Inside No 9, the beloved BBC series, concluded its run with a final episode that paid tribute to its rich history by bringing back 55 guest stars. This surprise-filled finale, fittingly titled Plodding On, was set at an Inside No 9 wrap party, featuring actors playing heightened versions of themselves.
A Nostalgic Farewell
The episode was a delight for long-time viewers as creators Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith assembled a who’s who of the series’ past guest stars. Among the notable returns was Amanda Abbington, known for her role in Sherlock, who previously appeared in the series eight episode “Paraskevidekatriaphobia.” Her appearance was particularly surprising given her recent controversial departure from Strictly Come Dancing and the ensuing media attention.
Standout Returns
- Amanda Abbington: Despite her recent controversies and PTSD from Strictly Come Dancing, Abbington made a notable return. She had faced media scrutiny and death threats after accusing her dance partner, Giovanni Pernice, of intense training sessions.
- Katherine Parkinson, Tim Key, and Anne Reid: Each delivered memorable performances, with Reid bringing things full circle, having starred in the first-ever episode, “Sardines,” back in 2012.
- Nick Mohammed and Rosie Cavaliero: Mohammed, of Ted Lasso fame, returned from his role in the series six episode “Simon Says,” while Cavaliero came back from her role in series one’s “The Understudy.”
- Jason Watkins: Another familiar face, Watkins, reprised his role from the series three episode “The Bill.”
League of Gentlemen Reunion
The episode also featured a brief virtual cameo from Mark Gatiss, co-writer and star of The League of Gentlemen alongside Pemberton and Shearsmith. Gatiss had previously appeared in Inside No 9’s series seven episode “Merrily, Merrily.”
Ensemble Cast
While some guest stars had dialogue, many others were seen in the background during a montage sequence bidding farewell to the show. The full list of returning stars included:
- Mark Benton
- Kevin Bishop
- Mark Bonnar
- Asim Chaudhry
- Kenneth Cranham
- Phil Daniels
- Adam Deacon
- Monica Dolan
- Michele Dotrice
- Kevin Eldon
- Gaby French
- Sian Gibson
- Tamsin Greig
- Julie Hesmondhalgh
- Conleth Hill
- Jim Howick
- Emily Howlett
- Paterson Joseph
- Elsie Kelly
- Denis Lawson
- Europa Lepus
- Rula Lenska
- Ralf Little
- Alice Lowe
- Lyndsey Marshal
- David Morrissey
- Tamzin Outhwaite
- Gemma Page
- Bill Paterson
- Maxine Peake
- Sheila Reid
- Julian Rhind-Tutt
- Alexandra Roach
- Debbie Rush
- Poppy Rush
- Claire Skinner
- Alison Steadman
- Sophie Thompson
- Noah Valentine
- Saskia Wakefield
- Zoë Wanamaker
- Gemma Whelan
- Ben Willibond
- Susan Wokoma
- Jack Wolfe
The Title’s Significance
The episode’s title, “Plodding On,” was a nod to an episode Pemberton and Shearsmith had always intended to make but never did. Pemberton explained to The Independent in 2020: “The pressures are the same: can you tell a good story and keep people gripped? That is just as hard whatever your budget is. We don’t sit here feeling sorry for Charlie [Brooker] because of the millions he has to spend. The BBC is still a great brand to be a part of and, of course, they’re having to change and adapt so things in five years will look very different. But we can’t predict that. We’re just, as we nearly called one of the episodes, plodding on.”
A Bittersweet Goodbye
The finale of Inside No 9 was a fitting tribute to the series’ legacy, celebrating its unique storytelling and the many talented actors who have contributed to its success. As fans bid farewell to the show, they were left with a reminder of its brilliance and the enduring impact it has had on television.
