Inside No 9 has come to an finish with a prime secret episode that featured a shock for long-time viewers.

For the BBC present’s finale, which arrived quite fittingly on the finish of the ninth collection, creators Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith assembled dozens of visitor stars who’ve featured in previous episodes.

The episode was titled Plodding On, and was set at an Inside No 9 wrap social gathering, with all of the actors taking part in heightened variations of themselves. One such star to look, to the shock of some followers, was Sherlock star Amanda Abbington.

Abbington, who appeared within the collection eight episode “Paraskevidekatriaphobia”, has been embroiled in a Strictly Come Dancing controversy after quitting the present weeks into the most recent collection.

The actor was paired with Italian skilled Giovanni Pernice and, shortly after leaving the present, requested what was described as “tense” coaching footage. Within the final six months, Pernice’s coaching regime has been positioned beneath the highlight and he is not going to be part of the forthcoming collection, which is able to launch in September.

Abbington’s return to the BBC stunned many, particularly contemplating the actor stated her time on Strictly left her with PTSD. She additionally not too long ago claimed that her accusations in opposition to Pernice has led to demise threats.

Different stars to have dialogue within the Inside No 9 finale included Katherine Parkinson, Tim Key and Anne Reid, who introduced issues full circle having starred within the first ever episode, “Sardines”, again in 2012. Ted Lasso actor Nick Mohammed additionally returned after showing in collection six episode “Simon Says”, as did Rosie Cavaliero (collection one’s “The Understudy”) and Jason Watkins (collection three’s “The Invoice”).

There was even time for a League of Gents reunion as Mark Gatiss, who co-wrote and starred in that present with Pemberton and Shearsmith, confirmed up for a quick digital cameo. He starred in Inside No 9’s collection seven episode “Merrily, Merrily”.

However an assortment of different stars confirmed up with out having any traces, and will merely be seen congregated watching a montage sequence saying goodbye to the present. The solid listing on the finish of the episode revealed which stars had been there. They included Line of Obligation actor Adrian Dunbar and Child Reindeer’s Jessica Gunning.

Discover the total listing of Inside No 9 visitor stars who returned for the final ever episode beneath:

Mark Benton, Kevin Bishop, Mark Bonnar, Asim Chaudhry, Kenneth Cranham, Phil Daniels, Adam Deacon, Monica Dolan, Michele Dotrice, Kevin Eldon, Gaby French, Sian Gibson, Tamsin Greig, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Conleth Hill, Jim Howick, Emiky Howlett, Paterson Joseph, Elsie Kelly, Denis Lawson, Europa Lepus, Rula Lenska, Ralf Little, Alice Lowe, Lyndsey Marshal, David Morrissey, Tamzin Outhwaite, Gemma Web page, Invoice Paterson, Maxine Peake, Sheila Reid, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Alexandra Roach, Debbie Rush, Poppy Rush, Claire Skinner, Alison Steadman, Sophie Thompson, Noah Valentine, Saskia Wakefield, Zoë Wanamaker, Gemma Whelan, Ben Wilibond, Susan Wokoma, Jack Wolfe.

The episode’s title “Plodding On” was a reference to an episode Pemberton and Shearsmith all the time supposed to make, however by no means bought round to.

Pemberton advised The Unbiased of their expertise writing the present in 2020: “The pressures are the identical: are you able to inform story and preserve folks gripped? That’s simply as arduous no matter your funds is. We don’t sit right here feeling sorry for Charlie [Brooker] due to the tens of millions he has to spend. The BBC remains to be an ideal model to be part of and, after all, they’re having to vary and adapt so issues in 5 years will look very completely different. However we will’t predict that. We’re simply, as we practically known as one of many episodes, plodding on.”