Robert Webb is, for most of us, forever frozen in our minds as Jeremy Usborne. You know the vibe: the "Jez" who once tried to eat a dog, or at least pretended to, and who spent nine seasons of Peep Show failing at life in a Croydon flat. It’s a career-defining performance. Honestly, it’s one of the best bits of character work in the history of British sitcoms. But if you think that’s the only entry on the list of Robert Webb TV shows worth your time, you're basically missing out on half the story.
Webb isn't just the "unreliable one" in a double act. He’s a BAFTA winner who has spent three decades bouncing between sketch comedy, prestige drama, and some surprisingly weird sci-fi.
The Jeremy Usborne Legacy and Peep Show
Let's get the big one out of the way. Peep Show changed everything. Running from 2003 to 2015, it used that signature POV camera style to let us hear the inner monologues of Jeremy and Mark (David Mitchell). It was brutal. It was awkward. It was perfect. Webb’s Jeremy was the ultimate "wasters' philosopher." While Mark was the repressed, neurotic "El Dude," Jeremy was the chaotic, selfish, and somehow lovable failed musician.
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People still quote this show daily. "This crack is really moreish" has basically entered the English lexicon. But what’s interesting is how Webb played the vulnerability under the ego. You actually felt for him, even when he was being a complete "preening tosser," as Webb himself once joked in those Apple Mac adverts.
Beyond the Croydon Flat: Back and Ambassadors
After Peep Show ended, there was a real worry that the Mitchell and Webb magic might be done. Then came Back in 2017.
If you haven't seen it, you need to. It’s much darker than their earlier stuff. Webb plays Andrew, a former foster child who turns up at the funeral of his foster father and starts charming the entire family. Mitchell’s character, Stephen, is the only one who thinks Andrew is a sociopathic interloper. It’s a tense, funny, and deeply cynical look at memory and identity. Webb is genuinely chilling here. He uses that same "Jez" charm, but weaponizes it. It ran for two seasons, ending in 2021, and there’s still talk of a US remake being penned by Simon Blackwell.
Then there was Ambassadors in 2013. A bit of a departure, really. It was a comedy-drama set in a fictional Central Asian republic. Webb played Neil Tilly, the Deputy Head of Mission. It showed that the duo could handle "proper" drama without losing their comedic edge.
The Sketch Show Roots: From Bruiser to 2026
Before the big sitcoms, there was the sketch work. That Mitchell and Webb Look is where we got "Are we the baddies?"—a meme that will outlive us all. Webb’s range in these sketches is wild. One minute he’s a confused Nazi, the next he’s Sir Digby Chicken Caesar, a homeless "detective" running through the streets of London to a frantic theme tune.
Mitchell and Webb Are Not Helping (2025-2026)
Guess what? They're back. As of late 2025 and moving into 2026, the duo has returned to Channel 4 with a brand-new sketch series titled Mitchell and Webb Are Not Helping.
It’s a bold move. Sketch comedy is famously hard to get right these days, but this new show feels fresh because they’ve brought in a "new guard" of talent like Kiell Smith-Bynoe (from Ghosts) and Lara Ricote. It’s not just a nostalgia trip; it’s a merging of different comedy generations. Webb has lost none of his timing. Seeing him back in short-form comedy reminds you why he was a Footlights legend in the first place.
Solo Robert Webb: The Dramas You Missed
When he’s not with David Mitchell, Webb’s CV gets even more varied.
- The Smoking Room (2004): A cult classic. Webb played Robin, and the entire show was set in a single room. It’s a masterclass in ensemble acting.
- Fresh Meat: He played Dan, a geology lecturer who was just as messily human as the students he taught.
- Whitstable Pearl (2022-2024): This is where people get surprised. Webb plays Tom Grant in this cozy-but-grim seaside mystery. It’s a straighter role, proving he’s got the "leading man in a cardigan" energy down pat.
- Death in Paradise (2023): He popped up in Saint Marie as Justin West. If you’re a British actor and you haven't been in a murder mystery on a Caribbean island, do you even exist?
Why He Still Matters
Webb has a specific kind of "intelligent silliness." He can play the smartest person in the room or the absolute dumbest, and you'll believe both. He’s also been incredibly open about his personal life—having heart surgery a few years back and writing his memoir How Not to Be a Boy—which has given his more recent performances a certain weight.
He isn't just the guy from the memes. Whether he's doing voice work for Rick and Morty (he was a Red-bearded knight in Season 6) or narrating Tales of Friendship with Winnie the Pooh, he’s a constant, comforting presence on UK screens.
How to Watch the Best of Robert Webb
If you're looking for a watchlist, don't just stick to the obvious.
- Peep Show: Obviously. Start at Series 1, Episode 1. It holds up.
- Back: Essential for seeing the "grown-up" version of his partnership with Mitchell.
- The Smoking Room: Find this on DVD or streaming archives; it’s a forgotten gem.
- Mitchell and Webb Are Not Helping: Catch the new episodes on Channel 4's streaming service to see his 2026 return to form.
There's a lot more to the man than just a "mummy" obsession and a keyboard. Keep an eye out for his upcoming drama appearances in 2026, as he seems to be leaning further into serious roles while keeping his foot firmly in the world of sketch comedy.