It Gets Worse: Andrew Scott and Lena Dunham Star in New Channel 4 Comedy Tonight

Being young, broke and completely lost has never looked quite so chaotic as in It Gets Worse, a brand-new Channel 4 comedy arriving tonight, Thursday 22 October, at 10.05pm.

Created, written by and starring comedian Leo Reich, the six(?) series follows three deeply unambitious twentysomethings whose lives are falling apart around them. After being evicted from their flat, best friends Ethan, Abi and Sam must navigate dead-end jobs, disastrous relationships and deteriorating mental health, all while trying to hold on to the one thing they have left: each other.

With no money, no direction and seemingly no idea how to get their lives together, the trio stumble through the mess of modern adulthood in a comedy that asks a painfully familiar question: surely things can only get better?

The answer, judging by the title, may be more complicated than they hope.

The series also boasts an impressive supporting cast, including Sherlock and All of Us Strangers star Andrew Scott, Girls creator Lena Dunham and rising British acting talent Emily Fairn and Olive Gray.

What happens in It Gets Worse?

The opening episode introduces Ethan, Abi and Sam at a particularly low point. Newly evicted and desperately short of money, the three friends find themselves scrambling to repair the damage in their London flat before they are thrown out for good.

Rather than face the reality of their situation, they decide to escape their problems with one last unforgettable night out, heading to a gay club in the hope of temporarily forgetting everything that is going wrong.

However, as the night descends into chaos, long-buried tensions begin to surface. The friends are forced to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves and one another, raising the question of whether their friendship can survive the fallout.

The second episode follows immediately afterwards at 10.35pm, as the trio continue to navigate the unpredictable realities of their twenties.

Abi appears to have made progress, enjoying a nice flat with her boyfriend, a new promotion and what looks like a more mature, settled existence. Yet beneath the surface, cracks are beginning to show.

Meanwhile, Ethan becomes infatuated with Aaron, Sam’s new housemate, adding another complication to the group’s already tangled relationships.

When the friends reunite for a chaotic dinner party, Abi is forced to take a closer look at her apparently perfect life and question whether the future she has built is really what she wants.

Who stars in It Gets Worse?

Leo Reich leads the cast as Ethan, alongside Emily Fairn as Abi and Olive Gray as Sam. Together, they form the central trio whose attempts to navigate adulthood provide the series with its comic and emotional heart.

Reich is known for his sharply observed, self-deprecating comedy, making the transition from stand-up into a scripted television series that explores the anxieties and absurdities of contemporary life.

Fairn, who has appeared in The Responder and Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, plays Abi, whose seemingly successful life begins to unravel as the series progresses.

Gray, known for roles in Sex Education and Halo, plays Sam, completing the friendship at the centre of the story.

The supporting cast includes several recognisable names from television, comedy and film.

Andrew Scott joins the ensemble, bringing his acclaimed screen presence to the production. The Irish actor is best known to many viewers for playing Moriarty in Sherlock, the Hot Priest in Fleabag and for his performances in All of Us Strangers and Ripley.

Lena Dunham, the creator and star of Girls, also appears as Greta. Known for her work exploring friendship, relationships and the uncertainties of young adulthood, Dunham is a natural fit for a comedy examining the messier side of growing up.

The wider cast features Gary Beadle as Sandie, Simon Haines as Lucas, Amelia Dimoldenberg as Emily and Blake Harrison as Roger. Other performers include Sean Delaney, Dane Williams, India Mullen, Safia Oakley-Green, John Tothill, Arian Nik, Nicole Sadie Sawyerr, Phil Zimmerman, Billy Rilot, Kirsty Bloom, Clayton Pettet, Luca Kamleh-Chapman, Vicki Pepperdine, Daniel Monks and Emmeline Downie.

Author Zadie Smith also contributes as narrator.

With an eclectic ensemble combining established performers, emerging talent and familiar comedy faces, the series promises plenty of personality alongside its chaotic central friendship.

A comedy about being young and having no idea what comes next

At its heart, It Gets Worse explores the gap between the life young adults imagine for themselves and the reality they find themselves living.

Ethan, Abi and Sam are not necessarily chasing conventional success. Instead, they are trying to work out how to survive in a world where money is tight, relationships are complicated and the future seems increasingly difficult to navigate.

Their friendship provides a lifeline, even as their individual problems threaten to pull them apart. The series finds comedy in their terrible decisions, emotional spirals and misguided attempts to escape reality, while also examining the vulnerabilities beneath their behaviour.

Reich’s involvement as creator, writer and lead actor gives the project a distinctive perspective, with the comedy rooted in the anxieties, frustrations and absurdities of contemporary life.

The London setting provides the backdrop for their struggles, as the characters attempt to find stability in a city where even keeping a roof over their heads can feel like an impossible task.

How to watch It Gets Worse tonight

It Gets Worse premieres on Channel 4 tonight, Thursday 22 October, at 10.05pm, with the second episode following at 10.35pm.

For those who would rather watch ahead, the complete box set will be available to stream from midnight on Channel 4’s streaming service, ahead of the first episode’s television transmission.

With Leo Reich at the helm and a supporting cast featuring Andrew Scott and Lena Dunham, It Gets Worse looks set to deliver an irreverent take on friendship, ambition and the uncomfortable business of growing up.

For Ethan, Abi and Sam, adulthood may not be turning out as planned. But if their lives are going to fall apart anyway, at least they have each other — even if that might not be enough to stop things getting worse.

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