Ricky Gervais has a new Netflix animated series called Alley Cats, and he is already warning viewers not to be offended by what the characters say. The show, which launches on August 7, features a group of feral British cats who use lots of swearing.
Gervais on Offensive Cartoon Cats
“It would take a very special kind of person to complain about what a fictional cartoon cat thought of something, but it will happen,” Gervais said. “Please don’t be offended by anything these characters say or do. They can’t help it. They’re cats. So sometimes, they’re ****s.”
Despite the crude humour, Gervais is known as an animal lover and has campaigned against animal cruelty. The series was partly inspired by his own pet cat Pickle, a rescued tabby he shares with partner Jane Fallon.
Inspiration from Pickle
“I’ve never understood cruelty to animals. I think most people have that empathy towards animals, but it has to be nurtured and encouraged. I was born into it. My family loved animals, and grew up in a household with dogs and cats,” Gervais said. “Cats are the only animals to domesticate themselves. They just wandered into humanity one day and said ‘Feed me, Bitch’. This happened about 10,000 years ago in Egypt where they were worshipped as gods. As everyone knows, they’ve never forgotten this. I’ve been obsessed with cats my entire life. They’re cool, funny, cuddly, violent, and indifferent - often all in the same minute.”
The show follows the trials and tribulations of a group of feral British cats. The six 15-minute episodes started as group improv sessions among the actors, loosely using a script.
Cast and Improv Process
Gervais used regular co-stars including Tom Basden, David Earl, Kerry Godliman, Jo Hartley and Diane Morgan. “I cast my usual gang of comedy chums, because I know exactly what they’re capable of: they can stay in character, drive the plot, stick to the screenplay, and go completely off-piste whenever the moment demands it,” he explained. Audio was recorded first, then animation began.
Gervais voices Gus, a wise-cracking wheeler-dealer influenced by Pickle. “The first drawing I did of him was a fat, middle-aged bloke slouching on a sofa. I slouch all the time. And he’s mouthy, he’s opinionated, he talks about stuff he doesn’t really know about or care about. It’s all these bloke traits,” he said. “He talks like he’s the smartest bloke in the room, and he’s not. He’s a little bit Captain Mainwaring from Dad’s Army, a little bit Fletcher from Porridge, a little bit Del Boy from Only Fools And Horses.”
Mortality and the Future
Despite the jokey nature, the show touches on mortality, like Gervais’ 2022 hit After Life. “It’s always been important to me, ever since I first found out that this is all we’ve got: life is amazing, and then you die, so you better make the most of it,” he said. A scene where a kitten sees a dead cat leads to a discussion about death, undercut with a joke about bin men and foxes.
Gervais hopes the show can continue indefinitely. “It’s the first thing I’ve ever created that I’d like to go on forever. I can see myself just making this show till I die. The cats won’t age and it doesn’t matter how fat and old and bald I get. Someone can just put me in a chair with a microphone, surrounded by the rest of the cast, and off we go.” Alley Cats launches on Netflix on Friday, August 7.
