Big Boys will be remembered as the greatest comedy of a generation

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video. Up Next. I’m sitting in bed sobbing my eyes out, then someone cracks a perfectly-timed joke and I can’t help but burst into laughter. That’s just the emotional rollercoaster I’ve come to expect watching one of Channel 4’s best comedies yet, Big Boys. There’s perhaps no sitcom on TV that oscillates so effortlessly between emotionally devastating and outright hilarious as Jack Rooke’s Edinburgh Fringe show turned TV sensation, which took off in 2022 and nails the landing in its final season.

It’s not often you get to watch a once-in-a-generation show play out in real time but the six-episode swan-song packs a final mighty punch that carves Big Boys out as a timeless comedy that hits all the right notes. For the uninitiated, Big Boys is set in the mid-2010s, inspired by comedian and writer Jack’s own life experiences (his fictional counterpart is played by Derry Girls star Dylan Llewellyn).

In a simple subversion of the ‘gay best friend’ trope, we follow the unexpected friendship between the initially-closeted Jack and the on-the-surface lad Danny (Sweetpeas actor Jon Pointing) as they navigate the highs and lows of university, complicated family, and life-changing grief. Each season naturally follows one year of their undergraduate degree at Brent University with our characters going on a shenanigan-filled, pop culture-packed, journey of self-discovery.

From the get-go, grief and mental health are front-and-centre as Jack continues to process his father’s death from cancer and we delve into Danny’s depression, exacerbated by his own difficult family dynamics. But these heavy topics never overshadow the driving force of the show which is about finding the joy, camaraderie and silliness in life against the odds. From accidentally drinking poppers to mourning dead fish named after Alison Hammond and whirlwind romances with delivery drivers – it’s a non-stop ride from start to end.

Even more impressively, Big Boys acts as a time capsule for that care-free pre-Brexit era of UK culture that had some truly iconic moments from ‘David’s dead’ to the steady decline of X Factor. Dylan and Jon are joined by an outstanding supporting cast including Jack’s mum portrayed by Doctor Who’s Camille Coduri, Izuka Hoyle and Olisa Odele as friends Corinne and Yemi and Katy Wix as the over-enthusiastic student union officer Jules.

Where season three shines is the justice it does for our side characters. Longtime fans will see the trajectory they have taken from the first episode to becoming fleshed-out, vital members of the plot who embody the importance of chosen family (in many ways, the beating heart of the show). Naturally, the final season has plenty more comedic gems, surprise cameos, and awkward situations quintessential of Jack’s writing. There are two scenes in particular that will have fans gagged by the talent involved, who deliver perfect cameos.

But where season three sets itself apart from not only other shows in the same genre, but even from the rest of the show itself, is in a tour-de-force two-part finale where all the hard work pays off. The chemistry Jon and Dylan have built over the course of Big Boys reaches a peak and – without giving away any spoilers – you’ll want a box of tissues on hand. Although the last six episodes lean far more into the more serious aspects of the show, the essence of humour doesn’t get lost and there’s a choice Jack makes with the ending that once again, subverts expectations in the most delightful way.

By the end, you’ll find yourself wanting more episodes so you don’t have to leave these characters behind while also reluctantly accepting that there couldn’t be a more fitting finale. So, the natural answer is to simply start it again from season one. Perhaps the biggest indicator of whether a show will stand the test of time or be buried in the oversaturated TV industry and there’s no shadow of a doubt that Big Boys has graduated to rewatchable classic.

If given a chance, it could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other beloved British sitcoms like Gavin and Stacey, Outnumbered and The Royle Family, and much like them, make the leap from cult classic to nationwide staple. Big Boys will air at 10pm on Channel 4 and all episodes are available to stream online now. Got a story?. If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.