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Movies & TV

29th Sep 2022

James Buckley becomes Cameo’s first ever millionaire just from filming videos

Steve Hopkins

Buckley beat many A-list names to the milestone and has recorded ‘tens of thousands’ of personalised video messages.

Inbetweeners star James Buckley has become Cameo’s first millionaire.

The 35-year-old was a relatively early adopter of the celebrity bespoke video sharing platform, joining in March 2020 in order to make some extra money when Covid-19 hit.

As he said in his introductory video on the website, while offering to record birthday messages or to “hurl abuse” at friends, he was “here for the money” – and it has certainly paid off.

Best known for playing foul-mouthed, wannabe lad Jay on the Channel 4 comedy series, Buckley has beaten all other celebrities to the milestone.

Buckley has a 98% five-star rating from 5,674 separate reviews for his efforts and videos offered to fans from a modest €47 – and never higher than €63.

A review from two days ago reads: “James, thank you so much! This was above and beyond. My only problem is having to hold onto it til November to give it to him, it’s so good I just want to send it right over NOW. Thanks for all the added details, you’re a legend.”

The platform also confirms him as the star who has fulfilled the greatest number of Cameos for fans globally, beating many A-list names, having now recorded “tens of thousands” of personalised video messages.

Cameo co-founder Martin Blencowe said Buckley’s success was down to both his popularity and commitment to his fans: “James was incredibly popular from the start, but he’s stayed committed to his fans, always keeping an accessible price (even during his busiest periods) and giving his all to make each Cameo special.

“In return, he’s gained the financial freedom and overwhelming fan support to pursue the projects he’s most passionate about like 2:22 – A Ghost Story, the West End play I was fortunate enough to see him and Tom star in, and his family’s YouTube channel, At Home With The Buckleys.”

Despite making a fortune from The Inbetweeners, Buckley says that no amount of money would make him play that character again.

As a guest on The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X, the host asked the actor in January: “If the people who wrote The Inbetweeners said, ‘We’ve got a script… it’s basically what everyone’s up to now, do you want to see it?’ – you’d say yes?”

Buckley, who starred as the iconic character in three seasons and two films, replied: “No.”

Moyles then pressed him further: “What?! Would you not?” to which Buckley explained: “Not because I don’t think I would have an amazing time doing it, because I know I would. I love the boys, I love the writers.

“Doing The Inbetweeners was the best job in the world,” he continued. “All we did was muck around all day long and they filmed us doing it, and at the end of the day, we might have had an episode, or a TV, you know, or a film or something. It was the best job in the world.

“But it might – you know, as I’m getting older – it’s looking like it might be the only thing that I do professionally that is universally loved. There’s not enough money in the world for me to spoil that.”

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