Apple TV+ has set a March premiere date for ‘The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin‘ which sees Noel Fielding take the title role.
The series follows Dick Turpin (Fielding), who sets out on a journey of wildly absurd escapades when he’s made the reluctant leader of a band of outlaws — and tasked with outwitting corrupt lawman and self-appointed thief-taker Jonathan Wilde (Hugh Bonneville). In this irreverent retelling set in the 18th century, Turpin is the most famous but least likely of highway robbers, whose success is defined mostly by his charm, showmanship and great hair. Together with his gang of lovable rogues, Turpin rides the highs and lows of his new endeavours, including a brush with celebrity, all whilst trying to escape the clutches of the thief-taker.
The rest of the cast includes Asim Chaudhry (“People Just Do Nothing,” “Black Mirror,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”) as Craig the Warlock; Tamsin Greig (“Green Wing,” “Episodes,” “Friday Night Dinner”) as Lady Helen Gwinear, the elected leader of the Syndicate; Mark Heap (“Friday Night Dinner,” “Green Wing”) plays John Turpin, Hempstead’s irascible butcher, and father of Dick; And Joe Wilkinson (“After Life,” “The Cockfields”) plays Geoffrey the Gaoler, the ultimate nihilist. Turpin’s Essex Gang includes Marc Wootton (“My New Best Friend,” “Nativity!,”) as Moose Pleck, and Ellie White (“Wonka,” “Stath Lets Flats”) as Nell Brazier. There is also Noel’s actual brother, Michael Fielding (“The Mighty Boosh”), as Benny Turpin, Kiri Flaherty (“PADDY”) as Little Karen, Samuel Leakey (‘Treason”) as Christopher Wilde, Geoff McGivern (“Ghosts”, “Back”) as Lord Rookwood, and Dolly Wells (“The Outlaws”, “Dracula”) as Eliza Bean.
Produced for Apple TV+ by Big Talk Productions, part of ITV Studios, the series will be directed by Ben Palmer (‘The Inbetweeners Movie’, ‘Breeders’), written and created by Claire Downes, Stuart Lane and Ian Jarvis (‘The Outlaws’, ‘The Job Lot’), with Fielding and Jeremy Dyson (‘The League Of Gentlemen’) as script consultants. The first three episodes are directed by Ben Palmer (‘The Inbetweeners’), with Episodes 4-6 directed by George Kane (‘Timewasters’). Executive producers are Kenton Allen, Fielding, Victoria Grew, Matthew Justice and Palmer.
This isn’t the first tv series to be based around “Dick Turpin”. Those of you of a certain age may remember the ITV show which starred Richard O’Sullivan as the highwayman from 1979 to 1982. There were also a number of silent films in the 1920s, along with Sid James appearing as Turpin in the 1974 film ‘Carry On Dick’.
‘The Completely Made-Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin‘ premieres Friday, 1st March 2024 on Apple TV+ worldwide.
