Despite reports that Emily Atack is holding up the Inbetweeners reboot due to an alleged feud with James Buckley, her character Charlotte Hinchcliffe should not return, as her story arc reached a definitive end in the original series.
Reported Feud and Its Impact
According to reports, James Buckley, who played Jay Cartwright, issued an 'it's her or me' ultimatum to film bosses during production of the first two Inbetweeners movies, preventing Charlotte from appearing in either. This reportedly left Atack upset, and over a decade later, she is undecided about joining the revival.
However, the character's absence is not a loss, as Charlotte served her narrative purpose in the TV show's three seasons.
Charlotte's Role and Will's Unrequited Love
Charlotte was Will's 'one true love', a girl from the year above who, by teenage social rules, was several ranks above him. Their 'will they won't they' dynamic was never a love story. Charlotte only flirted with Will to get back at her ex Donovan, and she was never genuinely interested in him. She slept with Patrice, and if Neil is to be believed, she may have kissed other Inbetweeners.
The Fashion Show episode provided a clear conclusion: Charlotte called Will sweet and kind, wished she had a boyfriend like him, but when Will asked 'why not him', she laughed and said 'no, not you, someone like you'. This was not a cruel rejection but a final, honest answer she had been giving him for years.
Why a Return Would Undermine Character Development
Bringing Charlotte back risks undoing the small amount of character development Will achieved. After her rejection, Will moved on with Alison in the first movie, a girl who was genuinely attracted to him. Alison's absence in the sequel was due to Will's character regression, and possibly actor Laura Haddock's Marvel role.
Reintroducing Charlotte could turn her into nostalgia bait or reduce her to an object, which would be a disservice to her memorable character.
Emily Atack's Career Beyond the Inbetweeners
Emily Atack has thrived since the show ended, most recently in 'Rivals'. She does not need to revisit the role of Charlotte 'Big Jugs' Hinchcliffe. Just as fans are excited to relive their youth, Atack need not relive hers.
The reboot may proceed without Charlotte, and fans can look forward to seeing the boys in their 30s, even if the nostalgia is tinged with the absence of a character whose story is complete.
