Three-O Walcott: Peep Show fans celebrate as football star turns 30

We hope Jez receives his ‘millions’

Today is Everton and England striker Theo Walcott’s 30th birthday. No big deal right? Wrong.

The former Arsenal man's milestone means a ludicrous comedy scenario has become reality – sort of.

Peep Show fans will know that today Jez should be about to cash a massive cheque from a tabloid newspaper after selling a big headline idea.

What is it? Well, in series eight, episode one, Jez is going through his latest existential crisis, this time because he is burning all his old band memorabilia.

Explaining why he’ll survive, he says: “It’s cool. I’ve always got the Three-O Walcott millions.”

Mark explains to his girlfriend Dobby: “Jeremy’s planning to sell the headline ‘Three-O Walcott’ to a tabloid newspaper when Theo Walcott turns 30, and we’ve agreed not to argue over whether that’s a good plan or not.”

“It is a good plan,” says Jez.

“I know,” says Mark.

Everton football club recognised the national cultural significance of the joke, posting on Twitter: “At last we can say: THREE-0 WALCOTT! All the best, @TheoWalcott!”

The tweet included a video of Theo Walcott in his Everton kit silently eating a small cake and pulling a party popper.

Robert Webb, the actor who plays Jez in the Channel 4 sitcom also wished the striker a happy birthday on Twitter.

But today is not the first time the headline has been rolled out. Back in 2012, the Mirror used it as the splash on their sports page, when Walcott, then playing for Arsenal, scored a hat-trick against Newcastle in a game the Gunners won 7 – 3. We hope they paid Jez his millions.