Netflix quietly adds ‘superb under-the radar comedy’ set in Victorian London

Netflix has released a British sitcom that initially went under-the-radar (Picture: Ben Meadows/ Channel 4)

A show fans dubbed ‘one of the best British sitcoms in years’ has now been added to Netflix.

Initially airing on Channel 4 in 2019, the series Year of the Rabbit largely went under the radar despite receiving glowing reviews.

Running for one season, the six-part series was created by Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley, who have worked on shows together including The Great Outdoors, Hyperdrive and Slacker Cats, as well as Veep, Little Britain and Spitting Image.

This series of theirs was set in London in 1887 and followed ‘a group of Victorian detectives including Detective Inspector Rabbit, a hardened boozehound who’s seen it all, and his new, hapless, by-the-books partner.’.

Matt Berry – best known for appearing in The IT Crowd, The Mighty Boosh and What We Do in the Shadows played Detective Rabbit, while Freddie Fox was Detective Sergeant Wilbur Strauss,  Rabbit’s junior partner. The pair’s boss – Chief Inspector Hugh Wisbech was played by Alun Armstrong.

It was teased of the series: ‘While investigating a local murder, the chief of police’s lewd but insightful adopted daughter becomes the country’s first female officer.

Year of the Rabbit aired on Channel 4 in 2019 (Picture: Ben Meadows/ Channel 4)

‘Together, the trio must fight crime while rubbing shoulders with street gangs, crooked politicians, Bulgarian princes, spiritualists, music hall stars, and the Elephant Man.’

The show, which was added on Netflix this week, currently holds an impressive 94% rating on review site Rotten Tomatoes.

‘It’s a strange kind of comedy – but it is also brilliant,’ Radio Times wrote in its review.

‘The most surprising thing about the whole mad shebang was that it worked. It was really, really funny,’ The Times admitted.

‘Year of the Rabbit has Berry hitting the right comedic notes, helped by a funny supporting cast and a setting that’s always ripe for comedy,’ Decider shared.

Set in Victorian London, it starred Matt Berry as Detective Inspector Rabbit (Picture: Ben Meadows/ Channel 4)

‘The Year of The Rabbit is not to be missed,’ What She Said added.

In their reviews, viewers said the show was ‘superb’ and ‘one of the best period comedies they’d ever seen’, while others begged for a second season.

Although Year of the Rabbit was renewed, Channel 4 went on to reverse the decision in January 2021 following the Covid-19 pandemic and budget cuts.

Layla Smith, chief executive of the show’s production company OMG, said at the time: ‘Year of the Rabbit is a victim of the devastating effects of COVID. […] IFC are very committed to the show, but we will need to find another partner — and we’re working on that.’,

Matt is best known for starring in The IT Crowd alongside Katherine Parkinson, Richard Ayoade and Chris O’Dowd (Picture: Allstar/Channel 4)

Before the show hit screens, Matt spoke about jumping at the chance to star.

‘I just wanted to do something different. Those kind of shows based around that time, they’re always dramatic and without much of a sense of humour. If you were to watch Peaky Blinders and one of the characters did a pratfall, followed by a forward roll, some kind of physical comedy, you’d think it was odd. But that was what I wanted to do. That was my inspiration. I just wanted to do something you hadn’t seen before with that backdrop,’ he said.

The actor also spoke about previously working at the London Dungeon assisted this project.

‘You have to know your history there because people would ask you. I don’t know what it’s like now but it certainly was back in the early 2000s, when I was there, you had to know about Jack the Ripper because people would ask. It just stayed with me. Then my interest in Victorian London widened. You use bits and pieces.

Year of the Rabbit is streaming on Netflix and Channel 4.

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