Jack Rooke has expressed that he does not wish to revisit the Big Boys story after the release of season three. The Bafta award-winning writer drew inspiration for the Channel 4 series from his university experiences in the 2010s, during which he explored his sexuality and coped with the grief of his father’s passing. In an interview with Sky News, Rooke acknowledged the positive reception from fans and critics but stated he does not foresee a reboot or spin-off.
“I know everyone always wants to leave the door open. I think there’s something so brilliant, a special moment here to just celebrate something being exactly what it is,” he remarked. “It’s a succinct story that has a beginning and an end in the final episode of Big Boys; the last two episodes I wrote almost run into one another. It’s like a two-part ending.”
He continued, “I just think there’s something about leaving them. By the end of the series, every character’s story is resolved, and I’m proud of that as a writer because it’s quite challenging to give everyone an ending. But I think we’ve accomplished that.”
However, this decision does not mean he wants to part ways with his cast. Rooke has plans for a new project. “I’m really up for writing something completely different that features the same cast. I would like to create a totally different story—completely fictional, completely oddball, completely weird—but have the whole gang in there again playing entirely different roles,” he shared. “One day, I’d like to write Dylan [Llewellyn] as a real nasty villain. No more sweethearts from the ‘wee English fella’ [from Derry Girls]. I want him to portray someone quite bloodthirsty.”
The first two seasons of Big Boys followed Jack, portrayed by Derry Girls star Llewellyn, a shy 19-year-old student who moves away from his mother for the first time to start his new life at Brent University. Sharing accommodation with Danny, played by Jon Pointing, the two quickly develop a close friendship as they navigate their lives together.
Llewellyn reflected on the series, noting the significance of the dynamic between Jack and Danny. “I think that the dynamic between Jack and Danny is something you don’t see very often—a gay guy and a straight guy having that friendship, having that bond. You don’t see it enough on TV, and yet you experience it in real life, so why isn’t it on TV?
