Stephen Merchant cuts own parents out of The Outlaws

Creator makes tough decision ahead of new season

Stephen Merchant, the creator of The Outlaws, has made a surprising revelation about the upcoming third season of the hit BBC comedy. He admitted to cutting his own parents out of the show, despite them originally being cast as extras.

Family inspiration behind the series

Merchant shared that The Outlaws is partially based on stories passed down from his mum and dad. His parents, who actually worked as Community Payback Supervisors in Bristol, inspired the creation of the show. The series follows a group of misfits trying to navigate life after getting on the wrong side of the law.

Parents' cameo cut from final edit

Although Merchant cast his parents as extras in the new season, he ultimately decided to cut all of their dialogue from the final edit. In an exclusive chat with the Sun, he revealed that his mother believed a character in the show was based on her, despite having her lines removed.

A mix of reactions on set

While his mother was nervous about being on set as an extra, his father embraced the experience wholeheartedly. Merchant shared that his parents' cameo can still be spotted in the first episode of the new season, albeit without their dialogue making the final cut.