Alastair Roberts (known professionally as Al Roberts) is an English comedian and actor. He is part of the comedy trio Sheeps with Daran Johnson and Liam Williams. He is known for his TV roles including as Al in Stath Lets Flats (2018–23) and Elder Abijah in Everyone Else Burns (2023–24). In 2026, he became part of the writers of the UK version of Saturday Night Live.
Early life and education Roberts attended the University of Cambridge from 2006 to 2009. He was part of the Footlights, alongside future collaborator Liam Williams and Daran Johnson. He was Membership Secretary from 2006 to 2007, a General Member of the committee from 2007 to 2008, and President from 2008 to 2009. He played in the Footlights 125th anniversary tour show Devils (alongside Johnson) in 2008 and the 2009 tour show Wishful Thinking (alongside Johnson and Williams). Devils received a three-star review from The Skinny, who described Roberts' performance as "hilariously mannered and beautifully timed".
Career
Sheeps
Roberts is part of comedy trio Sheeps, with Daran Johnson and Liam Williams. They have played shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2024, and 2025.
In 2024, Sheeps released a Christmas album: A Very Sheeps Christmas. It was made over ten years, and featured 20 original tracks. They performed the album at their 2025 Edinburgh Fringe show.
Television In 2015, Roberts starred in BBC Two comedy sketch show The Javone Prince Show.
In 2015, Roberts participated in the Comedy Feed sketch show pilot, People Time, for BBC Three alongside Daran Johnson, Natasia Demetriou, Claudia O'Doherty, Ellie White and Liam Williams (who had first met at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2010). The Guardian urged the BBC to make a series, saying "The material on display here makes me suddenly and unexpectedly excited for the future of the sketch show...they make each subject new and weird, yet accessible and silly." Chortle described it as "this decade's Big Train" and that "If it can find way onto the telly, People Time would be a near-guaranteed cult hit." Comedian Adam Buxton said that it was the "best comedy thing I’ve seen in a long while". Despite its good reviews, it did not get commissioned. Continuing with the cast (minus O'Doherty), he co-created the web series 2016: Year Friends. Each episode was written by a different member of the troupe. The premise of the series is that a group of friends get together and make some new year's resolutions, and they also find out that Al is dying and Tash is pregnant. The show is influenced by British mockumentaries including The Office and That Peter Kay Thing, as well as the nascent reality TV genre.
From 2018 to 2023, Roberts starred as Al in Stath Lets Flats. Jamie Demetriou, who co-wrote the show with Robert Popper, wrote the part for Al, after seeing him perform with Sheeps.
In 2019, Roberts starred in one of Channel 4's Comedy Blaps, Sam Campbell: Get Real Dude. Produced by Blink Industries, it combined a mix of puppetry, 2D and 3D animation. Roberts starred alongside Sam Campbell, Jamie Demetriou, David O'Doherty, Charlotte Ritchie, Neil Edmond, Tanya Moodie, Rob Carter, Arnab Chanda, Shivani Thussu, Terry Bird, Carole Street, Mark Silcox and Aaron Chen.
In 2026, Roberts became part of the writers of the UK edition of Saturday Night Live.
Reception Comedian Abi Tedder cites Roberts as an influence and "probably the funniest man I've ever seen on a stage".
Personal life Sheeps lived together for a period of time. Roberts is married to actress and comedian Emma Sidi, also his on-screen partner in the TV series Starstruck.
Filmography Film +YearTitleRoleNotesRef.2014InterventionWillShort filmThe BirdSonShort film2016Three Women Wait for DeathSolicitorShort film2021Last Night in SohoLibrarian2024And Mrs.Daniel
Television +YearTitleChannelRoleOther roleNotesRef.2014Live at the ElectricBBC ThreeHimselfSeries 3, Episode 1Parents' EveningMr WilsonPilot2015The Javone Prince ShowBBC TwoEnsemble actorEpisodes 1–4Comedy Feeds: People TimeBBC ThreeVariousWriterPilot2016SiblingsRalphSeries 2, Episode 2: "Golden Aunt"FlowersChannel 4Tree ManSeries 1, Episode 6Comedy Feeds: LimboBBC ThreeFrancisPilotMorgana Robinson's The AgencyBBC TwoJournalistEpisode 3DriftersChannel 4Will JohnsonSeries 4, Episode 4: "Homeless"2016: Year FriendsVimeoAl12 episodes2017The WindsorsChannel 4Richard IIISeries 2, Episode 32018–2023Stath Lets FlatsAlSeries 1–32019Sam Campbell: Get Real DudeEnsemble actorPilot (Comedy Blap)Down from LondonVimeoMartin1 episode2020–2021Feel GoodChannel 4JaredSeries 1, Episodes 1, 3, 6; Series 2, Episode 3King GaryBBC OneRobinSeries 1, Episode 3: "The Bunion"; Episode 4 "The Big Schmooze" Series 2, Episode 3: "Conquerors"; Episode 4: "Fully Dark"2020Red Dwarf - The Promised LandBBC TwoCount LudoGhostsBBC OneFrancisSeries 2, Episode 4: "The Thomas Thorne Affair"Truth SeekersAmazon PrimeYoung Byron, BerkeleyEpisode 2: "The Watcher On The Water"2021Dead PixelsE4DVTSeries 2, Episode 3: "Mission"; Episode 6: "Flanks/Yams" IntelligenceSky OnePavarottiSeries 2, Episode 32021–2023StarstruckBBC ThreeIanSeries 1, Episode 1: "NYE"; Episode 3: "Summer"; Episode 6: "Christmas". Series 2, Episodes 1–6. Series 3, Episodes 1, 2, 4, 5, 6.2022This Is Going To HurtBBC OneJamesEpisode 7What We Do in the ShadowsFreddieSeries 4, Episode 2: "The Lamp", Episode 9: "Freddie"2023–2024Everyone Else BurnsChannel 4Elder AbijahSeries 1 and 22023A Whole Lifetime With Jamie DemetriouNetflixSigmund the City BoyOne episodeMan Like MobeenBBCMemory Stick4 episodes2024IndustryBBCNicholas St John1 episode2025MammothBBC TwoMatthewSeries 2, Episode 2Chess HamSpy2026Saturday Night Live UKSky OneWriterAnn DroidBBCMark3 episodes
Radio +YearTitleStationRoleOther roleNotesRef.2013SketchoramaBBC Radio 4As "Sheeps"WriterSeries 2, Episode 22014NewsjackWriterSeries 11, Episodes 2, 4Script EditorSeries 11, Episode 32015SabotageBBC Radio 4 ExtraAs "Sheeps"Series 2, Episode 22017Liam Williams – LadhoodBBC Radio 4Ensemble actorSeries 22025DMs Are OpenSeries 4, Episodes 1–6Kat Sadler's Screen TimeSeries 2, Episodes 1–4
Live performance +YearTitleRoleGroupVenueFestivalRef.2006Much Ado About NothingDogberry, a ConstableFootlightsADC TheatreCircusVariousThe AlchemistSubtleGrow UpVariousFaust: ADC/Footlights Panto 2006 – CorneliusCornelius2007I'll Be Back Before MidnightArthurThe Comedy of ErrorsAntipholus of EphesusQueens CollegeCoatThe ManWhite Belly, UnderbellyEdinburgh Fringe FestivalMotortownPaulADC TheatreOnce Upon a Time... The 2007 ADC/ Footlights PantoEnjolras2008Romeo and JulietRomeoDevils: Footlights 125th Anniversary Tour Show Writer, PerformerPembroke New CellarsADC TheatreUnderbellyEdinburgh Fringe FestivalTheseus and the Minotaur: ADC/Footlights Panto 2008King MinosADC Theatre2009An Oak TreeFatherFootlights Tour Show 2009 - Wishful ThinkingWriter, PerformerEtcetera TheatreCanal CafePleasanceEdinburgh Fringe FestivalWest Walls TheatreRoyal Northern College of MusicNottingham Arts TheatreOld Fire StationRoyal Naval CollegeTivoli Theatre, DorsetTorch TheatreGulbenkian TheatreNew Cut ArtsArena TheatreUppingham Theatre2010Sheeps and You Have Sixty MinutesSheepsADC Theatre2011Sheeps: A Sketch ShowPleasance CourtyardEdinburgh Fringe Festival2012Armageddapocalypse: Threat Level DeadJames Moran, Lucien Young, Mark FiddamanUdderbellySheeps - Dancing With LisaSheepsPleasance Courtyard2014Sheeps: Wembley PreviewsBedlam Theatre2015Sheeps Skewer the NewsThe Cellar Monkey2018Sheeps: Live and Loud Selfie Sex Harry PotterPleasance Dome2021Aberystwyth Comedy FestivalKing of the TableMoth Club2024Sheeps: The Giggle Bunch (That's Our Name For You)Pleasance CourtyardEdinburgh Fringe Festival2025`Sheeps: A Very Sheeps Christmas? Live in Concert! In the Summer!
References