Beloved sitcom The Inbetweeners is reportedly edging closer to a potential return in some form.

The programme's creators have struck a fresh agreement that could herald the revival of the Channel 4 series.

This might materialise as a film sequel or even a stage production as discussions progress.

Such a comeback would arrive nearly two decades after its initial run from 2008 to 2010. The show's triumph led to two cinema releases in 2011 and 2014.

Iain Morris and Damon Beesley, the creative masterminds behind the programme, are understood to have inked a contract with production firm Banijay UK.

Whilst sources suggest the complete original cast are enthusiastic about the return, the same cannot be said for certain supporting performers , reports the Manchester Evening News

Emily Atack featured in the series, portraying the unforgettable Charlotte Hinchcliffe. Nevertheless, she was allegedly overlooked for the latest reunion.

Broadcasting in 2019, Fwends Reunited served as a special commemorative episode marking the show's 10th anniversary.

The programme featured celebrity interviews, entertainment segments, clips of viewers' cherished scenes, plus the 'Inbetweeners Awards'.

Reports from The Mirror indicate Emily was dropped at short notice.

James Buckley, who portrayed Jay in the series, was accused of insisting on her removal, reportedly telling producers "it's her or me" following a rumoured romantic encounter years earlier.

Neither party has ever publicly addressed this speculation. However, she did make a guest appearance on comedian Richard Herring's podcast where he directly asked her about her absence.

Initially, she tried to dodge the question and requested an 'emergency question'.

After Herring suggested she could simply be honest, Atack responded: "I think sometimes in the industry things progress and move on, certain people then.."

She then trailed off, leading Herring to interject: "Which one's the d***? ..... Well it's not Joe Thomas because he's lovely. Simon Bird seems very nice...."

Late last year, Emily was questioned about a potential comeback for her character amidst further reboot rumours. During an interview on Capital Radio, she seemed taken aback by the suggestion, confessing she hadn't heard anything herself.

She remarked: "Oh I haven't heard about this (Inbetweeners comeback), I don't know. We'd all be quite a lot older now. What was quite funny was when we filmed the series I was only 17, I'd just left school, but the boys were well into...I think they were in their late twenties early thirties."

She added: "They were shaving their chests every morning in the make-up trucks. And shaving their faces within an inch of their lives. With the razors, every morning, lots of shaving rashes on that job."

Atack isn't the only one to express reservations about a potential comeback featuring the original cast.

Simon Bird, who portrayed Will, cast serious doubt over any reunion, telling the Guardian: "It's a hard no, I'm afraid. It just wouldn't be the show people want or remember. Much better to leave it as a happy memory."

He then added: "Cut to us all doing a third film for Netflix next year ... Anything's possible."

Meanwhile, Buckley has previously confessed: "No, I don't wanna go near it anymore. Not because I don't think I would have an amazing time, because I know I would... I love the boys, I love the writers.

"Doing The Inbetweeners was the best job in the world, all we did was muck around all day long and they filmed us doing it, and at the end of the day, we might have had an episode or a TV, you know, or a film or something. It was the best job in the world. But it might - you know, as I'm getting older - it's looking like it might be the only thing that I do professionally that is universally loved."

The Inbetweeners is streaming on Channel 4.