ITV viewers have discovered a shockingly outrageous comedy series that many say is so bold it would even make celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay blush.
The broadcaster has quietly released every episode of the Australian dark comedy Aftertaste, allowing fans to stream the full series for free years after it originally aired.
First launched in 2021 and running for two seasons, the show had previously been available only to Prime Video subscribers. Now, four years after its finale, ITV has dropped the entire collection – and audiences are quickly becoming obsessed.
At the centre of the story is internationally renowned celebrity chef Easton West, played by Packed to the Rafters star Erik Thompson. Despite his culinary reputation, Easton is notorious for his explosive temper and massive ego.
The series wastes no time introducing his downfall. When a food critic at his Shanghai restaurant sends back a dish she describes as “over-salty,” Easton flies into a furious rage and throws a pig carcass at her.
The shocking outburst instantly destroys his career and sends his reputation crashing down in spectacular fashion.
Forced to leave behind his glamorous life overseas, Easton returns to his hometown of Adelaide, Australia, where he attempts to rebuild his career and salvage what remains of his public image.
Helping him along the way is his niece Diana, portrayed by Natalie Abbott, an ambitious young pastry chef who hopes to prove her own talent in the kitchen.
When the show first premiered, it was widely praised by critics and audiences alike for its biting humour and unapologetically dark tone.
Reviewers described the series as witty, dry and sharp in its satire of celebrity chef culture.
One critic wrote that Aftertaste is “worth the benefit of the doubt,” calling it a sharp satire that skewers the hollow spectacle surrounding celebrity chefs while delivering a distinctly Australian sense of humour that is frequently laugh-out-loud funny.
Another review noted that the show balances humour with deeper storytelling, describing it as a character-driven comedy that still manages to say something meaningful about modern culture.
Fans have also been enthusiastic in their praise.
One viewer wrote that it is “a laugh out loud, witty, dry-humoured dark comedy,” adding that Erik Thompson is brilliant as the egotistical Michelin-starred chef who would make Gordon Ramsay blush.
Another fan joked that the show is “the funniest thing I’ve seen in ages,” praising its satirical take on the cult of celebrity chefs and its grounded style of humour. They added that the series might not be suitable for people who are easily offended, but insisted it is well worth watching.
Others echoed similar sentiments, saying the show is consistently funny and easy to binge.
Speaking ahead of the series finale in 2022, Thompson admitted he relished the chance to play such a brutally honest and abrasive character.
He explained that after years of portraying warm, likeable father figures in serious dramas, he was eager to do something completely different.
The actor said he loved how bold the character was, describing Easton as someone who simply says whatever is on his mind. He acknowledged that the chef is an “a**hole,” but insisted that within the context of comedy it works perfectly and makes the character someone audiences will love to hate.
Meanwhile, comedy fans have also been raving about another recent hit series – BBC’s Small Prophets.
The six-part sitcom premiered on BBC Two in February and quickly built a passionate following.
Created by The Office and Pirates of the Caribbean star Mackenzie Crook, the Manchester-set show stars Detectorists actor Pearce Quigley.
The story follows Michael Sleep, a man whose life was turned upside down when his girlfriend mysteriously vanished seven years earlier.
Still desperate for answers, Michael begins creating tiny prophetic beings in his garden shed in the hope they will reveal the truth about what happened.
However, curious neighbours and a series of bizarre obstacles soon make the strange experiment far more complicated than he imagined.
Following its release, viewers flooded social media with praise, describing the show as magical, heartfelt and beautifully written.
Many fans called it an “absolute masterpiece,” while others said it represents British television at its gentle and whimsical best.
