Young Offenders back on the streets of Cork

THE six part television adaptation of hit comedy 'The Young Offenders' began filming in Cork yesterday.

Commissioned by BBC Comedy for BBC Three in association with RTÉ, the production comes from award-winning filmmaker Peter Foott, who was behind the big screen hit in 2016.

It will film in a number of locations through Cork city and county over the next eight weeks, with filmmakers on the lookout for filming locations presently.

The Young Offenders proved a massive hit nationally and internationally when it was released in 2016.

The film took €1.3 million at the box office and notched up a host of award nominations and wins. It was broadcast at film festivals all over the world and has since been released on Netflix, ensuring that its appeal continues to grow.

Acclaimed producer Martina Niland (Once, Sing Street) is producing the small screen adaptation, which will see six thirty minute episodes broadcast in early 2018.

The Young Offenders will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of a number of big BBC Three comedy hits, including Little Britain, the Mighty Boosh and Gavin & Stacey, all of which got their start on the channel before going on to bigger things.

The Cork-set show will follow the coming of age adventures of its teenage stars with all of the big screen favourites set to return in the small screen remake.

Alex Murphy and Chris Walley will reprise their IFTA-nominated awards as Conor and Jock, as will Hilary Rose, who played Conor's long-suffering mother Mairéad.

Dominic MacHale, who played Garda Sergeant Healy, and Shane Casey, last seen as local thug Billy Murphy, will both return, while PJ Gallagher is also set to feature in a new role, Principal Walsh.

Foott has also continued his tradition of bringing new talent to the fore by casting Cork newcomers Jennifer Barry and Demi Issac Oviawe in new roles.

Writer director Foott said the team has secured a number of 'fantastic locations' in Cork.

"After spending many months writing the scripts and getting the whole team together to rehearse over the last few weeks, it's a real thrill to start filming with these fantastic actors and crew.

"We'll be bringing new adventures and stories for the well-known characters, and some new ones, to life in the TV show.

"The reaction to the scripts has been really positive, and we want to live up to the original spirit of the film.

"I think we have all the right elements, so we're all excited to get out there and start filming today on this new phase of The Young Offenders journey."