The Completely Made-Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin axed mid-production
- Series 2 of The Completely Made-Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin has been axed, with production halted on the sitcom mid-production
- Apple TV+ has confirmed the show has ended, citing the reason is due to "a health issue with a cast member"
- The Sun newspaper reports that star Noel Fielding has failed to turn up to work and "is now believed to be somewhere in France"
Production has halted on the second series of The Completely Made-Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin, due to a "health issue with a cast member". Apple TV+ says there is now no plans for the show to return.
The sitcom, which launched in March 2024, starred Noel Fielding as a version of highwayman Dick Turpin, a man "who always believed he was destined for something bigger than a life chopping meat in his dad's butcher's shop".
The synopsis explained: "In this irreverent retelling, Dick is the most famous, but least likely of highway robbers, whose success is defined mostly by his charm, showmanship and great hair. Together with his gang of loveable rogues, Dick rides the highs and lows of celebrity - and does what he can to escape the clutches of the Thief Taker General."
The first series, which also starred Duayne Boachie, Ellie White, Marc Wootton and Hugh Bonneville, was a hit with viewers, resulting in a second series being ordered in July.
Neither Apple TV+ or producers Big Talk Studios have provided any further explanation on why production has halted beyond the "health issue" statement, however a report in The Sun suggests the show has been axed as Fielding "failed to come to work".
The newspaper said: "Filming started on a second series in the autumn, but Noel, 51, didn't return after the production paused for the Christmas holidays".
A source is quoted as saying: "Naturally, the rumour mill is in overtime as to what has happened with Noel, but it must have been very serious to axe the whole show. In most circumstances execs will at least consider pausing filming, but for some reason they decided to throw in the towel before the situation got any worse."
The Sun reports that the Mighty Boosh star "has left the country and is now believed to be somewhere in France".
Earlier this month, The Completely Made-Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin was voted by comedy fans as one of the six best new British TV sitcoms of 2024, and thus the show is in the Comedy.co.uk Awards shortlist voting