Here we take a look at the official trailer, cast list (including The Elephant Man Mr Merrick) and air date details for the new TV comedy series Year of the Rabbit, which’ll be broadcast here in the UK on Channel 4 and in America on IFC.
Watch the full Channel 4 advert trailer:
When does Year of the Rabbit start on British television?
As announced in the above video, Channel 4 have now officially set the show’s release date for Monday, 10 June and will be broadcast over 6, 30-minute episodes.
Year of the Rabbit Cast List – TV Comedy
Character Name – Actor – Previous Work
Detective Inspector Rabbit – Matt Berry – Toast of London, The IT Crowd, What We Do in the Shadows
Lydia – Keeley Hawes – Bodyguard, The Durrells, Summer of Rockets
Mabel Wisbech – Susan Wokoma – Porters, Chewing Gum, Crazyhead
Mr Merrick (The Elephant Man) – David Dawson – The Last Kingdom, Ripper Street, Banished
Flora – Jill Halfpenny – Three Girls, In the Club, Humans
Wilbur Strauss – Freddie Fox – Dennis & Gnasher: Unleashed!, Cucumber
Princess Juliana of Bulgaria – Sally Phillips – Tourist Trap, Smack the Pony, Zapped
Chief Inspector Hugh Wisbech – Alun Armstrong – Frontier, Prime Suspect 1973, New Tricks
Tanner – Paul Kaye – After Life, Game of Thrones
Gwen – Ann Mitchell – EastEnders, Call the Midwife
Baz – David Arthur
Keith – Amer Chadha-Patel – Beecham House
Year of the Rabbit: Matt Berry’s Victorian Detective Comedy
Year of the Rabbit is a British comedy-drama that reimagines the classic detective story through a surreal, satirical lens. Starring Matt Berry (Toast of London, What We Do in the Shadows) as the hard-bitten Detective Inspector Rabbit, the series throws viewers into the murky world of Victorian London’s East End.
Rabbit is a cynical, boozy cop with little patience for rules or authority. He’s partnered with the idealistic rookie Wilbur Strauss (Freddie Fox) and joined by Mabel Wisbech (Susan Wokoma), Britain’s first female police officer. Together, the trio navigate corruption, criminal gangs, and bizarre conspiracies while trying to uphold justice in a society stacked against them.
Blending sharp social satire with slapstick humour, Year of the Rabbit delivers both period atmosphere and modern wit. Berry’s performance anchors the show, while the ensemble cast brings depth to a comedy that doubles as a playful critique of gender, class, and power in Victorian Britain.