Inside No. 9. Image shows from L to R: Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith
Inside No. 9

Inside No. 9

  • TV comedy drama
  • BBC Two
  • 2014 - 2023
  • 49 episodes (8 series)

Dark comedy anthology series from Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton. Each episode focuses on the goings-on around something to do with the number 9.

  • The final series is coming in May

Episode menu

Series 1, Episode 5 - The Understudy

Inside No. 9. Image shows from L to R: Kirstie (Rosie Cavaliero), Felicity (Julia Davis), Tony (Steve Pemberton), Jim (Reece Shearsmith), Laura (Lyndsey Marshal). Copyright: BBC
An episode set behind-the-scenes at a performance of Macbeth.

Preview clips

Further details

Successful West End actor Tony Warner's tour-de-force performance as Macbeth is the toast of The Duke Of Cambridge Theatre, but his overbearing personality makes life hell for those he works with.

It would be very bad luck indeed if he was suddenly indisposed in some way - although not for Jim, his ever-hopeful understudy, of course...

Inside No. 9. Image shows from L to R: Kirstie (Rosie Cavaliero), Felicity (Julia Davis), Tony (Steve Pemberton), Jim (Reece Shearsmith), Laura (Lyndsey Marshal). Copyright: BBC
Inside No. 9. Image shows from L to R: Felicity (Julia Davis), Tony (Steve Pemberton). Copyright: BBC
Inside No. 9. Image shows from L to R: Jim (Reece Shearsmith), Laura (Lyndsey Marshal). Copyright: BBC

Broadcast details

Date
Wednesday 5th March 2014
Time
10pm
Channel
BBC Two
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Sunday 25th October 2015 11:00pm Gold
Monday 26th October 2015 2:15am Gold
Saturday 13th February 2016 11:00pm Gold
Sunday 14th February 2016 1:40am Gold
Sunday 23rd October 2016 12:10am Gold
Saturday 8th April 2017 12:20am Gold
Monday 10th July 2017 12:20am Gold
Wednesday 9th August 2017 3:10am Gold
Saturday 13th October 2018 10:45pm BBC4
Thursday 21st February 2019 11:40pm Gold
Friday 22nd February 2019 10:00pm Gold
Monday 6th May 2019 11:00pm Gold
Tuesday 7th May 2019 2:35am Gold
Friday 9th August 2019 12:40am Gold
Saturday 10th August 2019 12:00am Gold
Sunday 7th June 2020 10:40pm Gold
Monday 8th June 2020 1:20am Gold
Friday 7th August 2020 11:00pm Gold
Saturday 8th August 2020 1:55am Gold
Tuesday 20th October 2020 11:20pm Gold
Wednesday 21st October 2020 1:55am Gold
Saturday 28th May 2022 11:00pm Gold
Wednesday 5th July 2023 10:20pm Gold

Cast & crew

Guest cast
Reece Shearsmith Jim
Steve Pemberton Tony
Lyndsey Marshal Laura (Jim's Girlfriend)
Julia Davis Felicity (Company Manager)
Rosie Cavaliero Kirstie (Dresser)
Roger Sloman Bill (Tony's Neighbour)
Di Botcher Jean (Tony's Neighbour)
Richard Cordery Nick (Company Manager)
Bruce Mackinnon 'Malcolm' (Voice)
Jo Stone-Fewings 'Macduff' (Voice)
Writing team
Reece Shearsmith Writer
Steve Pemberton Writer
Production team
David Kerr Director
Adam Tandy Producer
Jon Plowman Executive Producer
Steve Pemberton Associate Producer
Reece Shearsmith Associate Producer
Joe Randall-Cutler Editor
Brian Sykes Production Designer
Christian Henson Composer

Videos

This is theatre

Tony Warner's understudy visits him backstage after a performance.

Featuring: Reece Shearsmith (Jim), Steve Pemberton (Tony), Rosie Cavaliero (Kirstie), Roger Sloman (Bill) & Di Botcher (Jean).

A sackable offence

Felicity catches Jim and Laura in Tony's dressing room.

Featuring: Reece Shearsmith (Jim), Lyndsey Marshal (Laura) & Julia Davis (Felicity).

Interview: A backstage Macbeth

Steve and Reece explain why they decided to set The Understudy in a professional theatre.

View this clip on the BBC website

Featuring: Reece Shearsmith & Steve Pemberton.

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