<Ul> <Li> Chris O'Dowd </Li> </Ul> <P> Roy is a work - shy Irish IT technician who spends most of his time playing video games or reading comics in the office . His work attire is casual compared to his colleagues; choosing to wear jeans and geek chic T - shirts . Prior to his IT job, he worked as a waiter, where he said he would carry the food of rude customers in his trousers before serving it to them . Whenever he answers phone calls, he often uses the phrase "Have you tried turning it off and on again?". that he has even placed it on an automated recording in "Fifty - Fifty", The series 4 episodes reveal Roy to have globophobia (fear of balloons) and being extremely uncomfortable when a masseur planted a kiss on his bottom . In the episode special "The Internet Is Coming", Roy's new girlfriend remarks he is "emotionally artistic" although it is later revealed she probably said "emotionally autistic". </P> <P> Roy's last name was not given in the first three series . Following the broadcast of the episode "The Speech" in 2008, Linehan blogged a graphic showing Roy's last name as Tenneman, and later changed the spelling to Trenneman for the broadcast of the series 4 episode "Something Happened" in 2010 . Roy's immediate family members do not appear in the series, but in the episode "Aunt Irma Visits", he finds the resemblance of Moss's psychiatrist to his own mother disturbing . </P> <P> In the documentary "The IT Crowd Manual", Roy is described as a worker who is engaged beneath his capabilities . O'Dowd said that Roy is slightly more capable of talking to people than Moss, but is still a man - child and slightly socially inept . Critic Boyd Hilton has said that Roy thinks he is on the cool edge of nerdiness . Author Cory Doctorow said that Roy's snark and misanthropy is identifiable to a certain tribe of nerds . Regarding his friendship with Moss, O'Dowd said that it is seems as if they met in college . Linehan likened the two to 14 - year - olds who like spending time with each other . Linehan said he originally thought the role should not be played by an Irish person, but that O'Dowd was the best man for the job, especially appreciating his physical performances . </P>

Who plays the goth in the it crowd