A fond farewell: The Brassic boys and girls are going out with a bang

The time has come, friends. Spread the word to farmers in the area because after six raucous series of misadventures, Brassic is coming to an end. But you can rest assured they’re going out in style.

Since 2019 Joe Gilgun and Danny Brocklehurst’s critically acclaimed comedy drama has been among the most entertaining staples on our TVs, and we’ve loved watching Vinnie (Joe Gilgun), Erin (Michelle Keegan), Tommo (Ryan Sampson) and the rest of the ne’er-do-wells get themselves in and out of six series’ worth of scrapes. It looks as if the rest of the nation agrees with us, with the show snagging the Royal Television Society Comedy Drama award in 2023 as well as countless BAFTA nominations.

After an epic series finale last year, we’re picking right back up with Vinnie and co as we left them – with a new lease on life after a near death experience. Inspired to live each day as if it’s their last, there’s no telling what sort of trouble they’ll get themselves into. But you can take a sneak peek at the anarchy to come in the trailer below.

It’s not all fun and games for Hawley’s finest, though. Amid the madness of lederhosen-fuelled escapades and school reunions gone wildly off the rails, old wounds resurface, friendships are tested, and the gang must face what their future and their past really mean. With reputations at stake, new rivalries in town and dodgy deals to be made, we’ve no doubt this band of brothers and sisters will be diving headfirst into the chaos.

Returning alongside Gilgun, Keegan and Sampson are fellow hooligans Aaron Heffernan (Ashley), Parth Thakerar (JJ), Joanna Higson (Sugar), Steve Evets (Jim) and Bhavna Limbachia (Meena). Brassic fans can also expect to see other series regulars, new faces and even surprise returns for the show’s final farewell. Mint.

Speaking about the end of Brassic, series co-creator Brocklehurst said, “It's been a complete joy to create this eccentric world, but all good things must come to an end, and we want to stop while we are still riding high. Maybe they can finally give us that BAFTA!” We hope so too!

Don’t miss a moment of mischief in the farewell series, which begins at 10pm on Thursday 25 September on Sky Max HD (CH 111). In the meantime, we’re taking a trip down memory lane to see just how far these loveable rogues have come over the show’s tenure. And now that it’s (almost) all over, we round up where else you can catch the actors on TV now.

When we first met Vinnie, he was chaotic, impulsive and fresh out of a stint at a psychiatric hospital. Now, Vinnie’s evolved into the problem-solving captain of the Brassic gang and while he still battles with his mental health, he’s taking steps towards managing his bipolar disorder. Elsewhere, you can see Gilgun bring his dazzling northern charm into other roles such as the charismatic Woody in the This Is England series and oddball superhero Rudy Wade in three series of Misfits.

Where else you can watch Joe Gilgun:

• This Is England ’90 – Stream it in Apps > Channel 4

• This Is England ’88 – Stream it in Apps > Channel 4

• This Is England ’86 – Stream it in Apps > Channel 4

• Misfits – Stream series 3-5 in Apps > Channel 4 now

Keegan knows where her acting bread is buttered: as a working-class girl with a tough exterior but a heart of gold underneath it all. Which is exactly the formula that she brought to Erin, who burst onto our screens as a young single mother trying to escape a life of crime and poverty. Now, while she’s still tries to make a break for a fresh start, she’s also become more self-assured than ever before and acts as the group’s voice of reason.

Where else you can watch Michelle Keegan:

• Fool Me Once – Stream it in Apps > Netflix now

• Ten Pound Poms – Stream series 1-2 in Apps > BBC iPlayer now

• Our Girl – Stream series 2-4 in Apps > BBC iPlayer now

• Tina & Bobby – Stream it in Apps > ITVX

From goofy sidekick to an integral member of the gang, Tommo’s transformation has been positively heartwarming and shows that you don’t need to be the loudest, toughest or smartest person in the room to be valued. It looks like Sampson took a leaf out of Gilgin’s book too, flexing his own creative chops by penning Mr Bigstuff, an award-winning comedy drama partly inspired by his own family experiences.

Where else you can watch Ryan Sampson:

• Mr Bigstuff – Stream series 1-2 in Sky Max on demand now

• Plebs – Stream series 1-5 in Apps > ITVX

• The Crown – Stream season 2 in Apps > Netflix

• The Frankenstein Chronicles – Stream series 1-2 in Apps > Prime Video

Ashley has proven to be so much more than the gang’s muscle. Despite coming from a proud fighting family and being raised by a hard-hearted mother, he’s shown a softer side and is a deeply loyal member of the group who protects his friends. Plus, Heffernan’s career has seen him handle everything from stolen goods to dragons (see if you can spot him as a dragon handler in Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire).

Where else you can watch Aaron Heffernan:

• War Of The Worlds – Stream series 1-3 in Apps > Disney+

• Mum – Stream series 1-2 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

• Love/Hate – Stream series 1-5 in Apps > ITVX

• Bring Them Down – Stream it in Apps > MUBI

Capable, quick-witted and calm under pressure, JJ is a fixer and the group’s secret weapon. He’s got the gang out of an escapade gone wrong more than once and shows ambitions for a life beyond that of petty crime. Thakerar has also shown he can be an upstanding member of society who helps to saves the day with roles in Vigil and Nightsleeper.

Where else you can watch Parth Thakerar:

• Nightsleeper – Stream it in Apps > BBC iPlayer

• Great Expectations – Stream it in Apps > BBC iPlayer

• Gangs Of London – Stream series 1-3 in Sky Showcase on demand

• Vigil – Stream series 1-2 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

Let’s be honest: who doesn’t love the foul-mouthed, weed-growing recluse Farmer Jim? Not much has changed for Jim over the years – he’s still the same unfiltered, crude and grumpy recluse that fans fell in love with more than five years ago. However, his disdain towards the gang has surprisingly dialled down over time and you might even catch him showing affection towards the likes of Vinnie and Sugar. Just don’t spread it around, obv.

Where else you can watch Steve Evets:

• Gentleman Jack – Stream series 1-2 in Apps > BBC iPlayer now

• Vera – Stream series 7-9 in Apps > ITVX now

• Rev. – Stream series 1-3 in Apps > BBC iPlayer now

• Looking For Eric – Rent or buy it on Virgin Media Store now

As Erin’s best friend, Sugar has been on the scene since day one. Although she initially started out on the fringes of Vinnie’s escapades with her own shady dealings, she’s since become a key member of the gang and who’s helped them out of some tight spots. Higson has had some practice pulling off hare-brained schemes before, thanks to her role as Maxine Donnelly in Shameless.

Where else you can watch Joanna Higson:

• WPC 56 – Stream series 1-3 in U&Alibi on demand now

• Accused – Stream series 1-2 in Apps > Netflix now

• Shameless – Stream series 1-11 in Apps > Channel 4 + Apps > Netflix now

• Dylan – After OG gang member Damien Molony left Brassic for pastures new, he’s been living life on the other side of the law in the lead role of the Bergerac reboot.

• Cardi – The socially awkward pigeon-befriender played by Tom Hanson became a trusted asset for the gang. Hanson also appeared in an episode of Mr Bigstuff with Sampson and has been in The Outlaws and The Little Drummer Girl.

• Meena – Bhavna Limbachia, who plays the newest member of Vinnie’s gang, made a name for herself in Citizen Khan and Coronation Street and gone on to star in Death In Paradise and Ridley.

• Dr Chris Cox – Vinnie’s eccentric doctor is played by Dominic West, who’s been a regular on our screens for years. You can find him in The Crown, SAS Rogue Heroes, The Wire, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale and more.

• Davey MacDonagh – Neil Ashton hasn’t always played a dangerous sociopathic career criminal, you know. He’s also held roles in beloved British TV series like It’s A Sin, Curfew, Sherwood and Professor T.

The final series begins at 10pm on Thursday 25 September on Sky Max HD (CH 111) with new episodes airing weekly. Series 1-6 are available on Sky Max on demand now.