If you prefer your period dramas to skew more Blackadder than Downton Abbey, then you’re in luck: a new series about legendary British highwayman Dick Turpin is about to hit our screens, and it promises to be deliciously irreverent.

Aptly named The Completely Made-Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin (despite being based somewhat on true events), the six-episode comedy caper sees Noel Fielding step into Turpin’s high-rise leather boots for a riotous journey of “wildly absurd escapades”.

With great hair, excellent cheekbones and a phenomenally large ego, it remains to be seen, however, how the apparently brainless Turpin will handle his newfound notoriety.

Does anyone else suspect the answer is: not all that well, actually?

Watch the trailer for The Completely Made-Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin below:

Here’s what you need to know about the must-watch Apple TV+ series.

What is The Completely Made-Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin about?

When our eponymous highwayman is made the reluctant leader of a band of outlaws, he soon finds himself trapped in a deadly vendetta with corrupt Jonathan Wilde – but who will come out on top?

“In this irreverent retelling set in the 18th century, Turpin is the most famous but least likely of highway robbers, whose success is defined mostly by his charm, showmanship and great hair,” teases the official synopsis. “Together with his gang of lovable rogues, Turpin rides the highs and lows of his new endeavours, including a brush with celebrity, all whilst trying to escape the clutches of the thief-taker.”

Who stars in The Completely Made-Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin?

The series is a veritable Who’s Who of British comedy, including Noel Fielding, Hugh Bonneville and Tamsin Greig, to name just three.

They are joined by:

• Ellie White
• Marc Wootton 
• Duayne Boachie
• Asim Chaudhry
• Dolly Wells
• Joe Wilkinson 
• Mark Heap 
• Geoff McGivern
• Michael Fielding 
• Samuel Leakey 
• Kiri Flaherty

What are people saying about The Completely Made-Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin?

Teasing his role as the dandy highwayman himself, Fielding has said: “We decided to make him quite inept and useless at being a highwayman. He can just about get by on his charm, his creative ideas and his kindness. He can’t ride a horse. He can’t shoot a gun. He doesn’t really know what he’s doing and is way out of his depths.”

Speaking with the people at Comic Book Movie, the former Bake Off judge adds: “He’s a fish out of water but I feel like those things are good for comedy. If it was a drama, maybe I wouldn’t be sitting here. There would be someone else, a musclebound, handsome, lantern-jawed Hollywood star. For comedy, I think it’s OK if you’re rubbish!”

When and where can we watch The Completely Made-Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin?

The Completely Made-Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin is available to watch on Apple TV+ now.  

Will it stand the test of time and deliver? Only time will tell, we suppose…

Images: Apple TV+