The Bizarre British Sketch Show That Gave Johnny Depp His Favourite Role of All Time
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Johnny Depp has spent the past three decades shaping some of cinema’s most eccentric and memorable characters. From the swaggering Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean to the enigmatic Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, his career is defined by bold choices and unconventional performances. Yet, despite a résumé stacked with blockbuster triumphs, Depp insists that his proudest on-screen achievement wasn’t in Hollywood at all—it was a cameo on a cult British sketch show.
A Hollywood Maverick with a British Obsession
Depp has long cultivated the image of an outsider in the industry, preferring offbeat, idiosyncratic roles to mainstream archetypes. His affinity for the eccentric extended far beyond film, leading him to fall in love with The Fast Show, a surreal, rapid-fire sketch programme created by Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson.
Premiering in the mid-1990s, The Fast Show became a cultural landmark in Britain. Known for its quick-cut sketches—some lasting just a few seconds—the series thrived on quirky characters, absurdist humour, and satirical takes on British life. Its cast included Simon Day, Caroline Aherne, Arabella Weir, and Mark Williams, and over the years it carved out a loyal following that cemented its place in comedy history.
For Depp, the show was more than just entertainment—it was an obsession. He devoured its eccentric humour and, in 2000, leapt at the opportunity to appear in its final episode, fittingly titled Last Ever.
Depp and “The Suit You Tailors”
Depp’s cameo was brief but memorable. He appeared as a customer of “The Suit You Tailors,” one of the show’s most beloved recurring sketches. For the actor, it was less about screen time and more about joining a world he genuinely admired.
Reflecting on the experience, Depp later said: “It was absolutely one of my proudest achievements. No question. It was one of my favourite things to have been on the last Fast Show.”
For a man who has steered billion-dollar franchises, such a statement might seem surprising. But it speaks to the liberation of appearing in a niche comedy without the crushing expectations of a Hollywood blockbuster. On The Fast Show, Depp could simply have fun—and it showed.
A Mutual Admiration Society
Depp’s enthusiasm for the show didn’t go unnoticed by its creators. Paul Whitehouse recalled on The One Show in 2020 that the actor was “quite obsessed” with the sketches, even catching him watching episodes in his trailer while working together on another project.
In fact, Depp once went as far as calling Whitehouse “the finest actor of all time”—a compliment the comedian dismissed with characteristic modesty and humour. Speaking to The Guardian in 2015, Whitehouse laughed: “That’s a bit silly, isn’t it? How does he know? I did a cameo in one of his films, Through the Looking Glass, and he said, ‘Hey man, I’m going to look after you.’ Never heard from him again. So Mr. Depp can piss off.”
Why It Meant So Much
The cameo carried none of the pressure of leading a Hollywood tentpole. There were no franchises to anchor, no box-office stakes, no studio executives to impress. Instead, Depp found himself surrounded by comedians he admired, inhabiting a role that demanded nothing more than his willingness to embrace the absurd.
That freedom—performing without shackles—was what made the experience so meaningful. In many ways, The Fast Show embodied everything Depp has chased throughout his career: eccentricity, unpredictability, and the joy of not fitting into any conventional mould.
A Small Role, a Big Memory
For audiences, Depp’s cameo is a quirky footnote in the history of a cult British comedy. For Depp, it was a career highlight that rivalled his most famous roles. His pride in that small appearance is a reminder that sometimes the greatest joys come not from box-office glory, but from being part of something you truly love.
In the end, Johnny Depp’s favourite role wasn’t about size or scale. It was about freedom, humour, and the thrill of being part of The Fast Show—a bizarre, brilliant slice of British television that made one of Hollywood’s biggest stars feel right at home.
Would you like me to present this piece as a culture feature (emphasising Depp’s offbeat tastes and the show’s legacy in comedy) or as an entertainment news story (framed around the surprising trivia of Depp’s “favourite role”)?
