Video: Back to school for Shropshire's The Inbetweeners star Greg Davies
On screen Gregg Davies is an intimidating teacher who instils fear into his pupils.
But The Inbetweeners and Man Down star was given a hero's welcome when he returned to his old school in Shropshire – where he said some of his funniest memories were made.
He was the surprise guest at Thomas Adams School in Wem last night to hand out certificates to former Year 11 pupils.
The comic, who studied at the school in Lowe Hill Road in the 1970s and 80s before embarking on a teaching career, stunned pupils as he entered the hall.
About 100 former pupils saw him hand out more than 300 certificates and give a speech about his own years at Thomas Adams.
Davies, speaking to the Shropshire Star, said: "It is really strange. They have taken me around the campus and it is identical in some places – even things like the coating on the hand rail. I had some really happy times here."
And despite still feeling the dread stepping into the head's office, he added: "I don't think I have laughed as hard as I laughed here, since I left."
He added some of his own teachers gave him inspiration for characters such as Mr Gilbert in The Inbetweeners. One teacher could bring the room to silence just by walking in. He said: "Mr Mills – there was no doubt a little bit of him in Mr Gilbert."
