Greg Davies have confirmed that plans are afoot for an Inbetweeners comeback – dropping strong hints that he will be returning as Mr Gilbert.

The comic played the cynical  and authoritarian head of sixth form  in the original series, which ran from 2008 to 2010.

In a mew interview with The Sunday Times, he was asked if the show was coming back, and replied: ‘I don’t think it’s unfair to say the rumours aren’t not true’ – before simplifying the double negatives by saying, yes, plans are afoot. 

And he added: ‘’I’ll put this on the record, there are going to be some reprisals if I’m not in it.’

In October, a new deal between production company Fudge Park and content giant  Banijay UK nlocked the rights to the show, paving the way for  a comeback.

In a statement at the time creators Iain Morris and Damon Beesley said: ’It’s incredibly exciting to be plotting more adventures for our four favourite friends (ooh friends).’

Fudge Park is their company and its  chief executive Patrick Holland  said: ‘I have worked with Damon and Iain on a number of Fudge Park projects over the years and was delighted to pick up the conversation about the future of The Inbetweeners with them. 

‘They have an infectious creative vision for the brand which will resonate with audience old and new so I can’t wait to get going.’

The coming-of-age sitcom originally starred Simon Bird, Joe Thomas, James Buckley and Blake Harrison as socially awkward suburban teenagers – although it is thought they are now too old for a reunion.

However, last  year, Thomas told the Always Be Comedy podcast: ‘All of us feel it would be nice to do. We’re all still around, we’re all still in each other’s lives. We all still like each other. And if it was something that came up, I think we would want to do it.’

But Bird said later that year that he wasn’t sure a revival would work, saying: ‘No one is going to buy us as teenagers any more And I think the idea of the four of us back together as 30-somethings is going to be a bit more depressing for everyone. I can’t see us doing any more of it.’

Davies was speaking to the Times to promote the Taskmaster Champion of Champions  and  New Year Treat, his role in Channel 4's Finding Father Christmas and his stand-up tour Full Fat Legend.