Nicola Walker and Jemaine Clement Lead Disney+’s New British Comedy ‘Alice & Steve’
A twist on enduring friendship, Alice & Steve follows two lifelong pals as a surprising love affair upends their familial bonds and tests the limits of loyalty.
Nicola Walker and Jemaine Clement are set to headline Disney+’s upcoming British comedy series Alice & Steve, a fresh entry in the streamer’s bid to bolster its UK Originals slate. Created and penned by Sara Goodhart and directed by Tom Kingsley, the six-episode show follows lifelong friends whose bond unravels when Steve begins a romance with Alice’s daughter.
Walker, best known for her award-winning turns in Spooks, Unforgotten and The Split, takes on the role of Alice, a straight-talking matriarch whose world is upended by her friend’s unexpected affair with her teenage child. Clement, the New Zealand-born comedian and musician famed for Flight of the Conchords and films like Men in Black 3 and Avatar: The Way of Water, brings his trademark deadpan charm to Steve, a free-spirited bachelor confronting middle-age disillusionment.
Produced by Clerkenwell Films—the creative force behind Netflix’s Baby Reindeer and The End of the F***** World—the series went into pre-production this spring, with principal photography slated to begin in London in May 2025. Executive producers Sara Goodhart, Petra Fried, Andy Baker and Ed Macdonald cite the story as “a witty exploration of friendship, family and the messy truths that bind us”.
Insiders say Disney+ is pinning high hopes on Alice & Steve to inject fresh comedy into its lineup, following mixed reception for recent UK Originals amid subscriber stagnation. Industry analysts note that pairing a seasoned dramatic actress like Walker with a comedic polymath such as Clement could bridge audience tastes, offering both emotional depth and laugh-out-loud moments.
Beyond its cast, the series underscores Disney+’s strategy to diversify beyond Marvel and Star Wars IP into locally resonant storytelling. “There’s real appetite for shows that capture British life with heart and humour,” says one commissioning executive. As global streamers compete for regional authenticity, Alice & Steve aims to stand out with its blend of generational conflict and sharp observational comedy.
With its all-star leads, experienced creative team and timely premise, Alice & Steve looks poised to join the ranks of celebrated UK-set comedies, offering viewers a humorous yet poignant look at how far friendship can stretch when loyalties are tested.
