TV & MEDIA - WHO IS

Who Is Leo Reich, the Creator and Star of It Gets Worse?

Leo Reich created and stars in Channel 4's It Gets Worse after finding success with his stand-up show Literally Who Cares?!

British comedian, writer and actor Leo Reich is one of the voices behind Channel 4's new comedy It Gets Worse. His series, produced by A24 and launched in October 2026, follows three former university friends attempting to survive adult life in London.

Reich is also its creator and leading actor, making the show a significant step beyond his earlier career as a stand-up performer.

How did Leo Reich become known?

Reich's breakthrough was his one-person show Literally Who Cares?!, which earned a Best Newcomer nomination at the 2022 Edinburgh Comedy Awards.

The show later became an HBO comedy special produced by A24, reaching audiences outside the UK. His comedy blends self-deprecation, exaggerated self-importance and observations about being young and gay.

Television appearances have included Late Night with Seth Meyers and Channel 4's Friday Night Live. Although his material often draws on the anxieties of his generation, Reich has said that he does not see every young person as sharing a single experience.

What is It Gets Worse about?

Reich plays Ethan, a gay twentysomething living with former university friends Abi and Sam. When their landlord sells their flat, the friends face an uncertain future involving jobs, money, relationships and the realities of London life.

Emily Fairn and Olive Gray play the other central characters, with Andrew Scott and Lena Dunham among the guest stars.

Reich has explained that the series is not strictly autobiographical, even if he recognises parts of himself in its characters. The comedy is interested in how friends can love one another while also behaving selfishly or making the wrong choices.

Why is Leo Reich in the spotlight now?

The show's premiere on 22 October 2026 followed a London Film Festival screening and a run of interviews about the transition from stage to screen. Discussion of Andrew Scott's cameo brought added attention, but the series is chiefly an ensemble comedy about friendship.

Reich's growing profile matters for LGBTQ+ television because he is writing a gay central character for mainstream British comedy rather than simply appearing in a pre-existing production.