No Offence

Stephen Merchant stars in a comedy drama about petty criminals doing community service

- CAREN CLARK, TESS LAMACRAFT

COMEDY DRAMA

The Outlaws Monday, BBC1 HD, 9pm

NEW

The world of community service may not seem like a barrel of laughs, but Stephen Merchant’s witty BBC1 comedy drama The Outlaws offers a wry spin on the lives of a mismatched group of offenders.

Merchant, whose parents worked as community-service supervisors, has co-written and directed the six-part series, which sees him play gauche lawyer Greg, who, after an encounter with a sex worker, ends up having to do Community Payback in Bristol.

Serving alongside Greg are a diverse mix of fellow criminals, including incorrigible fraudster Frank, played by Hollywood legend Christopher Walken. As the disparate group try to renovate a dilapidated community centre under the gaze of officious supervisor Diane (Jessica Gunning), unlikely friendships emerge, particularly when one of the team lands in trouble with a local gang.

We caught up with Merchant, 46, to learn more…

What inspired The Outlaws?