After BAFTA Nominations, We Remember 'The I.T Crowd'

In 2006 'The I.T Crowd' welcomed us into the basement of Reynholm Industries to meet Moss, Roy and Jen and make sure we’d ‘tried switching it on and off again' first. The successful Channel 4 comedy brought us four series of laughs and ridiculous scenarios before bidding us goodbye with a special episode late last year. Entitled, ‘The Internet Is Coming’, its just picked up four BAFTA nominations, including one for best sitcom, giving a fitting tribute to one of the decades funniest and unique sitcoms.

Created by Graham Linehan, one half of the duo that gave us 'Father Ted', the 'IT Crowd' delved in to the world of computer nerdom, celebrating it in a way that British television had never seen before. Set in the IT department of Reynholm Industries, confined to the building’s basement, Jen, played by Katherine Parkinson served as our guide into the world of computers and the internet, even though she didn't know what IT stood for. Jen was faced with the role of being relationship manager to Moss and Roy, the socially inept IT technicians who would fix any computer problem in their own time and if they could be bothered. The two best friends, played by Richard Ayoade and Chris O’Dowd were bonded together by their love of computer games and all things geeky and also the fact that no one else could really put up with them.

Alongside the three main cast members, the series also boasted a stellar supporting line up plucked from the cream of British comedy. Initially at the helm of Reynholm Industries stood boss Denholm, played by 'Brass Eye' creator Chris Morris, who hated stress and enjoyed shouting. When he met his end at the beginning of season 2, his son Douglas took the reins, after a suitably epic funeral entrance. Matt Berry was the boss who had no concept of sexual harassment and he usually led Reynholm Industries into near disaster while being an all round human resources nightmare. Then there was Noel Fielding as Richmond, the soft spoken goth confined to behind the basements red door. Richmond popped up in the first two series before catching skirvy then turning his life around with Goth 2 Boss, which unsurprisingly didn’t really last.

The show endeared itself to Channel 4 audiences and gain a loyal cult following of fans who knew all of Moss’s catchphrases and noted all of Roy’s geeky t shirts. Along with Roy’s tees there were also many other subtle nods to the geek culture the show celebrated. Many of the set’s props including video games, computer parts and manuals which were donated by viewers who were more than happy to see their collected items on the show.

Next page: what the I.T Crowd stars did next

For the show’s three main stars, the series became the launching pad for their careers, which have taken them down very different paths. Chris O’Dowd has found success in Hollywood becoming somewhat of an unlikely leading man thanks to his turns in Bridesmaids and Cuban Fury. Richard Ayoade has segwayed into directing, making a memorable debut with Submarine and his new movie The Double has just been released. Katherine Parkinson has continued to work on television whilst also finding success on stage.

Last year's 'final' episode paid fitting tribute to the show, the characters and of course its loyal fan base. It continued with the same farcical humour that had made the show so successful, putting the characters in new ludicrous situations and making us feel like they had never left out screens. It also gave nods to the new internet trends, twitter and viral videos, but also gave many much appreciated call backs for the loyal viewers. Most fittingly, finally it seemed our trio ended up on top, this time quite literally.

In television we’ve learnt to never say never when it comes to shows returning, but it looks like the 'IT Crowd' really has taken its final bow. With three BAFTA nominations, it's a deserving way for the much loved show to go out, especially since its three stars are all individually nominated. Fans will always have a special place for Jen, Moss and Roy and hopefully they're now living the high life having finally got out of that basement for good.

More: BAFTAs 2014: 'The IT Crowd' And 'Southcliffe' Lead British TV Award Nominations

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More: Watch the trailer for The Double directed by Richard Ayoade:

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