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?
This story is from the October 23, 2021 edition of TV & Satellite Week.
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This story is from the October 23, 2021 edition of TV & Satellite Week.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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