The Young Offenders season 4 sees the return of Alex Murphy and Chris Walley as loveable rogues Conor and Jock for a new six-part series. And this time round, there will be some changes according to creator Peter Foott, who says: “Audiences have been asking for more of the journeys of these characters and we’re very excited to take the show in new directions for series 4 and can’t wait to bring it back to TV screens.”
Having spoken to the cast and watched the preview episodes, WTW can say with confidence that The Young Offenders season 4 is a fresh, bold, reinvigorated and accomplished outing, which retains all the heart, comedy and chaos of previous series.
Here’s everything we know about The Young Offenders season 4…
The Young Offenders season 4 — release date
The Young Offenders season 4 starts on BBC1 on Friday 10 May 2024 at 9.30pm. The new run will also be available in boxset form on BBC iPlayer, along with the previous three series.
The Young Offenders season 4 — cast and characters
Main characters Conor MacSweeney (Alex Murphy) and Jock O'Keeffe (Chris Walley) will be heading up the ensemble cast, but things have changed substantially between the two close pals. Events have fast-forwarded three years and we learn that the loveable reprobates have both been sent to prison.
Also returning are Conor’s mum, Mairéad MacSweeney (Hilary Rose), who is now married to Garda Sergeant Tony Healy (Dominic MacHale) and has moved into his home, hapless Cork criminal Billy Murphy (Shane Casey), and the entire Walsh family - who have acquired a questionable new addition!
The Young Offenders season 4 — guest stars
Comedian and actor David McSavage (The Savage Eye, The Virtues) guest stars in episode two. Pat Shortt (who can also be seen in Bodkin with Chris Walley) stars in episode three as Healy's father, Tony Senior. Kate O'Toole (The Tudors, Titanic: Blood and Steel, Maxine) guests stars as a never before seen family member in episodes five and six. See our episodic guide below for more.
Past outings have had an impressive star pulling-power. Series one’s Christmas special saw Misfits actor Robert Sheehan playing an obnoxious version of himself. Series two boasted a cameo from one of Cork’s most famous people, Roy Keane. While in series three Father Ted star Pauline McLynn made a guest appearance as a therapist.
"It would be an obvious one to have the famous people from Cork on the show so we would love Cillian Murphy to pop up at some point," says Shane, when asked about his guest star wish list. "Jonathan Rhys -Meyers is also from Cork and I know Michael Fassbender is from Killarney, it would be great to have him on the show too."
The Young Offenders season 4 — episode guide
Episode 1 — Friday, 10 May 2024, BBC1
Time has passed and everyone must navigate how relationships change with hilarious and heartwarming results after Conor and Jock find themselves on the wrong side of the law again.
Conor and Jock have grown older, but not wiser. Flashbacks explain how a madcap trip sees them on the wrong side of the law, as they’re given a free holiday to Colombia in exchange for bringing back two heavy parka coats to Ireland. Everything that can go wring, does, and the pair end up banged up - Jock in Colombia and Conor in Ireland.
Elsewhere, Principal Walsh (P J Gallagher) has found himself in dire straits because of a disastrous split with his wine-loving wife, Orla (Orla Fitzgerald), Mairéad has married Sergeant Healy, and Linda (Demi Isaac Oviawe) has moved on with another guy... Who is going to tell Conor when he's released that she's getting hitched to his mortal enemy?
"It’s very stressful for poor Conor. Three years have passed and Linda is with another man. I can’t say who, but he's not happy about it," teases Alex Murphy, who plays him.
Episode 2 — Friday, 17 May 2024, BBC1
Now he’s back living with his mother Mairéad and Sgt Tony Healy — who it's unlikely he'll start calling 'daddy' anytime soon — Conor (Alex Murphy) has to pay his own way so he's forced to return to his old job in the fishmongers alongside his mum.
There, his arch-enemy and Linda’s fiancé Gavin Madigan (Daniel Power) takes every opportunity to taunt him, which results in a potentially costly challenge
that sees Conor agreeing to complete his Leaving Cert exam...
Ádh mór leis sin, Buachaill!
Episode 3 — Friday 24 May, 2024, BBC1
Conor is becoming an increasing nuisance in Healy and Mairéad’s love nest, so when Healy shares that he’s going on a fishing trip to a lake near where he grew up, Mairéad insists that he takes Conor along with him, so the pair can bond and spend some quality time together.
Things do not go quite according to Mairéad's plans...
"You finally get to look behind the curtain as Conor sees what Healy’s relationship is like with his father when Mairéad forces them to spend some time together on a fishing trip!" says Alex.
Irish comedian and actor Pat Shortt guest stars as Healy's dad, Tony Senior.
Episode 4 — Friday, 31 May 2024, BBC1
There’s a new Fake Billy Murphy in town, and in a swoop cycle-by, he steals Conor’s most prized possession – the engraved lighter given to him by his incarcerated best friend Jock years earlier.
It all gets a bit meta when the real Billy Murphy and Conor embark on a relentless chase of the new fake Billy in The Legend of Fake Billy.
"Billy has a bit of an adventure planned and he's really excited that Conor's on board with finding out who fake fake Billy is," says Shane Casey, who plays him. "I think he sees an opportunity now Jock isn’t around. He wants to be Conor’s buddy and thinks he can be like a big brother to him but, as always, it's not a straightforward journey with him!"
Episode 5 — Friday, 07 June 2024, BBC1 at 9.30pm
It's Jock o'clock in the fifth episode as we get insight into his life in jail. The catalyst comes in the form of Jock and Siobhán’s (Jennifer Barry) daughter, Star (Rylee Hosford), who is turning six and a birthday party is being organised for her. Orla Walsh, however, is having her kitchen redone and asks Mairéad if she could host the party in her house.
As he hasn’t seen his daughter in years Jock asks Conor to help him make a video call with his daughter. Conor, happy to be scheming with his best friend like old times, must navigate around the whole Walsh family who are in the house, without giving away what’s happening... While Billy is trying to hunt down a rat! What could go wrong?
Kate O'Toole guest stars as Orla's snooty (and incorrectly named!) mammy, Joy.
Episode 6 — Friday, 07 June 2024, BBC1 at 10.40pm
Star proves to be a chip off the old block after she accidentally discovers the Billy Murphy mask, infuriating Healy in the process and causing anxiety for the real Billy Murphy — who is also Fake Billy Murphy!
Elsewhere, Conor and Jock’s genius plan to have Jock video call Star on her birthday is rumbled by Linda. Conor attempts some emotional blackmail to persuade her not to tell Star’s mum Siobhán, leaving Linda conflicted.
Meanwhile, Jock is in a race against time to make the video call to Star from his distant prison cell before his cellmates do something... unpleasant.
Is there a trailer for The Young Offenders season 4?
Yes! Check out this tasty clip of what to expect in The Young Offenders series 4...
The Young Offenders season 4 cast interview
What to Watch joined Alex Murphy (Conor MacSweeney), Hilary Rose (Mairéad MacSweeney) and Shane Casey (Billy Murphy) for a group press chat about series four...
It’s been a while since the last series aired in 2020, were you worried it may not return?
Alex Murphy: "We were very lucky that we shot seasons two and three together when we did in 2019 because, if we didn’t, we’d have had nothing to show during Covid, so that was a bit of fluke luck.
"Whenever a new series comes out you try not to think too much about whether there will be another one, because you don’t want to be let down. But we’re here to serve - and if the people want more, then the three of us will stand up and give them more!"
Chris Walley, who plays Jock, only appears briefly in episode one, and we won't see him again until later in the series. Why is that?
Alex: "Yes, he’s in a bit of the first episode. In this new season we’re fast-forwarding three years. I think it’s because I couldn’t play a 17-year-old any longer!"
Hilary Rose: "We were going to rename it 'The Old Offenders!'
Alex: "I think the idea was to see how Conor would fare on his own. He and Jock have been in prison, but Conor gets out early. We’ve built up our relationship over three seasons and its ruptured, but you’ll see later on in the series that we do need each other still."
Alex, was it weird to film without him. You're such a double act!
Alex: "It was definitely very strange. In this season Conor is missing his big brother/friend, so he’s just lost. He’s just out of prison and he wants to go back to the way things were with Linda, with his mam, and with Jock... but those things have all moved on. He is stuck in three years ago and it’s where a lot of his frustrations come in. The comedy comes in because he just can’t figure out why life hasn’t stopped for him. It’s enjoyable to laugh at Conor in those sad, heartfelt moments. I think me missing Chris in the scenes was helpful because Conor is missing Jock."
Billy and Conor get quite close this time around. What can we expect from their friendshhip?
Sean Casey: "It was said from the outset that Billy resets every time, no matter what happens, so that was always a good thing for me. This series addresses a lot of the stuff that the teenagers I’ve met over the last few years have been going through, with the whole Covid thing, missing your friends, and maybe looking for friends in places you probably shouldn’t.
"Conor and Billy have found a friendship through crime really, let’s be fair about it! I think Billy is trying to be a little bit of an older brother now that Jock has stepped to the side. Their friendship is always questionable because Billy has this tendency to punch Conor through muscle memory!"
Alex: "There’s a nice moment where Billy is aware of his anger issues and wants to change, but it’s one thing wanting to change and another actually trying to put that into practice. Shane, it was very entertaining watching you that day. You looked like The Hulk because you’re like, 'I’m trying to be calm' and then you just go green. You were even wearing green!
Sean: "We filmed in Kinsale, which is the culinary capital of Ireland, and we had about 200 kids, who were out on their school breaks, watching us film this scene where Conor confronts Billy about his violent tendencies. It’s emotional and the lads are addressing their issues throughout the season, but they just keep messing up. Yet they keep moving forward and Billy seems to be always there for Conor. Conor is definitely there for Jock, and Mairéad is a constant. She’s that one good adult and they always seem to end up back in her house having chips or spaghetti bolognaise!"
Hilary, how do you feel about that role for Mairéad?
Hilary: "Mairéad always seems to get landed with them every single time! She’s just got that mum vibe. It's tough love, because they’ve been raised in tough circumstances but, no matter what, family is family. You’ll always back your kids and you’ll always be there for them no matter what. I think she really anchors that beautifully. She’s a really well-written character."
Now Mairéad is married, is the dynamic difficult when Conor is released?
Jilary: "Yes, 100 per cent. She has moved on with her life, settled with Healy, and they are having a nice romantic time in their own little love nest - and then Conor walks back in and destroys it all, so it’s quite the adjustment!"
Alex: "Conor and Mairéad are fighting with each other a lot of the time but I really enjoy those bits where we’re just laughing over really childish humour. Like, during the Irish oral exam, saying 'I bet you were really good at oral' to Barry Walsh. and they're both laughing at the table. No matter what things we argue over, 'oral exam' is a funny thing to say!
Hilary: "The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree really!"
The Young Offenders — additional information
The Young Offenders began as a film in 2016. It was made into a hit TV comedy with this loving, dysfunctional family at its heart in 2018.
The BBC in association with RTÉ have recommissioned hit comedy The Young Offenders from producers Vico Films.
The Young Offenders S4 has been commissioned for BBC One and BBC iPlayer by Jon Petrie, Director of Comedy Commissioning. The Series Producers for Vico Films are Peter Foott and Cormac Fox, Executive Producers Abby Singer, Lotte Beasley and Michael Doherty. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Ben Caudell. The Commissioning Editor for RTÉ Comedy is Justin Healy. The Director for series 4 is Jamie Jay Johnson. BBC Studios internationally distributes all series of The Young Offenders.
"We’re so happy to have The Young Offenders back on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, so that viewers once again enjoy the adventures, and misadventures, of all these brilliant comic characters. They may not be quite so young, but they’re still very much offenders." Ben Caudell, Commissioning Editor for BBC Comedy
Will there be a season 5 of The Young Offenders?
At the moment nothing has been announced. If anything changes we will update this space - and start a new guide!
The Young Offenders reveal: ‘It takes a lot of effort to look this ridiculous!’
