The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 26, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
Home›Entertainment›TV Series›The Outlaws
Entertainment • TV Series

The Outlaws

The Outlaws is a British crime thriller comedy television series created by Stephen Merchant and Elgin James.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Outlaws is a British crime thriller comedy television series created by Stephen Merchant and Elgin James. Set in Bristol, the series follows seven strangers completing a community payback sentence whose lives become entangled after they find a bag of money. The programme premiered in 2021 and ran for three series through 2024.

Premise

The series centres on seven people from different backgrounds who are forced to work together on a community payback sentence. Their situation becomes more dangerous after they find money linked to criminals.

Production

The Outlaws was created by Stephen Merchant and Elgin James, with Merchant and John Butler directing. It was produced as a British comedy-drama series for BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with international distribution through Amazon Prime Video.

Broadcast and release

The series first aired in the United Kingdom on 25 October 2021. It later streamed in several other countries on Amazon Prime Video, including Canada.

Series run

The programme ran for three series. Its third series premiered in May 2024, extending the story of the original ensemble cast.

Key facts

  • The Outlaws is a British crime thriller comedy series created by Stephen Merchant and Elgin James.
  • It follows seven strangers assigned to community payback in Bristol who discover a bag of money.
  • The series premiered on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in October 2021.
  • It was later released on Amazon Prime Video in Canada and other countries.
  • The third and final series premiered on 30 May 2024.
🍁
Canadian context

The series is relevant to Canadian viewers because it was distributed on Amazon Prime Video in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Outlaws about?
It follows seven strangers doing community payback in Bristol who become involved in a criminal storyline after finding a bag of money.
Who created The Outlaws?
The series was created by Stephen Merchant and Elgin James.
When did The Outlaws first air?
It premiered on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on 25 October 2021.
How many series does The Outlaws have?
It ran for three series, with the third premiering in 2024.
Where is The Outlaws set?
The story is set in Bristol, England.
Is The Outlaws available in Canada?
Yes. It was released on Amazon Prime Video in Canada.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Outlaws_(2021_TV_series)
    Supports: Created by Stephen Merchant and Elgin James; British crime thriller comedy; set in Bristol; premiered in 2021; third series premiered in 2024; international release including Canada.
  2. British Comedy Guide — https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/the_outlaws/
    Supports: Broadcast years, channel, episode count, creators, premise, and series description.
  3. Prime Video — https://www.primevideo.com/detail/The-Outlaws/0KADU1BE3LPZ06ZKIYOT92NGKW
    Supports: Streaming availability and series description on Prime Video.
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_outlaws
    Supports: Genre, network, release date, and synopsis.