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.

"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.

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."

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.

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