Editing Mr Gilbert (section)

== Characterisation ==
Gilbert is an archetypal head of sixth-form in a comprehensive school. Misanthropic and permanently bitter, he has no interest in his work and treats his pupils with utter contempt. As head of sixth form, he answers to the headmaster of the school. Physically, he is very tall and strongly built, which everyone finds quite intimidating, being described by [[Will McKenzie|Will]] as a "lunatic giant". He has a biting wit and sarcasm, which he uses to convey his hatred of his job and the children for whose care he is responsible. Will attempts to endear himself often with Mr Gilbert and is rebuffed. Mr Gilbert evidently wants a quiet life and rather than ensuring fairness between the children he merely defuses situations and moves on, often leaving things unresolved. He takes a particular dislike to Will from day one. In The Inbetweeners 2, Mr. Gilbert becomes engaged to Will's mother Polly McKenzie, which leaves Will shocked and horrified.

=== Appearance ===
Physically he is very tall and strongly built which everyone finds quite intimidating, being described by Will as a "lunatic giant".

=== Personality ===
Mr Gilbert has a biting wit and sarcasm which he uses to convey his dislike of his job and the children for whose care he is responsible. Will attempts to endear himself often with Mr. Gilbert and is rebuffed – even on the one occasion when they both agree on something.

He hates his job and the students. He shows no interest in their education and welfare. On the few occasions he acts to stop wrongdoing (such as [[Mr. Kennedy|Mr Kennedy]] grooming [[Neil Sutherland|Neil]]), he tends to defuse the situation without resolving the problems that caused it. He is sadistic towards students who get on his nerves, giving them unfair punishments or threats. An example for this was in the season 3 episode Will's Dilemma when Jay and Neil spotted Gilbert at Waterside shopping centre looking at cute, cuddly toys in one of the card shops. [[Jay Cartwright|Jay]] could not resist calling out to him, and although they both ran away immediately afterwards (thus avoiding any immediate altercations), the pair deliberately dropped a hint about what they saw when Gilbert walked past them the next day at school, by muttering the word "Waterside" at him. Gilbert immediately gave them both a week's worth of after-school detention but ultimately rounded it up to four weeks when they protested. On a side note, this made Neil late for own his birthday party, which was later that very day.

Unlike most British schoolteachers, Mr Gilbert calls the students by their surnames ("McKenzie!"). This was once common in decades past, but today would be considered rude. He takes offence to being called "Phil".

=== Love Life ===
Mr. Gilbert joined the long line of men and boys interested in a relationship with Will's mother when he heard she was internet dating an old friend. He remarked to Will that he might end up calling him "daddy" - an example of his psychological warfare with the children. In the second movie, Will's mother announces that she and Mr. Gilbert are in a relationship and at end of the movie she reveals that they are engaged.