The new BBC comedy drama Our Flag Means Death follows the story of a wealthy landowner Stede Bonnet played by Rhys Darby as he finds himself in the depths of a midlife crisis. 

Set in 1717 Stede decides to leave his life of luxury behind and head to the open seas with plans to become a pirate and start a life of adventure. 

However, Stede's plans to tame the motley crew of his ship, the Revenge, prove trickier than anticipated, leaving him to question if he is tough enough to see out this sort of life.

Taika Waititi also features as the fearsome legend Blackbeard, with the Thor: Ragnarok and Jojo Rabbit director also helming one of the episodes.

Our Flag Means Death full cast list

  • Stede Bonnet: Rhys Darby
  • Taika Waititi: Blackbeard
  • Buttons: Ewen Bremner
  • Frenchie: Joel Fry
  • Oluwande: Samson Kayo
  • Lucius: Nathan Foad
  • Jim: Vico Ortiz
  • Black Pete: Matthew Maher
  • Wee John Feeney: Kristian Nairn
  • Captain Nigel Badminton: Rory Kinnear
  • The Swede: Nat Faxon
  • Roach: Samba Schutte
  • Mary Bonnet: Claudia O'Doherty

How to watch Our Flag Means Death:

The new BBC drama starts on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer at 10pm on Wednesday, January 4. 

The show has ten episodes altogether each airing at the same time across ten weeks and will also be available on iPlayer.