Alley Cats: Ricky Gervais has swapped offices, retirement homes and live-action comedy for something considerably more chaotic: a group of foul-mouthed British cats living on the streets. His new Netflix series, Alley Cats, brings together a familiar group of British comedy performers for a six-episode adult animated sitcom.
The series arrived on Netflix on August 7, 2026, giving viewers a new way to experience Gervais’ trademark mix of blunt humour, social observation and uncomfortable conversations. Each episode follows a group of feral cats as they deal with survival, friendship, loneliness and the strange world created by humans.
Unlike a conventional animated family comedy, Alley Cats targets an adult audience. Netflix describes the show as following feral cats from different backgrounds who search for companionship while reflecting on everyday life. The first season contains six episodes.
Alley Cats Release Date
Alley Cats premiered globally on Netflix on August 7, 2026.
Alley Cats: Where to Watch
The first season consists of six episodes, with all six episodes available from the premiere date. The series runs as an adult animated comedy rather than a traditional children’s cartoon.
The show comes from Blink Industries, the London animation studio known for Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared. Ricky Gervais created the series and serves as a director and executive producer, while Elliot Dear joins him as co-director.
What is Alley Cats About?
At the centre of Alley Cats is Gus, a lazy and outspoken ginger tomcat voiced by Gervais. He spends his days alongside a group of other street cats who survive in a world dominated by humans.
The series uses the cats’ everyday struggles to explore bigger subjects such as companionship, survival and the meaning of life. Rather than presenting the animals as cute pets, the show places them in a rougher urban environment and builds its comedy around their arguments, personalities and interactions.
Netflix describes the series as a sitcom about feral British cats who come from different walks of life. The cats seek companionship while trying to make sense of their surroundings.
Alley Cats Full Cast: Who Voices the Characters?
Gervais has reunited several performers associated with his earlier projects, particularly After Life. The main voice cast includes Tom Basden, David Earl, Andrew Brooke, Diane Morgan, Kerry Godliman and Jo Hartley, along with Natalie Cassidy and Tony Way.
The principal characters include:
- Ricky Gervais as Gus: The lazy, opinionated ginger tomcat at the centre of the story.
- Tom Basden as Ponce: One of Gus’ fellow alley cats.
- Andrew Brooke as Fang: Another member of the feral group.
- David Earl as Puke: A streetwise member of the gang.
- Diane Morgan as Olive: One of the central female cats.
- Jo Hartley as Kitten: Another important member of the group.
- Kerry Godliman as Lara: Part of the voice ensemble.
- Natalie Cassidy and Tony Way: Both contribute additional voices.
The casting gives Alley Cats a strong connection to Gervais’ previous television work, with several familiar collaborators returning for his first major adult animated sitcom.
Ricky Gervais as Gus
Ricky Gervais voices Gus, the central character in Alley Cats. Gus is a lazy, outspoken ginger tomcat who spends his time navigating life on the streets while arguing and philosophising with the other cats. Gervais also created, wrote and co-directed the Netflix series, making Gus the main character through which his trademark comedy style comes alive. Gervais is best known for creating and starring in The Office, Extras, Derek and After Life. Alley Cats gives him his first major role as the creator and lead voice of an adult animated comedy.
Tom Basden as Ponce
Tom Basden voices Ponce, one of the cats who forms part of Gus’ chaotic group. Basden is an actor, comedian and writer who has worked with Gervais before, most notably as Matt in After Life. His other credits include Plebs, Fresh Meat and Here We Go. Basden’s return alongside Gervais adds another familiar performer to the new animated comedy.
Andrew Brooke as Fang
Andrew Brooke voices Fang, another member of the feral cat group. Brooke previously worked with Gervais on After Life, where he played Ratty. His other screen credits include television and film projects such as The Agency. His role in Alley Cats continues the reunion between Gervais and several performers from his earlier shows.
David Earl as Puke
David Earl plays Puke, one of the streetwise cats at the heart of the series. Earl has a long history with Gervais, having played Brian in After Life and Kev in Derek. He is also known for creating and starring in Brian and Charles. His dry and unconventional comedy style fits the rough-edged world of the alley cats.
Diane Morgan as Olive
Diane Morgan voices Olive, one of the female cats in the group. Morgan is widely recognised for playing Philomena Cunk in the Cunk series and has appeared in shows including Motherland, Mandy and After Life. She previously played Kath in After Life, making Alley Cats another collaboration between Morgan and Gervais.
Jo Hartley as Kitten
Jo Hartley voices Kitten in the animated series. Hartley has built an extensive career across British television and film, with credits including This Is England, After Life, Adolescence, In My Skin, Eddie the Eagle and Bank of Dave. Her involvement adds another familiar performer from Gervais’ previous projects to the Alley Cats ensemble.
Kerry Godliman
Kerry Godliman is also part of the main voice cast of Alley Cats. She previously worked with Gervais as Lisa in After Life and Hannah in Derek. Godliman is also known for Whitstable Pearl, Taskmaster and several British comedy and drama productions. Her involvement strengthens the connection between Alley Cats and Gervais’ earlier television work.
Natalie Cassidy
Natalie Cassidy joins the voice cast of Alley Cats alongside Gervais and the other performers. Cassidy is best known for her long-running role as Sonia Fowler in EastEnders. She has also appeared in reality and entertainment programmes, including Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother. Alley Cats gives her a new opportunity to work in adult animation.
Tony Way
Tony Way completes the principal Alley Cats voice ensemble. Way has worked with Gervais before, playing Lenny in After Life. He is also known internationally for playing Ser Dontos Hollard in Game of Thrones, while his film credits include Edge of Tomorrow and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. His experience across British comedy and drama makes him another familiar addition to the cast.
Alley Cats Cast: A Familiar Ricky Gervais Comedy Reunion
The Alley Cats cast brings together several actors who have already worked with Ricky Gervais. Tom Basden, Andrew Brooke, David Earl, Diane Morgan, Jo Hartley and Kerry Godliman all have links to Gervais’ previous projects, particularly After Life and Derek. Gervais now brings that familiar ensemble into animation, with the performers voicing a group of foul-mouthed cats trying to survive and find companionship on the streets.
Who Created and Animated Alley Cats?
Gervais created Alley Cats and serves as one of its directors and executive producers. Elliot Dear works alongside him as co-director.
Blink Industries handles the animation. The studio previously worked on Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared and other animated projects, bringing a distinctive visual approach to the series.
The production team also includes executive producer Steven Hamilton Shaw and producer Hugo Donkin, while Tang Heng serves as production designer.
Alley Cats Early Reviews: What Are Critics Saying?
The series has already attracted a mixed response, with some of the strongest early attention focusing on its deliberately crude and provocative comedy.
The Guardian’s August 7 review criticised the show’s reliance on vulgar jokes and argued that its attempts at emotional depth do not always land. Another Guardian review published ahead of the release also questioned whether Gervais’ provocative style works as effectively in the animated format.
At the same time, the show’s unusual concept and recognisable voice cast make it one of Netflix’s notable new animated releases for August. It also joins a broader lineup of new Netflix series arriving during the month.
Alley Cats: Why Ricky Gervais Fans Are Watching
For Gervais fans, Alley Cats offers something different from his recent live-action projects. The animated format gives him greater freedom to create characters and situations that would be difficult to stage in a conventional sitcom.
The series also brings together several actors who have helped define Gervais’ television comedy over the years. With six short episodes, the show gives viewers a relatively quick way to decide whether its mix of crude humour, street-level comedy and philosophical conversations works for them.
Whether viewers embrace the cats or find the humour too abrasive, Alley Cats marks an important new chapter in Gervais’ Netflix relationship and his move into adult animation.
