Why Emily Atack is holding up Inbetweeners reunion as pals reveal she’s reluctant to sign on after off-screen feud

IT was the smash hit noughties comedy that raised a Brit generation and gave us foolhardy four Will, Simon, Jay and Neil. But almost two decades on, it’s the Inbetweeners’ star known to fans as Charlotte ‘Big Jugs’ Hinchcliffe who is proving the most difficult to pin down for the new Netflix reboot. Inbetweeners star Emily Atack is dragging her heels when it comes to the Netflix reboot Credit: Splash Emily made a splash as Charlotte ‘Big Jugs’ Hinchcliffe on the Channel 4 smash hit back in the noughties Credit: Handout Emily Atack was just 17 when she exploded onto TV, in 2008, as Will McKenzie’s buxom love interest, in what was the start of an illustrious acting career for the blonde beauty. Now a household name, Emily has bagged herself top billing in Disney+ series Rivals, sharing screen time with national treasures like David Tennant and Danny Dyer. It’s just one of many reasons the 36-year-old is hesitant to return to the world of bus w***ers, clunge mobiles and MILFs, as The Sun can exclusively reveal she still harbours lingering upset after bosses dropped her from 2019 reunion The Inbetweeners Fwends Reunited. “Emily still hasn’t signed up, and there is a very real reason why she’s dragging her heels,” our source tells us. Emily was an unlikely love interest for Simon Bird’s Will McKenzie back in the original series Credit: CHANNEL 4 Emily starred in all three seasons of The Inbetweeners with her co-stars, running from 2008 to 2010 Credit: Getty – Contributor “She hasn’t forgotten what happened last time. She was absolutely furious that she wasn’t invited back for the previous Inbetweeners reunion, and she has never really got over the way she felt she was treated.” “Emily’s attitude is basically, ‘Why do you want me now when I wasn’t good enough then?’” We reported at the time how Emily was dropped by bosses on the eve of the reunion filming due to a ‘secret fling’ she shared with her co-star James Buckley while they were both single. The two shared a “a couple of cheeky snogs” and the Jay Cartwright actor reportedly told bosses: “It’s her or me” over fears her participation would land him in hot water with wife Clair. And it seems his alleged part in her reunion axe has left Emily reluctant to sign up for another on-set encounter. “Emily and James Buckley have history, and there is no getting away from the fact that it would be awkward having to work closely together again,” our insider adds. “She knows everyone would be watching their interactions and she would not particularly relish being thrown back into that situation. “James’s role in her not being brought back for the previous reunion left her genuinely upset, and the idea of having to work with him again isn’t something she is keen to do.” Emily once had a secret fling with co-star James Buckley, best known for playing Jay Credit: Channel 4 He reportedly told bosses to drop Emily from the 2019 reunion over fears it would upset his wife Clair Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Emily is now a household name thanks to her role in Disney+ series Rivals Credit: TNI Press She also recently teamed up with Danny Dyer for ITV show Nobody’s Fool Credit: ITV So far, the streaming giant has signed up Simon Bird, Joe Thomas, James Buckley and Blake Harrison to reprise their roles as the four horny school friends. With bosses choosing to rehire the original cast rather than recasting, it makes Emily’s signing even more crucial for the third Inbetweeners movie. But while the leading lads are free to film, Emily is busier than ever – with her schedule another obstacle to overcome in order to get her onboard. As well as her TV work, she is set to wed scientist Dr Alistair Garner next month, and the pair share a two year old son, Barney. “Emily isn’t saying never, but she’s certainly not rushing to say yes,” our source continues. “She feels like she has proved herself outside The Inbetweeners, her career is flying and she has a wedding to plan. “She’s just filmed a new legal drama for BBC One called Reputation, then there’s Rivals and her own TV show Nobody’s Fool with Danny Dyer, and she certainly doesn’t feel like she needs The Inbetweeners to give her career a boost. “Emily has worked incredibly hard to build a career since playing Charlotte and is proud of where she has got to. So she is asking herself what she actually gets out of going back. “After the way she feels she was treated last time, she wants them to understand that she doesn’t need them anywhere near as much as they need her.” Representatives for Emily Atack declined to comment but a source close to Emily claimed our story was “inaccurate”. The Inbetweeners ran for three series from 2008 to 2010 on E4 and later Channel 4. It was then made into two hit movies in 2011 and 2014. The show was twice nominated at the Baftas and won three British Comedy Awards.