Scripted series · Channel 4
Derek
Who's in it
Cast
The principal ensemble across the run of the series.
Ricky Gervais
Derek
12 eps
Kerry Godliman
Hannah
12 eps
David Earl
Kev
12 eps
Karl Pilkington
Dougie
7 eps
Barry Martin
Joe
12 eps
Tim Barlow
Jack
12 eps
Arthur Nightingale
Arthur
12 eps
Ninette Finch
Annie
12 eps
Margaret Towner
Edna
12 eps
Sheila Collings
Sheila
12 eps
Blanche Williams
Precious
12 eps
Ashley McGuire
Shelley
1 eps
Susannah Wise
Rebecca
1 eps
Tom Basden
Autograph Expert
1 eps
Ben Bailey Smith
Deon
1 eps
Tony Way
Pete
1 eps
Frog Stone
Art Teacher
1 eps
Laura June Hudson
Jill
7 eps
Tom Hughes
Andy
1 eps
Teresa Churcher
Daughter
1 eps
Tony Rohr
Anthony
7 eps
Vicky Hall
Tracey
1 eps
Brett Goldstein
Tom
9 eps
Holli Dempsey
Vicky
9 eps
Joe Wilkinson
Cliff
1 eps
Colin Hoult
Geoff
3 eps
The Nutevio profile
TV DNA
How Derek actually feels to watch, measured on the traits our editors track across every series.
Signature profile
Derek reads strongest on Character Depth, Bingeability and Humour.
How fully written and psychologically layered the ensemble is.
How hard it is to stop after one episode.
How often the series is genuinely funny, by design.
How much the series is designed to affect you.
How much each hour depends on the one before it.
How often an episode ends on a hook you can't ignore.
The sustained pressure the series keeps you under.
Visual ambition — scale, craft and set-piece filmmaking.
The scale, internal logic and texture of the world.
The story
What it's about
Derek is a loyal nursing home caretaker who sees only the good in his quirky co-workers as they struggle against prejudice and shrinking budgets to care for their elderly residents.
Where the series peaks
Best Episodes
The hours that define the show, ranked by audience response and editorial signal.
S01E01
Episode 1
A visit from the council sees Broadhill retirement home facing closure. Hannah, the home's manager, rallies together her troops, best mates Derek, Dougie and Kev.
- Directed by Ricky Gervais
- Written by Ricky Gervais
S01E06
Episode 6
A much-loved resident is in decline, which sets in motion a sequence of events culminating in the appearance of an unexpected visitor.
- Directed by Ricky Gervais
- Written by Ricky Gervais
S01E02
Episode 2
It's Derek's 50th birthday; what better way to celebrate than with a party at Broadhill retirement home?
- Directed by Ricky Gervais
- Written by Ricky Gervais
S01E03
Episode 3
Derek is desperate to save the life of a baby bird that's fallen from a tree. Some of the residents attend a jumble sale. And Hannah forgets about her date with Tom.
- Directed by Ricky Gervais
- Written by Ricky Gervais
S00E01
Pilot
Derek introduces us to his world of retirees, autograph hunting and hamster videos. Hannah gets her first shot at romance in a long while and Dougie is busy fixing useless things.
- Directed by Ricky Gervais
- Written by Ricky Gervais
S02E01
Episode 1
All the old Broadhill faces are back, alongside some new ones. Derek's happy that his dad's moving in, while Tom and Hannah are taking things to another level.
- Directed by Ricky Gervais
- Written by Ricky Gervais
Behind the series
Created by
Showrunners, creators, executive producers and the writers who set the voice of the series.
The craft
Key Crew
Directing, writing, production, camera, music and editing.
Writing
- Ricky GervaisWriter
Direction
- Ricky GervaisDirector
Where to watch
Streaming
Availability verified against regional listings.
- NetflixStreaming
- Netflix Standard with AdsStreaming
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Where to go from here
Watch Next
Our editors' suggestion for the show you should start tonight — and why.
The Office
2005
Need something lighter afterwards? Start here.
Breaking Bad
2008
Watch this next if you like protagonists you can't quite defend.
Flinderella
2004
Need something lighter afterwards? Start here.
Chicago Fire
2012
Another masterpiece of long-form storytelling, chosen to follow this one.
Supernatural
2005
Another invented world built with the same seriousness — start at episode one.
Never stop watching
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