Inside No. 9 Mr. King : Alan arrives at a small village primary school in rural Wales. Passionate about teaching, he throws himself into the new job but finds himself overshadowed by his charismatic and much-loved predecessor, Mr. King. Inside No. 9 is a British black comedy anthology television program produced by BBC Two and written by Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton (The League of Gentlemen), and broadcast as part of BBC’s Comedy Playhouse series in 2014. The Controversial Replacement of Mr. King in Inside No. 9
Why it’s controversial
It’s controversial because Alan finds himself overshadowed by his charismatic and much-loved predecessor, Mr. King. His more advanced teaching methods are largely ignored, while the man everyone wants to talk to is the guy who’s been retired for twenty years, but has stepped up to serve again as the new Headteacher at Balaclava Primary. Faced with a school that hates him and an impossible task of restoring morale, he battles on through one traumatic day after another until he reaches breaking point. If you want to see a masterclass in performance though, this episode features an extraordinary performance from someone who should be a household name – Julian Barratt (of The Mighty Boosh fame). It’s so unexpected that it feels like an award winning moment when you realise what’s happening before your eyes.
Who plays Mr. King?
Mr. King is played by Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton who play protagonist characters or antagonists in the other episodes, it also features Louise Hooper who appears as Harry King’s girlfriend Josie in this episode, making her the only person to have featured as a character in all three of the instalments. In ‘The Controversial Replacement of Mr.
The Cast
Mr. King is a replacement for a teacher who previously held the position at the primary school, we find out about him from his peers who believe that he is well liked by all. He appears to be keen on the idea of working with children and uses his imagination to help teach them about various subjects in the classroom. It’s not long before Mr. Steve Pemberton As Mr. Edwards , Reece Shearsmith As Alan Curtis , Elin Owen As Ceri , Charlie Baron As Euan , Rosie Ekenna As Gwen , William Newton As Owen , Annette Badland As Winnie , Darcy-Olivia White As Pupil , Isaac Eames As Pupil , Summer Rose As Pupil , Toby Roberts As Pupil And Oliver Eaton As Head Teacher are introduced to Mr. Tony (Arsher Ali) And Mrs. Kay (Nikki Amuka-Bird) Who share their thoughts on the new teacher in front of class, but it’s only after his first day teaching does any conflict arise when Mrs.
Why was Mr. King fired?
Mr. King, an old school teacher played by Alan Davies, is fired after 14 years for being too old. This leads to a debate over his replacement, with several potential successors and many preconceived notions of who should replace him. Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton, the creators and writers of the show, chose Louise Hooper to take his place because she represented the type of teaching they wanted to promote: modern teaching practices as opposed to traditional methods that have been practiced for decades without changes.
What happened after Mr. King left?
Mr. King had been the small village primary school’s longstanding headmaster for many years and had inspired generations of pupils to achieve their full potential, winning universal admiration and respect in the process. Louise Hooper, who took over after he retired, was quickly labelled an imposter by parents and teachers alike who became convinced that she didn’t have what it takes to fill his shoes. After just a few months, they all finally agreed: no one could replace Mr. King.
Put yourself in another’s shoes
Mr. King is a British black comedy anthology television program that follows several strangers after they are invited to participate in different game shows inside a strange home known as No. 9. On the fifth episode, titled If Alan Only Knew, Alan arrives at a small village primary school in rural Wales and throws himself into the new job but finds himself overshadowed by his charismatic and much-loved predecessor, Mr. King. After making too many mistakes on the first day, he confides in the children about what he would do if he could go back and change things. The kids agree to help him with a plan on how to impress their former teacher for one day so he can prove himself worthy of staying on permanently. But does it work? You’ll have to watch Inside No. 9 for yourself!
Don’t think you can change people
Alan is feeling some competition after being assigned as the substitute teacher at a primary school and things are not going too well for him. His one goal was to make an impression on the kids, but he had been put up against the toughest competitor of all time: the beloved old teacher who had left recently to teach another class temporarily. One day, during lunchtime, two students began arguing about how much they liked their teachers. One kid said that he loved his new teacher more than Mr. King and the other student felt that his previous favorite was better than any new teacher would be.
Understand that it’s not personal
One episode into the new series of ‘Inside No. 9’, and it’s already a tear-jerker – but for all the wrong reasons. I had been worried about expectations being too high after the success of last year’s darker, more spine-chilling series – and the final scene proved that my concerns were justified… Alan bumbles his way into a small village primary school in rural Wales, enthusiastic to introduce himself as their new head teacher. He throws himself into his new job, whilst simultaneously trying to live up to the reputation of Mr. King who was so well loved by everyone at the school. However, he soon found out that he was overshadowed by his predecessor, who seemed to have left such an indelible mark on the children and teachers alike.
Remember your purpose
In the first episode of Inside No. 9, viewers get a glimpse into the life and backstory of retired teacher turned caretaker, Alan (played by Reece Shearsmith). He was only meant to be taking over for a temporary replacement but ended up having to stay for ten years as his predecessor became more and more distant. When he finally decided to leave, he hoped that it would be with dignity. But soon after his departure he found out that his successor had already been chosen: ambitious social media influencer Jordan King.
Learn from others’ mistakes
In the fictional world of Inside No. 9, Alan takes on the role as a teacher at a small village primary school in rural Wales after his predecessor has left his position to pursue other opportunities. However, once he arrives at the school, he realizes that Mr. King was an even more beloved and admired figure than he had been told before. Inside No. 9 is a British black comedy anthology television program created by Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton for BBC Two, first shown on 26 October 2014
What is the scariest episode of Inside No. 9?
Out of all the series within the British comedy anthology, I find Nana’s Party to be one of the scariest episodes. When Nana goes on a sugar high and starts to see hallucinations, it is hard not to sympathize with her as she struggles with her fear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Steve Pemberton in every episode of Inside No. 9?
Mr. Pemberton is the co-creator, lead writer and director of both seasons of the series so far, making him an integral part of the creation process. So it was no surprise that the question was put to him: who would replace Michael as Mr. King? The answer will come as a shock to many fans – particularly those who fell in love with Michael’s charismatic persona over two stunning episodes of BBC One’s hit black comedy anthology series – with Steve answering I’ll do it.
Has Inside No. 9 been Cancelled?
This is a question many people are asking, including myself. This show has been so great for years and then you hear about the death of Mr. King and it was all downhill from there. Some say that it was an accident, others claim suicide, but no one really knows for sure what happened to him!
What was the last episode of Inside Number 9 about?
In the latest episode of Inside Number 9, Mr. King, Alan arrives at a small village primary school in rural Wales and falls instantly for the school and its surroundings; but as he takes over from his predecessor, he finds himself feeling increasingly overshadowed by the former teacher’s legacy.
What’s the best Black Mirror episode?
I am a big fan of Black Mirror and this is really hard to answer! But my two favorites are Fifteen Million Merits (which is told through the eyes of a bike messenger) and Nosedive (about an upper-middle class woman who lives in a world where your rating is all you have).
What is the best inside Number 9 episode?
Alan arrives at a small village primary school in rural Wales. Passionate about teaching, he throws himself into the new job but finds himself overshadowed by his charismatic and much-loved predecessor, Mr. King. Alan realizes that the secret to staying on top is as simple as finding one thing students like better than cake. As a matter of luck, he has just the ticket – custard tarts!
