Alley Cats brings Ricky Gervais back to the realm of animation, with a six-episode comedy about a gang of foul-mouthed feral British cats who bicker and philosophise about life on the streets.
Created, co-directed and executive produced by Gervais, with animation from Blink Industries, the studio behind Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared, the series reunites Gervais with a familiar circle of collaborators from After Life and Derek.
Netflix describes it as a slacker sitcom in animated form, following cats from different walks of life as they seek companionship and cause havoc in a harsh human world.
The voice ensemble is led by Gervais himself as lazy ginger tom Gus, alongside the likes of Tom Basden, David Earl, Diane Morgan and Kerry Godliman.
Below is a full guide to the Alley Cats voice cast, so you know exactly who to expect in the brand new Netflix original series.
Alley Cats season 1 cast list
Here’s an overview of the key players in the Alley Cats voice cast – read on for more detailed profiles on each character and the actors behind them, including where you might have seen them before.
- Ricky Gervais as Gus
- Tom Basden as Ponce
- Andrew Brooke as Fang
- David Earl as Puke
- Diane Morgan as Olive
- Jo Hartley as Kitten
- Kerry Godliman as TBC
- Natalie Cassidy as TBC
- Tony Way as TBC
Ricky Gervais as Gus
About the character: Gus is the show’s lead, a lazy, opinionated ginger tom who anchors the gang and drives much of the banter and philosophising about everyday life.
Where you’ve seen Ricky Gervais before: Gervais co-created and starred in The Office and Extras, and more recently wrote, directed and led the Netflix comedy After Life. He also created and starred in Derek, hosts stand-up specials and has fronted the Golden Globes. Alley Cats marks his first venture into adult animation, and he serves as creator, co-director and executive producer as well as voicing Gus.
Tom Basden as Ponce
About the character: Ponce is one of the alley cats trading barbs with Gus and the rest of the gang.
Where you’ve seen Tom Basden before: Basden is a writer, actor and comedian who played Matt across all three seasons of After Life. His other credits include Plebs, Fresh Meat and Ghosts, and he co-wrote and starred in the acclaimed 2023 film The Kitchen and BBC sitcom Here We Go.
Andrew Brooke as Fang
About the character: Fang is another member of the feral gang at the centre of the series.
Where you’ve seen Andrew Brooke before: Brooke played Ratty in After Life, making his Alley Cats casting a reunion with Gervais. He has also appeared in the Paramount+ political thriller The Agency and a range of British film and television.
David Earl as Puke
About the character: Puke is one of the streetwise cats scavenging and squabbling alongside Gus.
Where you’ve seen David Earl before: Earl is a comedian and actor best known for his character Brian Gittins and for co-writing and starring in the 2022 film Brian and Charles. He played Kev in Derek and appeared throughout After Life as Brian, while his other credits include The Cockfields and Rovers, which he also co-wrote.
Diane Morgan as Olive
About the character: Olive is one of the female cats in the gang, part of the ensemble trading banter about life on the streets.
Where you’ve seen Diane Morgan before: Morgan is a BAFTA-nominated actor, writer and comedian best known as deadpan mockumentary presenter Philomena Cunk in a variety of spoofs. She also played Liz in Motherland, Kath in After Life, and currently leads BBC comedies Mandy and Ann Droid.
Jo Hartley as Kitten
About the character: Kitten is another of the cats navigating the trials of feral life in the series.
Where you’ve seen Jo Hartley before: Hartley is a character actor best known as Cynthia Fields in Shane Meadows’s This Is England and its television follow-ups This Is England ’86, ’88 and ’90. Her wider credits include Adolescence, In My Skin, After Life and films such as Eddie the Eagle and Bank of Dave.
Kerry Godliman as TBC
About the character: Godliman is part of the Alley Cats voice ensemble, though her specific role has not yet been detailed.
Where you’ve seen Kerry Godliman before: Godliman is a comedian and actor who played Lisa in After Life and Hannah in Derek. She leads Whitstable Pearl as private detective Pearl Nolan, appeared in ITV’s Trigger Point and won series 7 of Taskmaster, while her film work includes We Live in Time and Spinal Tap II: The End Continues.
Natalie Cassidy as TBC
About the character: Cassidy joins the voice cast, with her character not yet confirmed.
Where you’ve seen Natalie Cassidy before: Cassidy is one of EastEnders’ longest-serving cast members, playing Sonia Fowler on the BBC One soap on and off since the early 1990s. She has also appeared in entertainment formats including Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.
Tony Way as TBC
About the character: Way completes the announced voice line-up, with his role currently undisclosed.
Where you’ve seen Tony Way before: Way is a character actor and writer who played Lenny in After Life and Ser Dontos Hollard in Game of Thrones. His film credits include Edge of Tomorrow and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, alongside numerous British comedies and dramas.
Alley Cats is coming soon to Netflix. You can sign up to Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky TV and Virgin Media.
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