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Ricky Gervais Hits Netflix #1 After Critics Award Zero Stars
— 2 mins read
The Telegraph awarded the animated comedy no stars at all, but millions of viewers watched it anyway, and Gervais says he has 'never been so happy'
Ricky Gervais' new animated comedy Alley Cats reached number one on Netflix's UK chart over the weekend, days after its release on 7 August, despite some of the harshest reviews of his career.
The gap between what critics said and what viewers did could hardly be wider. Radio Times reported that the series topped the UK chart shortly after launch, a position confirmed by Netflix's own published data.
What the critics said
The Independent gave the show one star, calling it 'abrasive, smug, and completely mirthless'. The Telegraph went further, awarding zero stars and dismissing it as 'staggeringly unfunny' and 'the worst thing to happen to cats since Cats'.
Metro's critic wrote that they were 'shocked that a man I used to think was a comedy genius' could 'produce such lazy claptrap'. The Times was kinder, giving three stars, though its reviewer still detected a 'distinct whiff of tomcat pee'.
What Gervais said
Gervais responded to the reviews directly on social media. 'Millions of you' watched the show, he posted, 'and that has annoyed a few people'. He added that he was 'still over the moon about the viewing figures' and thanked 'the best fans in the f**king world'.
He also encouraged viewers to send him their reactions, noting that 'a photo of your pet gives you more chance of a reply'. Many fans obliged, with a number of them arguing that only the offended dislike the show.
The show and the pattern
Alley Cats is a six-episode adult animated comedy created, written, and directed by Gervais, who voices the lead character Gus. The cast includes Tom Basden, Diane Morgan, Kerry Godliman, David Earl, Jo Hartley, Natalie Cassidy, and Tony Way. It is produced by Derek Productions, Shush Creative, and Blink Industries.
The Telegraph awarded zero stars and called it 'the worst thing to happen to cats since Cats'.
The split between critical and audience reception is a familiar one for Gervais. His previous Netflix series, After Life, which ran from 2019 to 2022, also topped UK charts despite mixed and negative reviews, and remains one of the platform's most-watched UK originals in its category. Gervais has said repeatedly in interviews that he values audience reaction over critical approval.
Gervais has also clashed with media coverage before. A series of provocative poster campaigns, including adverts for his Dutch Barn vodka brand referencing knife crime, drew claims that Transport for London had rejected some of them. TfL denied this, stating that the adverts in question were never submitted for approval and that earlier campaigns went through standard processes.
Alley Cats is currently streaming on Netflix.
