Cuckoo (2012)

The BBC Three comedy-drama where one free-spirited American hippie turns a very proper British family completely upside down.

Cuckoo - Series Information

  • Original Title: Cuckoo
  • First Air Year: 2012
  • Last Air Year: 2019
  • Created by: Kieron Quirke, Robin French
  • Type: TV Series
  • Genres: Comedy, Drama
  • Content Rating (US): TV-MA
  • Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (30 minutes)
  • Number of Seasons: 5
  • Number of Episodes: 33
  • Status: Ended
  • Original Language: English
  • Spoken Languages: English
  • First Air Date: September 25, 2012 (United States - NR), September 25, 2012 (United Kingdom - 15), September 25, 2012 (Germany - 16), September 25, 2012 (France - 18), September 25, 2012 (India - U), September 25, 2012 (Australia - M), September 25, 2012 (Brazil - 14), September 25, 2012 (Mexico - A), September 25, 2012 (Italy - VM12), September 25, 2012 (Spain - 18)
  • Networks: BBC Three
  • Production Companies: Roughcut Television
  • Production Countries: United Kingdom

Cuckoo - Plot

Cuckoo is every parent's worst nightmare - a slacker full of outlandish, New Age ideas. Ken is the over-protective father of a girl who's impulsively married an American hippie on her gap year.

Cuckoo - Trailer

See the chaos unfold when Cuckoo first crashes into the Thompson family:

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Cuckoo - Cast & Crew

Creator(s)

  • Kieron Quirke
  • Robin French

Main Cast

  • Greg Davies
  • Helen Baxendale
  • Tyger Drew-Honey
  • Esther Smith
  • Kenneth Collard
  • Taylor Lautner
  • Matt Lacey
  • Selina Griffiths
  • Juliet Cowan
  • Holly Earl

Writers

  • Jon Foster

Cuckoo - FAQs

What is Cuckoo about?

Cuckoo follows Ken Thompson, a buttoned-up British father whose world is turned upside down when his daughter Rachel returns from her gap year having married Dale, a carefree American hippie. The show mines comedy from the culture clash between Ken's rigid sensibilities and his new son-in-law's laid-back, New Age outlook on life.

Why did Andy Samberg leave Cuckoo after season one?

Andy Samberg, who played the original Cuckoo, left after the first season due to scheduling conflicts with his commitments to Brooklyn Nine-Nine. The show cleverly wrote his character out and introduced Taylor Lautner as Dale Jr., Cuckoo's long-lost son, keeping the same fish-out-of-water dynamic alive.

Where can you stream Cuckoo online?

Cuckoo is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Video with Ads. Free ad-supported viewing is also available through The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads, and Tubi TV, making it easy to catch all five seasons without a paid subscription.

How many seasons and episodes does Cuckoo have?

Cuckoo ran for five seasons and 33 episodes in total. Season 1 had 6 episodes, Season 2 had 7, Season 3 had 7, Season 4 had 6, and Season 5 wrapped things up with 7 episodes. The series aired on BBC Three from 2012 to 2019.

Who are the main cast members of Cuckoo?

Greg Davies leads the cast as the exasperated Ken Thompson, with Helen Baxendale as his wife Lorna and Tyger Drew-Honey as son Dylan. Esther Smith plays daughter Rachel. Andy Samberg starred in Season 1 as Cuckoo, with Taylor Lautner taking over from Season 2 as Dale Jr.

Is Cuckoo worth watching for fans of British comedy?

Cuckoo is a genuinely fun watch, especially if you enjoy character-driven British sitcoms. Greg Davies is magnetic as the perpetually flustered Ken, and the show's willingness to reinvent itself after Season 1 keeps things fresh. It's warm, absurd, and consistently entertaining across all five seasons.

Who created the BBC Three series Cuckoo?

Cuckoo was created by Kieron Quirke and Robin French. The series was produced by Roughcut Television and originally broadcast on BBC Three, running from its debut in September 2012 through to its fifth and final season in 2019.

What shows are similar to Cuckoo?

If Cuckoo hits the spot, you might enjoy Kevin Can F**k Himself for its subversive take on sitcom family dynamics, or How I Met Your Father for its breezy comedy tone. Acapulco and Land of Women also offer fish-out-of-water laughs with a similar warmth and ensemble energy.

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