Richard Ayoade seems to be one of those people who’s just good at everything. From performing hilarious stand-up routines and directing and writing some of British television’s most unique and influential shows to his brilliant acting career, it seems he always steps up. His talent extends to presenting too, and despite his awkward personality, he remains a magnetic presence on-screen no matter what he’s doing. If you’ve fallen in love with one of his roles and want to know some of his other greatest hits, then read ahead for our list of the best Richard Ayoade movies and TV shows!
10. Was it Something I Said?
Nobody does panel comedy shows quite like the Brits, and this short-lived but hilarious series is a great example of that. Presented by David Mitchell (of Peep Show fame), Ayoade was one of the team captains alongside Essex-born comedian Micky Flannigan. The show had several rounds, as well as an interactive element on Twitter. In the first round, “Threesomes”, teams heard a quote read by a celebrity narrator and had to guess which of the famous contestants on the gameshow that week had said it.
The second round was entitled “Key Words,” and team members were given some words from a famous quote and asked to complete it. The third round was called “What Are They Talking About,” and had the contestants hearing a random quote and trying to figure out what it was said in reference to. The final round, “Was it Something I Said?” saw those on the show having to guess if a quote was said by one of their fellow contestants or a random celebrity. Funny and incredibly bingeable, Ayoade’s deadpan humor puts him in his element here.
9. The Bad Guys
This computer-animated heist comedy did well at the box office and is genuinely hilarious whether you’re five or 50. Ayoade is brilliant in it as Professor Marmalade, a philanthropist who’s due to receive an award that a gang of thieves wants to steal. He ostensibly tries to reform the gang, but it’s revealed that he’s actually an evil thief, and had planned to frame them for various other crimes. Marmalade is eventually arrested as the rest of the gang sees the error of their ways and begins fighting crime instead of causing it. A great film buoyed by brilliant writing and fantastic voice performances, especially Ayoade’s.
8. The Mighty Boosh
This weird, surreal, cult classic of a series isn’t to everyone’s tastes, but its impact and legacy on current British comedy cannot be ignored. The show is set in a strange universe and follows two failing, eccentric musicians as they go on a quest for fame and fortune, meeting a bizarre set of characters along the way. Ayoade played two characters on the show but was mostly known for his role as Saboo, a curmudgeonly shaman and DJ who hates our main characters to the point of having murderous intentions. A marmite series in every sense of the word: if you get the humor, you’ll absolutely be obsessed.
7. Gadget Man
The first season of this informational comedy show was presented by Stephen Fry, who famously voiced the Harry Potter book series. However, Ayoade took over the role for the final three seasons, bringing his brilliant deadpan humor to the role, while also managing to show genuine excitement for the gadgets that were shown. Each week had a different theme and showed inventions that related to them — some incredible, and some…less so. But with Ayoade hosting, you’ll always have a few laughs, while also marveling at some of the better creations.
6. Apple & Onion
Weird and wonderful in the best possible way, this Cartoon Network animated series follows a childlike anthropomorphic apple and onion as they try to make in a city that’s mostly inhabited by other food items. Incredibly wholesome yet also funny enough for adults to enjoy, we see Apple and Onion get into numerous scrapes, usually only getting out of them thanks to their friendly natures. Both work at a pizza place, although Apple dreams of something bigger and is always coming up with zany schemes. Onion (Ayoade, shaped more like a scallion than a real onion) is the more grounded of the pair, although he’s always trying to help Apple with whatever hair-brained plan his friend is attempting to implement.
5. Nathan Barley
Although this British show only ran for one, six-episode season in 2005, it’s now seen as a satirical masterpiece that predicted numerous elements of pop culture and hipsterdom. It follows the titular character, a webmaster and DJ, who’s also obsessed with appearing cool, often to the point of embarrassment. Although he’s clearly out of his depth, Nathan often gets creative projects and funding ahead of more talented, intelligent people because he knows how to market himself.
Written by the brilliant Chris Morris and Charlie Brooker, Ayoade plays Ned Smanks, one of Nathan’s crew of posers, although unlike the others who are self-consciously trying as hard as they can to be cool, he just seems to be a bit slow. When you watch this series and realize it was created nearly two decades ago, you’ll be startled by just how prescient it was.
4. Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace
Another highly underrated yet influential British show that was cut short, Ayoade also co-wrote and co-created this horror comedy parody about a fictional author named Garth Marenghi and his publisher Dean Learner (Ayoade). Garth Maregnhi’s Darkplace has a lot of meta-humor and is presented as a special release of a “lost” television show from the ’80s that Marenghi produced called Darkplace, which only gained popularity in Peru.
However, in the series universe, some of the show’s footage has recently resurfaced, and Marenghi and his agent are attempting to republish it to gain interest (and cash) from a modern-day audience. The show spoofs all kinds of genres and is one of the funniest things on this list. If it hadn’t originally aired at a late time slot with very little fanfare, there’s no doubt it would have carried on, but as it is it remains a bit of a sleeper hit — which only makes the premise even funnier.
3. The Souvenir (Part I & Part II)
This semi-autobiographical film and its sequel follows the life of an aspiring filmmaker as she meets and falls in love with a heroin addict, and her attempts to make a film about it. Meta but not pretentious, and as beautifully shot as it is moving, both films garnered critical acclaim, and Ayoade was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor award at the British Independent Film Awards for his role in Part II. He plays Patrick, an acerbic but visionary director, and is outstanding in the role, showing he’s more than just an awkward comic. Sad and brilliant, these films are the kind of watches that make you really appreciate independent cinema.
2. Travel Man
A hilarious and bingeable docuseries, Travel Man follows Ayoade and a different weekly guest as they visit various locations across the globe for a weekend trip, showing viewers just how much you can accomplish in 48 hours (and with a sizeable budget). Fast-paced, funny, and interesting, Ayoade presented the first nine series, which saw him go to places as far-flung and varied as New York, Iceland, and Marrakesh. Comedy and travel lovers will adore this show.
1. The IT Crowd
Few shows have provided as many famous quotes as this iconic British series, which ran for four hilarious seasons and is possibly one of the best workplace comedies of all time. Ayoade plays Moss, an awkward computer tech who works at the fictional Reynholm Industries alongside Roy, a fellow curmudgeonly IT tech, and Jen, their computer-illiterate manager.
“Did you see that ludicrous display last night?” and “Have you tried turning it off and on again” are two of dozens of quotes and jokes that have made their way into internet folklore from what was once a cult classic, but is now just a famously hilarious series. A must-watch made all the more brilliant by Ayoade, who is perfect as Moss.
