The Outlaws start date and cast from Stephen Merchant's new BBC One comedy

Stephen Merchant’s comedy new series The Outlaws is on its way to BBC One – here’s all you need to know

The show (previously titled The Offenders) follows seven strangers from different walks of life forced together to complete a Community Payback sentence in Bristol. As they become involved in each other’s lives, they also become involved with a dangerous criminal gang.

The six-part series is written and directed by multi-award-winning Stephen Merchant, who will also star in the cast.

The Outlaws will start on Monday, 25 October at 9PM on BBC One and BBC iPlayer and continue weekly.

A first look photo features Stephen alongside fellow cast members including Academy Award-winning actor Christopher Walken in his first lead British television role.

They’re joined by Rhianne Barreto (Honour, Hanna), Gamba Cole (Soon Gone: A Windrush Chronicle, Hanna), Darren Boyd (Killing Eve, Lucky Man), Clare Perkins (EastEnders), and Eleanor Tomlinson (Poldark, The War of the Worlds).

Further casting includes Richard E. Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) as The Earl, a member of the landed gentry and Gabby’s (Eleanor Tomlinson) father. Julia Davis (Sally4Ever) plays Rita, head of human resources at Greg’s (Stephen Merchant) company.

A teaser for the series shares of The Outlaws: “The Outlaws follows seven strangers from different walks of life forced together to complete a Community Payback sentence in Bristol. At first, they seem like archetypes we can easily pigeonhole, but gradually we see behind their façades, understand their hidden depths, and what made them the people they are today.

“We are reminded that no one is all good or all bad. Everyone has a story. As their unlikely new friendships intersect with their complicated private lives, The Outlaws must unite to protect one of their own from Bristol’s most dangerous criminal gang.