James Buckley says Russell Brand influenced The Inbetweeners

James Buckley says Russell Brand had a huge influence on \'The Inbetweeners\'.

The 31-year-old actor played crude Jay Cartwright on the British sitcom - which spawned two spin-off movies - and says the 43-year-old comedian was a huge inspiration behind the comedy show.

James is quoted by the Daily Star newspaper as saying: "Russell Brand was such an influence.

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"A year after his stand-up tour I started work on a show called \'Baggy Trousers\', later renamed \'The Inbetweeners.\'

"He inspired it a lot. I\'ve not had half the success as old Russ, though."

The \'White Gold\' actor starred in \'The Inbetweeners\' - which followed a group of suburban teenage friends at a comprehensive school - alongside Simon Bird, Joe Thomas and Blake Harrison.

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But James previously revealed he doesn\'t want his and wife Clair Meek\'s children, Harrison, seven, and Jude, five, to ever see the comedy show.

He said: "I would never let them watch \'The Inbetweeners\'.

"It\'s different for me as I\'m supposed to be their dad. I don\'t want them to see me behaving in that way. I already have very little respect from them to begin with and I don\'t want to lose it completely."

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James also doesn\'t believe \'The Inbetweeners\' - which aired from 2008 to 2010 - would be made nowadays, because people would be too "offended" by the show\'s jokes.

He said: "I think it would be really difficult. It\'s a bit of a shame to say that. I think it seems to be cool and trendy to be offended by things.

"It\'s a shame. It\'s sort of killing comedy. You can\'t joke about anything.

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"Nobody means it, it\'s just a flippant comment or a joke."