The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin review – Noel Fielding comedy feels like daylight robbery

The Mighty Boosh star brings his usual chaotic whimsy to this show about a would-be highwayman – but even a cast packed with comic geniuses can’t remove the stench of ‘Will this do?’

‘England, 1735” reads the opening caption. A second adds “Just before bedtime”. With that, plus the title The Completely Made Up Adventures of Dick Turpin and the knowledge that Noel Fielding is playing the eponymous role, we should all know exactly where we stand and what is likely to be delivered. Slightly chaotic whimsy, sweet silliness and a vague air of “Will this do?” hanging about the place.

So it proves. Fielding’s ethereal daftness make him the perfect ethereally daft would-be highwayman, whom we first meet following reluctantly in his father’s footsteps as the village butcher. Dick is of course vegan. His cousin Benny (Michael Fielding – Noel’s brother, and Naboo in The Mighty Boosh) has his own set of knives and is ready to take over, so Dick gathers his sewing machine and purple shoes and sets off to find a new purpose. “He’ll be dead by the end of the week,” says Benny.

The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin is on Apple TV+.