For anyone who used to skive off school to watch re-runs of The Mighty Boosh, and has been (not so) patiently waiting for Noel Fielding to return to scripted comedy ever since, Apple TV+'s aptly named The Completely Made-up Adventures of Dick Turpin will do a lot for you.
As well as playing the titular role of Dick Turpin (albeit an exaggerated version of the real-life British highwayman), Noel has an executive-producer credit and was involved in the script writing too.
And all of that really shows, in the very best way possible.
Fielding's very specific brand of comedy has been injected into every layer of this period comedy and it's more than a little bit Boosh-y (only with a much higher Apple-funded budget).
In episode one's opening scenes, Fielding's Dick Turpin is given a speedy – and probably not entirely factually accurate – origin story that's summed up in a pithy monologue.
For any regulars who once sat in the audience of a Noel Fielding stand-up gig (or for those that have since watched his sketches on YouTube) it's a scene that absolutely encapsulates his signature comedic style. Fielding has always been able to paint a vivid, if not whimsical, picture with his words, taking his audience along with him on a journey through time and space.
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The Completely Made-up Adventures of Dick Turpin is its own standalone story, of course. It's a lighthearted swashbuckling adventure that pokes fun at the origins of the true-crime genre – long before podcasts and documentaries had us all gripped, there were printed 'Murder Pamphlets' that over-egged details of supposedly true crimes (think Bridgerton's Lady Whistledown gossip sheet, but with added death).
It's through conversations with an overly-enthusiastic writer named Eliza (Dolly Wells) that Turpin recounts a ream of ridiculous tales that then get acted out for us, the viewers at home.
Dick Turpin also boasts an impressive guest cast, introducing countless characters which turn each episode into a who's who of the comedy circuit. Asim Chaudhry, Joe Wilkinson, Mark Heap and Greg Davies are among the highlights, each bringing a new dimension to the storytelling by bringing their own flavour to their respective scenes.
And yet, this is undoubtedly Fielding's show. The Completely Made-up Adventures of Dick Turpin feels like a running joke that only Noel, and those in the audience that have fully committed to the ride, are in on.
The nods to Mighty Boosh are too obvious to ignore, and not just because there are a few on-screen reunions along the way – from Rich Fulcher, of 'I don't like cricket' fame, to Noel's younger brother Michael Fielding, who of course played Naboo in the noughties' BBC Three series.
While we don't wish to spoil too many punchlines, there's also a welcome callback to 'stationary village' and Fielding's Dick Turpin seems to have raided Vince Noir's wardrobe on more than one occasion – complete with silver cowboy boots that are definitely 1700s vintage.
If you lean into the absurdity of it all, The Completely Made-up Adventures of Dick Turpin is a lot of laughs. It feels like it was made for OG Noel Fielding fans (hello!), and it's a great introduction for those who have till now remained uninitiated.
The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin premieres globally with the first two episodes on Friday, March 1, followed by new episodes every Friday exclusively on Apple TV+.
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TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV desk at the UK's biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world's oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).
