Following the success of series one, BBC ordered a second series, but it looked uncertain due to Samberg's busy schedule. In February 2014, it was announced that Samberg would not return for the second series, with Taylor Lautner replacing him as Cuckoo's long-lost lovechild Dale. The second series began on 7 August 2014. On 4 April 2016, Cuckoo was commissioned for two more series. Series 4 wrapped up production on 18 March 2018, confirmed by Lautner via social media. It was released on 2 August 2018. A pilot for America's NBC television network was under consideration in May 2015. The show is filmed in the town of Amersham and the adjoining ‘old town’ in Buckinghamshire. Some of the outside scenes are also filmed in and around Thame, Oxfordshire.
Plot
Series 1 Cuckoo is set in Lichfield, Staffordshire,, home to the Thompson family. When Ken and Lorna collect their daughter Rachel from the airport, they learn that she has returned from her gap year before medical school having married Dale "Cuckoo" Ashbrick, an eccentric American hippie with an exuberantly loving attitude who does not have a job and loves to take drugs. Series 2 Two years have passed and we learn that Cuckoo went missing in a climbing accident in the Himalayas, Dylan is planning to attend university, and Rachel is moving in with new boyfriend Ben. Dale, a bearded young American arrives, claiming to be Cuckoo's son and searching for his father whom he has never met. Taking pity, Ken and Lorna ask him to stay. Series 3 Six months after Dale's dramatic departure at the end of the Christmas special of Series 2, Rachel is still heartbroken and missing Dale, but she has managed to salvage a certain friendship with her jilted former fiancé Ben. Just as life looks like it's about to return to normal in the Thompson household a transformed Dale returns to shake things up all over again after having spent some time working for a Chinese 'businessman' in Shanghai. Meanwhile, Ken and Lorna are preparing for the birth of their unplanned new baby, and their son Dylan is getting ready to leave for university. In the first episode Lorna gives birth to their baby son Sidney. Series 4 Dale and Steve work towards opening a bar called 'All Steve's Pals'. Rachel gets offered a job in Sierra Leone. Series 4 was released, in full, online on BBC Three on 2 August 2018 with the opening episode titled "Lawyer of the Year". Series 5 Series 5 introduces a new character, Ivy, who comes to England from America with a slightly sinister plan. Dale does not appear in Series 5. His absence is not explained, with Rachel just telling Sid that "Dale is gone". After meeting a strange lady in a pub, Ken decides to run for Lichfield MP. Series 5 was released in full, online on BBC Three on 4 January 2019 with the opening episode titled “Ivy Arrives”.
Cast and characters
;Key Notes:
Only named characters appear in the table above.
Only characters that have appeared in more than two episodes in a single series appear in the table above.
Episodes
Series 1 (2012)
Series 2 (2014)
Series 3 (2016)
Series 4 (2018)
Series 5 (2019)
premiered series 1 and 2 for streaming audiences on 7 March 2016. Series 3 was subsequently added on 16 February 2017. Series 4 was subsequently added on 14 December 2018. Series 5 was subsequently added on 19 April 2019.
DVD release
Soundtracks
;Series 1 In the episode "Family Meeting", family and friends are dancing to "Second Hand News" by Fleetwood Mac. In the episode "Ken on E" in which Cuckoo sits reading a book whilst listening to "Shake Break Bounce" by The Chemical Brothers. In the same episode, various songs by Dexys Midnight Runners are featured. Also "Bonkers" by Dizzee Rascal. The song playing over the last scene and credits of the episode "The Wedding", is "Ho Hey" by The Lumineers. On Netflix it is "Stay Right Here" by Andy Huckvale. ;Series 2 In the episode "Potato Party", "Everyone Nose " by N.E.R.D and "" by Gogol Bordello are featured during the party. Rachel is listening to "Silver Lining" by First Aid Kit in the episode "Tribunal". ;Series 3 The final episode, "The Holiday", ends with Rusted Root singing "Send Me on My Way". On Netflix this song is replaced due to BBC licensing agreements. ;Series 4 In "Lawyer of the Year", Think I'm in Love by Eddie Money play's during the opening dance number. In "Opening Night", "Don't You " by Simple Minds plays in All Steve's Pals while Lorna tells Dale about Rachel's plans to move to Sierra Leone. The final scene has Modern Love by David Bowie playing. Dale mixes cocktails to WOR by Django Django. In "Trapped", a section from The Number One Song in Heaven by Sparks when Dale reveals to Rachel that he found out about her “pregnancy”. Lorna and Connie listen to Insane in the Brain by Cypress Hill after Lorna tells Connie that Ken cheated on her with an air hostess.
U.S. version
In May 2015, NBC announced a US pilot of Cuckoo, starring Michael Chiklis, Cheryl Hines and Flula Borg, was to be produced. UK writers Robin French and Kieron Quirke, who created the BBC series, wrote the adaptation with The Simpsons veteran Tim Long. As of the 2017 autumn season, it does not appear that the project has been picked up as a series.
