The multi-award winning BBC TV sitcom IDEAL will transfer from screen to stage, with a special 20th anniversary theatre show. Created by the team behind the original hit TV series, the hilarious IDEAL live show will be premiering at Lowry, Salford, in September 2025, with a six night run, kicking off on September 8th. 

Johnny Vegas reprises his role as Moz: Manchester’s longest serving weed dealer, in a ‘dope opera’ of epic proportions. Featuring many of the beloved, long running BBC TV comedy’s most iconic characters and actors, the IDEAL live show is dark, surreal and laugh out loud funny.

Moz, and gangsters Psycho Paul and Cartoon Head must dispose of a dead body. But when they discover priceless diamonds inside the corpse, things spin out of control. Can they stop Cartoon Head from going on a killing spree? Will big gay Brian find true love? And can Moz survive the strangest night of his life?

Fans of the show will not be disappointed, as IDEAL’s most memorable characters reunite for this unmissable live tale. And for those just discovering IDEAL, thanks to all seven series recently dropping on BBC iPlayer, it’s a chance to get to know the wild world of Moz and friends up close and personal.

Written by Graham Duff, IDEAL is the critically acclaimed winner of several Royal Television Society awards. It was a major ratings hit, and ran for 53 episodes across seven seasons and has garnered a devoted, cult following,

Johnny Vegas commented: “Moz is back and he’s more chaotic than ever. Fans of Ideal will absolutely love the stage show, which is full of laugh-out-loud moments and bizarre twists and turns. It’s amazing to be able to breathe new life into the series and once again be stepping into the shoes of one of Manchester’s most well-known weed dealers. You’d be a fool to miss it!”

Photos: Andy Hollingworth

PRAISE FOR IDEAL

“Ideal is the best British comedy show on TV.” - The Guardian

“I couldn’t take my eyes off it.” - Variety

“Homegrown gold.” - The Daily Mirror

“Crackles with life... Effortlessly funny.” - Time Out

“Excellent... Uncompromising... Not for the faint hearted.” - Radio Times

“Incredible... Should be enthusiastically applauded.” - The Guardian

“A seriously good sit-com.” - The Independent

“A smorgasbord of surreal delights.” - Metro

“Has just about everything - a great script, characters and actors
and Johnny Vegas at his best.” - The Observer

“Pure unadulterated pleasure from start to finish.” - Daily Mail