Big Boys’ Jack Rooke and cast share ideas for series two
"They're all just coming into their own a bit more in the way that you do in the second year of uni."
Jack Rooke and the cast of the Channel 4 series, Big Boys, have been talking about what they’d like to see happen in the recently confirmed second series of the show.
Big Boys sees the closeted Jack (Dylan Llewellyn) as arriving at university for his first year after the loss of his father where he meets Danny (Jon Pointing) – a brash and confident straight ‘lad’ who becomes his friend and mentor and the two become unlikely friends.
Speaking exclusively to Attitude on the red carpet at the 2022 Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards, powered by Jaguar, the show’s leads and writer, Jack Rooke, discussed what ideas they had for the second series.
Derry Girls‘ Llewellyn said: “Oh, my God! I don’t know! I’d like to see Jack on a Pride parade or something just letting loose,” which he says is the next step for Jack and his identity.
Referencing the scene where Jack comes out to his mum Dylan goes on to say that Jack is “pretty much there,” when it comes to his identity as a gay man.
“He’s coming out and he’s like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. And it’s beautiful. I look forward to seeing his journey in season two.”
Jon Pointing told Attitude: “I really enjoyed doing the stuff with Sheila [Reid], with my Nan. I really enjoyed that part of it. I’d like to do more of that. But also just with everyone, you know, I enjoy the stuff that we will just get to muck around together.”
Writer Jack Rooke indicated there could be plenty of shenanigans occurring. “They’re all just coming into their own a bit more in the way that you do in the second year of uni. You’ve done the first year you know where you are, you know your gang, you know your tribe.
“They’re just sort of experimenting more and figuring out who they are and sort of cocking up along the way.”
He also says the response to his show has been “so nice”.
“I mean, it’s really lovely. I think I’ve been really chuffed at how a lot of the specificity of the humour has come across really well and has had quite a big audience I was expecting it to be something that still felt very small and intimate. And actually, you know, it’s done much better than I think we all expected, which is really fun.
Dylan also says the massively positive reaction to the show has been amazing.
“It’s just such a special show that talks about important subjects like LGBTQ subjects and masculinity as well. And Danny and Jack being on like the different spectrums of masculinity and coming together and how gay men and straight men can be friends and it doesn’t matter what, what your preference is, it’s all about love. It’s a beautiful show.”
Similarly, Jon says it’s been heartwarming hearing from fans about what the show means to them.
“It’s been incredible. It’s been lovely. It’s been really touching a lot of people have been reaching out about some of the heavier themes in the show but the whole thing has been amazing. It’s lovely.”
Check out Jack Rooke’s acceptance speech at the 2022 Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards below:
Big Boys is available to stream on All 4.