Ricky Gervais's new Netflix comedy Alley Cats confirms release date
The animated series sees the After Life cast reunite – as you've never seen them before.
Ricky Gervais sitcom Alley Cats finally has a confirmed premiere date on Netflix, with the animated series set to arrive this summer.
The six-part comedy imagines the "trials and tribulations of a group of feral British cats from all walks of society, who seek companionship while ruminating on everyday life".
Gervais voices the main character alongside a cast containing many of his After Life collaborators, including Tom Basden, David Earl, Kerry Godliman, Diane Morgan, Jo Hartley, Andrew Brooke and Tony Way.
Joining the party for this latest project is EastEnders legend Natalie Cassidy, whose prior work in the comedy genre includes Psychoville, Mandy and Motherland.
If you're excited to see what's in store, mark your calendars: Alley Cats will be available to stream on Netflix from Friday 7 August 2026.
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Netflix promises that Gervais's "signature style of heart and social commentary" will feature in the series, which marks his first self-produced animated effort since The Ricky Gervais Show concluded in 2012.
That series took segments from the podcast of the same name (also featuring Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington), and brought them to life in a retro style evoking The Flintstones and Scooby-Doo producers Hanna-Barbera.
Therefore, Alley Cats marks Gervais's first major foray into scripted animation (besides his work on a popular 2006 episode of The Simpsons). Don't Hug Me I'm Scared producers Blink Industries are behind the design of the show.
The comedian will be in attendance at this June's Annecy International Animation Festival, where he'll join a discussion of the upcoming project and the first two episodes will be screened for guests.
Speaking to Radio Times earlier this year, Gervais said it was a "no brainer" to work with his After Life cast again in Alley Cats. "You know them, you trust them, you know what they're good at [and] it's fun," he explained.
Alley Cats is coming to Netflix on 7 August 2026. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.
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Authors
David Craig is the Senior Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest and greatest scripted drama and comedy across television and streaming. Previously, he worked at Starburst Magazine, presented The Winter King Podcast for ITVX and studied Journalism at the University of Sheffield.
