David Baddiel is on a mission to “put cats in the spotlight” with his new three-part documentary series David Baddiel: Cat Man, airing on British television. The comedian and cat owner embarks on a heartfelt journey, from getting bitten by a grumpy moggy to bathing with lions, all in celebration of felines and to challenge stereotypes that cats are “sneaky, evil and lazy”.
The show highlights the popularity of cats online, noting that #catsofinstagram has over 212 million posts, yet few TV programmes focus on them. Baddiel meets famous cat influencers including Atticus, a ragdoll with 96,700 Instagram followers who performed a stunt for Mission: Impossible, and King Louis, a British shorthair with 139,000 followers who bites Baddiel during a bongo-playing attempt. He also visits Holly’s Merry Moggies, a rescue centre for disabled cats, and attends the Supreme cat show, where Dr Susan’s Bengal Lucy wins top honours.
Baddiel’s own cats—Tiger, Zelda, and Ron—feature briefly, but the series takes an emotional turn when his 15-year-old cat Pip dies during filming. Baddiel’s genuine tears on camera reflect the hidden grief many pet owners face, with 55% afraid of ridicule. The series also includes celebrity cat enthusiasts Ricky Gervais, Jonathan Ross, and Lou Sanders, as well as cat hater Frank Skinner, who describes cats as “sinister” but softens when reminded of a shared cat from years ago.
From kitten yoga to hand-feeding cheetahs, and a cuddle with Larry the No 10 cat, Cat Man is a warm, entertaining tribute. The reviewer calls it “ultimate comfort viewing” that leaves her proud to be a cat person.
