Funboys

Funboys is a Northern Irish comedy first broadcast on BBC Three as a short film on 26 May 2023. It was then followed by a four-episode series that was commissioned on BBC Northern Ireland and broadcast on BBC iPlayer and BBC Northern Ireland on 10 February 2025, BBC Three on 13 February 2025, and BBC One on 28 February 2025. The show is about three emotionally stunted young men in small-town Northern Ireland.

• Ryan Dylan as Callum: A young man who is timid, confused, sad, and afraid, but has a close bond with his two friends Jordan and Lorcan.
• Rian Lennon as Jordan: an emotionally insecure and selfish friend to Callum and Lorcan
• Lee R. James as Lorcan: a wise and kind-hearted young man who acts like a mother hen to Callum and Jordan.
• Ele McKenzie as Gemma: Gemma is the love interest of both Callum and Lorcan.

The 14-minute short film was filmed on location in Northern Ireland. At the BBC Comedy Festival in May 2024, it was announced that the short film would be expanded into a four-episode series.

Funboys was filmed with the support of Northern Ireland Screen. The story is by Simon Mayhew-Archer.

Show co-writer and co-creator Ryan Dylan stated that the show was inspired by "mundanity meeting melodrama. The idea of three young men navigating life with unfiltered emotionality, while being completely clueless about what any of it means. Deep feelings colliding with shallow understanding. Also, low self-worth. Desperation." Lee R. James, who portrays Lorcan, said that the show "was inspired by the lack of representation of the rural folk who wander these lands. The small towns we grew up in are filled with oddities that deserve the spotlight."

Vicky Jessop of The Standard wrote that Funboys is as a "beautifully bonkers comedy" and a worthy successor to This Country. Jessop described it as "heartwarming and naff in 'equal measure, this tiny gem is well worth a few hours of your time." The Belfast Telegraph described the show as "not exactly Derry Girls but it’s beautifully bonkers" and "quirky and desperately bingeable."

• Funboys at IMDb
• Funboys at BBC Online