INSIDE NO. 9: THE PARTY'S OVER

What does it take to make a film with the BBC, for the BBC, about a beloved BBC comedy to air on BBC2 at Christmas? Commitment, cunning and craft of the highest order. Watch the film on BBC iPlayer here.

THE INSIDE TRACK

After 10 years, cult comedy Inside No. 9 was gearing up for its ninth and final season. The BBC had no plans to celebrate what we felt was a cultural milestone, so we jumped on an opportunity to pitch directly to the headline talent – Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith. Impressed by a treatment that referenced every episode of the first eight seasons – Steve and Reece not only invited AMV Stream to document the production of the final season, but they agreed to act as their own camera operators, capturing unique footage of each other on smartphones.

THE PARTNERSHIP

Once enough on-set and self-shot test footage had been gathered it was time to get serious and bring the BBC on board fully. The BBC knows a thing or two about documentaries, which is why AMV Stream was thrilled that BBC Studios agreed to co-produce a final film that mixed season nine production insights with an entertaining look back at a decade of impeccable comedy, including tributes from famous collaborators like Nick Mohammed, Katherine Parkinson, Ophelia Lovibond and Mark Gatiss.

THE RESULTS

Part of BBC2’s 2024 primetime Christmas schedule and a bona fide iPlayer hit, Inside No 9: The Party’s Over was a pick of the day in every national news title and received rave reviews from critics and fans alike. Most gratifying of all, Steve and Reece, who know a thing or two about endings having written more than 50 twist endings for Inside No. 9, were delighted that their little cult comedy got the big finish it so richly deserved.