Simon Cooper

Simon Cooper is one of four sixth-formers navigating the daily humiliations of school, obsessed with his childhood friend Carli D'Amato and convinced that persistence will eventually win her over. He drives an embarrassing car, overthinks every social interaction, and reliably says the worst possible thing at the worst possible moment.

Joe Thomas plays Simon's yearning with real sincerity underneath the cringe, which is what makes his disasters land as funny rather than cruel. The writing keeps giving him hope just plausible enough to sustain, then demolishes it, and Thomas's wounded, hopeful face sells every collapse.