4, Friday 25th June at 10pm