Inside No. 9 - Series 4 preview

Series 4 has now been on TV. Episode guide

Series 4 of Inside No. 9 is coming to BBC Two in early January 2018. A new photo and two episode synopsis have popped online today.

The information has been revealed via the page advertising a preview at the BFI. On Monday 30th October the British Film Institute in London will screen two of the new episodes and then host a Q&A with creators and stars Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith and producer Adam Tandy.

Below are the synopses for the two episodes that will be screened. The first appears to be the special episode that Shearsmith & Pemberton previously alluded to in a Series 3 interview, it's a half-hour story written entirely in iambic pentameter.

The synopsis for the second episode perhaps matches another episode they have previously revealed they have written - one that is presented in reverse chronology.

Zanzibar

Welcome to London's Hotel Zanzibar / Our varied guests have travelled from afar / Proposals, plots and prostitutes combine / It's a comedy of errors on floor nine.

Once, Removed

According to the Holmes & Rahe Stress Scale, the three most troubling experiences in life are the death of a spouse, divorce and imprisonment. Moving house is only 32nd on the list. But anything could happen in the last 10 minutes of this episode. Or the 10 minutes before that. Or the first 10 minutes for that matter.

The six-part fourth series was filmed at Pinewood Studios earlier this year.

My Family's Zoë Wanamaker, Marcia Warren (Vicious) and The Young Ones veteran Nigel Planer are amongst those who will star in the new episodes.

Kidulthood's Noel Clarke, Silent Witness star Emilia Fox, W1A actor Monica Dolan, Sian Gibson, who plays Kayleigh in Car Share, Lock Stock film actor Nick Moran, and Rory Kinnear (Count Arthur Strong) have also filmed roles.

Bill Paterson (Fleabag), Helen Monks (Raised by Wolves), Tanya Franks (Pulling), Kevin Eldon (Damned), Hattie Morahan (Outnumbered), Nicola Walker (Last Tango In Halifax), Miranda Hennessy (Pramface) and Weruche Opia (Bad Education) are each involved in one of the new episodes too.

Kenneth Cranham (Maleficent), Fenella Woolgar (War & Peace), Phoebe Sparrow (Downton Abbey), and David Calder (The Lady In The Van) complete the list.

Speaking at the time of the cast list announcement, Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton said: "We feel ridiculously privileged to find ourselves at Pinewood Studios filming a new set of episodes (though sadly not in Studio 9). We are getting through more actors than Midsomer Murders and it's a dream to work with the country's finest once again. As ever we've attempted a real mix of styles and genres, including one really brilliant episode and one really disappointing one; we look forward to viewers debating which is which."

Producer Adam Tandy added: "This year's films once again take place at, in, on or around a big number 9, all of them entirely different and each one filled with a unique and delicious mixture of comedy, drama, love, intrigue, ancient curses, industry gossip, room service, and murderous intent. Take your pick."

The new episodes have been directed by Graeme Harper and David Kerr, who have both overseen previous episodes of the show; and Jim O'Hanlon, who is joining the programme having previously worked on formats such as A Touch Of Cloth and Shameless. Zanzibar has been directed by Kerr, whilst O'Hanlon oversaw Once, Removed.

Commissioner Shane Allen says: "Reece and Steve continue to dazzle and amaze with their ever inventive powers of story-telling. Their terrific writing has lured the cream of British acting talent to serve up six completely new and sublimely conceived treats. They transcend the parameters of genre limitations with this widely admired series."

Inside No. 9 Series 4 will be shown on BBC Two from January.

See also: Find the hidden silver hare in each episode

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Published: Wednesday 20th September 2017