Kerry Godliman

After Life is the latest offering from Ricky Gervais, where he plays widower Tony, a man corroded by grief (staying alive only to feed his dog) who decides to be as obnoxious as he likes and then kill himself, behaviour that he thinks is "like a superpower."

The cast includes Penelope Wilton as a widow, Diane Morgan as Tony's gobby co-worker, and Paul Kaye as a self-satisfied therapist. Apart from videos left by Tony's late wife (a touching Kerry Godliman), the heart is mainly provided by Ashley Jensen as a care-home worker looking after Tony's dad (David Bradley), and Mandeep Dhillon's rookie journalist at the local newspaper where Tony works.

The problem is the wildly swerving tone - from obnoxious to sentimental to caustic to maudlin to pointlessly vile. At one point Tony helps a junkie (Tim Plester) buy enough drugs to kill himself. Ho and ho. This just won't cut it as edgy comedy in the era of Succession, Russian Doll and so much more. After Life worked better during the running joke featuring Tony covering hopeless local stories, such as a boy playing recorders with his nostrils: "Why would people rather be famous for being shit than not famous at all?" This is Gervais's true superpower - as a carping, eye-rolling everyman.

Kerry Godliman interview

As Ricky Gervais's new comedy tackles grieving is there anything left we can't laugh about?

Review: After Life

Followers of Ricky Gervais's work will spot elements form across the CV in his new Netflix series.

After Life Netflix review

Ricky Gervais delivers a hilarious and harrowing story.

After Life review

Ricky Gervais' touching look at grief and the people left behind.

After Life, Netflix, review

Gervais' character is the embodiment of socially awkward misanthropy, but also a believable portrait of a man consumed by grief.

Review: Gervais gets spiny & squishy in After Life

Like its snarky hero, After Life is essentially good-hearted.

The former Pub Landlord returns, out of character, with another run of his good-natured and gently watchable quiz. The teams are seasoned quizzers intent on winning - Phill Jupitus and Kerry Godliman are the captains attempting to bring a touch of levity to proceedings.

Review: After Life, Netflix

What is the new six-part Netflix series from Ricky Gervais? After Life is certainly funny but it is no sitcom. There is too much going on here that isn't funny to file it snugly under that genre. It's not that safety net catch-all "comedy drama" either though. It's something totally unique. And it deserves a category of its own.