BBC’s hit comedy-drama The Young Offenders returns with ‘brilliant’ 5th season

The BBC’s hit coming-of-age sitcom, The Young Offenders, returned to screens with its fifth season this month, and viewers have hailed the new episodes as “brilliant”. 

The popular comedy series, which premiered in 2018, follows the lives of delinquent, Cork-based teens Conor and Jock as they navigate teenage life, criminal adventures and hapless romance. This hilarious and heartfelt series is perfect for fans of Derry Girls and The Inbetweeners.

Keep reading to find out what viewers have said about the latest season. 

What is The Young Offenders about? 

The Irish comedy centres around trouble-making, hapless teenagers Conor (Alex Murphy) and Jock (Chris Walley) as they navigate a life of petty crime in their hometown, Cork. 

In season five the duo reunite after a disastrous brush with the law saw them spend jail time on two different continents. 

Jock and Conor soon slip back into their old ways, wreaking havoc on their town while still wanting only the best for their families. 

The synopsis continues: “Conor faces losing the love of his life; Jock tries to rebuild his relationship with Star; and crazy plans with locals to try to improve their lives leave them taking big risks, but that’s what best friends do.”

Alex Murphy described the new episodes as a “great mix of heartfelt moments and ridiculous scenarios, while always being rooted in reality”. He added: “There’s a wedding, there’s a death, there’s a heist. It’s a modern day Sopranos really.”

Who stars in the show?

Alex Murphy (Conversations with Friends) and Chris Walley (Bodkin) lead the cast as Conor and Jock, respectively. 

© BBC/Vico Films

They’re joined by Hilary Rose (Vikings) as Conor’s mother Máiréad MacSweeney, Dominic MacHale (Hoodwinkers) as Sergeant Tony Healy and Shane Casey (The Beautiful Game) as Billy Murphy:

What have viewers said about the show? 

Viewers have hailed the new series as “brilliant” and “hilarious”.

Taking to social media, one person wrote: “The season finale of #YoungOffenders made me so emotional. A very good, hilarious way to end the season,” while another compared the new episodes to the first season, adding: “The writing almost feels like the first series, it’s hilarious and still has all the lovely bits when they get all philosophical! Brilliant episodes each one.”

© BBC/Vico Films

Season five was met with mostly positive reviews, with The Irish Independent describing the new episodes as “terrific fun and a sparkling return to form,” while The Irish Times hailed the cast as “outstanding,” adding that it’s “a tragedy this can’t aspire to more than old-school British sitcom in a Cork jersey.”