53%
32 Reviews
Tomatometer
86%
100+ Ratings
Audience Score
A documentary-style comedy-drama follows a group of people living on the fringe of society. At the group's core is Derek Noakes, a tender, ingenuous man who works at a retirement home. His love for his job and the people he cares for is evident in everything he does. Derek is in his 40s and is vulnerable to being ridiculed and ostracized because of his childlike nature, diminished intelligence and social awkwardness. Among his co-workers at the home are Dougie, his friend and landlord, and Hannah, his best friend who is smart and hard-working but unlucky in love. Writer-director Ricky Gervais stars in the title role, which is based on a character he created for his stand-up routine.
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Watch Derek — Season 1 with a subscription on Netflix.
Critics Consensus
Derek is as irreverent as might be expected from a show starring Ricky Gervais, but this time he brings a surprising amount of depth and empathy to the title character.
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Michael Antony A
Mikey's TV Review: Derek
Revisiting Derek (2012-2014) 12 years on is an interesting experience. While much of the humour groans or simply falls flat (David Earl's Kevin still grates), the whole show has so much heart it makes the whole venture worthwhile. Much of this is down to the brilliant Kerry Godliman as Hannah. A truly outstanding actress she gives an incredible performance throughout. While the cast are perfectly at home with this kind of schtick, Godliman elevates the material and steals every scene she's in.
Rick Gervais has played better characters, but Derek is such a good person you want to like him. He needs so much to believe that everyone else can be good too that his enthusiasm and outlook on life is quite infectious. Although Getvais' performance occasionally verges on parody he actually reveals some real ability here through some honest emotional moments. Especially in season 2 episode 5…
The first season is the best with some genuinely heartbreaking moments. And although the show can be quite crass, if doesn't move you or tickle your funny bone at least a little, you might need to check your pulse.
The mood in a single episode can veer from gross out moments to slapstick to surrealism to tears to just plain funny. As a result it never truly coheres, but remains nonetheless a love letter to the people who work in a tireless, thankless profession - care work.
Season 2 foolishly replaces Karl Pilkington with Colin Hoult, but Holli Dempsey as Vicky the ‘chav with a heart of gold' and a pre ‘Ted Lasso' fame Brett Goldstein (as Hannah's love interest) are more than welcome additions.
Gervais perfected this style of comedy with After Life and while Derek doesn't stand up to the brilliance of The Office or Extras, if you missed it first time around and you're partial to this kind of observational / cringe satire, why not give it a try?
Mikey's TV Rating: 3/5*
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
02/09/24
Full Review
Lukas-Jeremie K
"Derek" is a mockumentary series set in a retirement home in a small town. As exciting as this sounds, it actually is - not much happens in the series and the series spends most of its time illustrating this boring everyday life, which Derek likes just as it is. There are also a few supporting characters, all of which create a suitable atmosphere.
Unfortunately, the best supporting character says goodbye in the second season, which means that the quality of the series decreases somewhat.
But the series is something short that you can watch between all those big shows.
You can also see Ricky Gervais here in a completely different role than usual.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
12/16/23
Full Review
Sita C
Ricky Gervais creates a unique type of storytelling. Unfortunately, there are some unlucky viewers who struggle or just cannot fathom his art. 'Derek' as an all rounder show boasts amazing depth and allows you to feel a range of emotions. A beautiful example of what an engaging show should contain. He is a living legend and a comedy genius.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
04/17/23
Full Review
Ash B
This is a charming show peppered with strange characters and big dose of kindness. I generally don't like RG, but I think this one is a gem.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
02/19/23
Full Review
brOOtal_bananas
Unbelievable show 💜💜💜
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
11/18/22
Full Review
sotiris k
So many forced emotional parts, it's like Gervais is trying to "trick" people to tears.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
03/30/23
Full Review
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Cast & Crew
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Cast & Crew
Episode 1
Aired Apr 12, 2012
Pilot
A documentary team visits a retirement home that employs Derek Noakes, a simple man who loves reality TV. In the course of the day, Derek falls into a pond,sets up his friend Hannah with a date and takes the death of a resident to heart.
Details
Episode 2
Aired Jan 30, 2013
A visit from the council sees Broadhill retirement home facing closure. Hannah, the home's manager rallies together her troops, friends Derek, Dougie and Kev, and together they set to work to raise their own funds for the home.
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Episode 3
Aired Feb 6, 2013
It's Derek's 50th birthday and what better way to celebrate than with a party at Broadhill retirement home; a new addition to the staff thinks she looks like Victoria Beckham.
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Episode 4
Aired Feb 13, 2013
Derek finds a baby bird that's fallen from a tree; Derek and some other residents attend a rummage sale; it's date night for Tom and Hannah.
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Episode 5
Aired Feb 19, 2013
Derek decides to sell some of his autographs to raise money for the retirement home; some residents make an outing to the beach; Kev writes rude words in the sand.
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Episode 6
Aired Feb 27, 2013
Broadhill wants to host a cabaret show and Derek forms an entertainment committee; a new community service worker joins the home.
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Episode 7
Aired Mar 6, 2013
A much-loved resident is in decline; an unexpected visitor arrives as the retirement home faces up to some changes.
Details
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Alison Willmore
indieWire
Gervais is perfectly earnest in what he's set out to do with "Derek," and his heart is in the right place, but in trying to do right by these characters he ends up in danger of condescending to both them and the audience.
Sep 25, 2018
Full Review
Thomas Sutcliffe
Independent (UK)
Oddly, in fact, it's Derek's redeeming qualities that are the hardest to take - a sense of self-congratulation at the refinement of its own sentiments that has a little bit of the bully in it too.
Sep 25, 2018
Full Review
Mark Lawson
Guardian
The drawback of Derek is not that it is cruel about disability but that it is often soft on a character whose identity remains too vague.
Sep 25, 2018
Full Review
Oscar Harding
What Culture
So far the series seems to be a very sweet, beautifully realised little drama with the odd bit of humour--this is not some backhanded compliment, if anything it€™s real praise.
Rated: 4/5
Sep 25, 2018
Full Review
Scotsman Staff
Scotsman
I felt myself not so much cringe as physically recoil.
Sep 25, 2018
Full Review
Jack Seale
Radio Times
That talent could still be in there. But Ricky Gervais won't rediscover it until he puts down that giant foam mallet and picks up a pen.
Sep 25, 2018
Full Review
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