Ep 2. Ross Kemp and Vinnie Jones

In the second episode of the first season of Extras, titled "Ross Kemp and Vinnie Jones," we are reintroduced to Andy Millman, our hapless protagonist portrayed by Ricky Gervais, and his friend and fellow extra Maggie Jacobs, played by Ashley Jensen.

The episode opens as Andy and Maggie arrive on the set of a prison drama called "Bad Girls," where they are set to do background work for the day. However, Andy is preoccupied with trying to impress his latest love interest, a woman named Julie played by Jo Whiley. In a bit of timely humor, Andy repeatedly tries to impress Julie by telling her he's a big fan of the band Oasis, only to be met with her skepticism as she is already aware of how trendy liking the band had become at the time.

Things take a turn when Andy's idol Ross Kemp arrives on set, drawing all the attention away from him and his attempts to win over Julie. But as Andy tries to impress Ross with his knowledge of the criminal underworld, it's clear that Kemp isn't amused and sees through Andy's attempts to be taken seriously.

Later, as Andy and Maggie take a break, they witness Vinnie Jones—playing himself—take offense to one of the other extras not taking the job seriously. Jones proceeds to assault the extra and causes a commotion on set. This sets up a confrontation between Kemp and Jones, who are both on set for the day, with Kemp eventually getting the better of the situation by intimidating Jones. Andy is impressed by Kemp's bravery and sees his opportunity to try and impress him once again.

As the day wears on and Andy's attempts to impress anyone on set continue to fail, he finds himself in a precarious position. He's offered the chance to earn some extra money by taking part in a rather saucy scene on a bed with another extra. Reluctantly, Andy agrees, and the scene is filmed. But as he leaves the set and tries to come to terms with what's just happened, he's interrupted by Kemp, who has changed his mind about Andy and offers him a more substantial role in an upcoming project.

The episode ultimately ends in a touching moment between Andy and Maggie, as Maggie shows her kindness towards Andy's vulnerability while also revealing a bit more about her personal life. It's a small, heartfelt moment in an episode full of hilarious one-liners and absurd scenarios.

Overall, "Ross Kemp and Vinnie Jones" showcases the strengths of Extras: genuinely funny writing, an all-star guest cast, and a willingness to explore uncomfortable situations with humor and heart. It's a great example of why the show was such a success and remains a standout in British comedy nearly 20 years after its debut.