Growing Up in the Spotlight: The Young Offenders Stars Reflect on a Decade on Set
The much-loved Irish comedy The Young Offenders is back for its fifth season, and for stars Chris Walley and Alex Murphy, this latest instalment marks more than just a return to familiar antics. It’s a milestone, a reflection on a decade spent growing up in front of the cameras, navigating the unique journey of developing as actors and individuals within the close-knit world of the RTÉ favourite.
The new season, set to premiere on Saturday, April 4th, sees Conor (Murphy) and Jock (Walley) reunited and, predictably, diving headfirst back into their signature brand of mischief. With Jock making a dramatic escape from a Colombian jail and his swift return to Cork, the duo’s reunion with their old ways is as seamless as ever.
Speaking candidly about their experiences, Walley and Murphy, the actors behind the iconic pair, have opened up about the profound impact of growing up on set. The original The Young Offenders movie first hit screens ten years ago, a testament to the longevity and enduring appeal of the characters and their stories. For Walley, this extended period on set has fostered a unique kind of development.
“You learn so much just about what kind of career you want to go into, and then the opportunities that come from that,” Walley explained. He described a dual process of maturation. “I guess you mature faster in that capacity, but I always like the best performances – especially in a show like this – an element of childishness and playfulness, so trying to always maintain the silliness, is so important and integral.” He added with a laugh, “I’m 30 now and I’m on set as Jock, I have to try and feel somewhat like a child.”
Murphy, now 28, echoed this sentiment, finding his own personal timeline inextricably linked to the show. “It’s funny, like I’m 28 now. I feel like I can mark out the different stages of my development based on photos I see on my phone from each season.”
The actors admitted to a recurring pattern of self-perception: each season, they felt they had a firm grasp on things, only to look back with a fresh perspective in subsequent years and realise how much they still had to learn. “I’ve just accepted I’m never going to be where I think I am,” Walley confessed.
For Murphy, the experience of growing up with The Young Offenders has been an unparalleled privilege. He highlighted the invaluable comfort and security derived from working alongside people he’s known since his youth. “It’s in Cork, it’s close to your family,” he said. “It’s not like I was going off to America as a child with strangers in different environments. I was just with my clan, so to stay together for all these years… We’ve always felt so safe and protected on the show.” As they’ve matured, Murphy also noted the satisfaction of welcoming new, younger talent onto the set and ensuring they feel equally at ease.
Filming in their hometown of Cork, a place deeply ingrained in their personal histories, has been a particular joy for the duo. Murphy described the experience as “weird” in the most delightful way. “You’d be filming in places and like, ‘Oh, I had my first kiss there!’ There’s not a spot now in Cork we haven’t filmed, we’re pretty much covered it.”
Walley chimed in, emphasizing the unique emotional resonance of working in familiar surroundings. “It’s so cool though,” he stated. “To grow up in a place and then be shooting, like Alex said, in these places that hold so many memories for you, and you’re able to get your friends on set and your family on set and everyone you grew up with is there.”
The fifth season of the highly anticipated RTÉ series is set to drop on Good Friday, promising more of the humour, heart, and familiar Cork charm that has captivated audiences for a decade.
The Young Offenders returns on RTÉ One on Saturday, April 4th, at 10:30 am, with new episodes airing weekly.
