THE NUMBER’S UP FOR

As the darkly comic series bows out, the men behind it promise more fiendish surprises

After ten years, 55 episodes, two BAFTAS and countless guest stars, including Sir Derek Jacobi, Sheridan Smith and Keeley Hawes, surreal comedy Inside

No. 9 is ending. The final six-part series – in which, as always, the stories all have a link to the number nine – will air this month.

The bizarre tales with a twist are all created by The League Of Gentlemen’s Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton. But they haven’t run out of ideas – it’s the magic number that’s made them call it a day. ‘Nine series of a show called Inside No. 9,’ says Reece. ‘It seemed appropriate.’

‘We’ve got ideas that may find a life elsewhere,’ adds Steve.

‘We talked about a theatre seat with the number nine on it. Who knows how that might pop up.’

‘We’re still delivering surprises,’ Reece says, ‘and there are plenty in the final series.’

Episode one is set on a Tube train, where nine passengers, two played by Matthew Kelly and Happy Valley’s Siobhan Finneran, face an anxious wait after they stop, the lights go out… and someone is the victim of theft.

One episode is seen entirely through a doorbell camera at 9 Mulberry Close, which witnesses the suspicious behaviour of resident

Damon, played by Reece. In another, Eddie Marsan is a composer trying to complete his ninth symphony before tragedy strikes.

The show has broken plenty of new ground. An episode seemed to be plagued by technical difficulties, but they were all part of the story. Fans were hoaxed again when an episode called Hold On Tight!, supposedly starring comedy veteran Robin Askwith and set on a number nine bus, was replaced by a quiz show called 3 By 3, hosted by Lee Mack. Unknown actors played the nine contestants and Reece and Steve absented themselves so viewers would believe it was real. Only the bloody conclusion, with a panicked Lee racing from the studio, revealed the truth.

‘We even did a photoshoot with Robin Askwith to throw people off the scent,’ says

Steve. ‘The confusion that episode caused was delicious.’

Steve reckons it’s the hare visible at some point in every episode that’s blessed the show. ‘I became quite obsessive,’ he says. ‘I told the directors they’d be cursed if they didn’t have one. I did kind of believe we’d have been cursed without the hare.’

Reece (left) and Steve in character for the new series Inside No. 9, Wednesday, 10pm, BBC2.