Watch Nathan Barley

Nathan Barley is a satirical British television series that ran for one season in 2005. The show follows the titular character, Nathan Barley, a highly obnoxious and self-absorbed London media mogul played by Nicholas Burns, and his group of equally self-centered friends and associates as they navigate their way through the world of media and popular culture.

At the start of the series, Nathan is a self-proclaimed "self-facilitating media node," and his claim to fame is his website, trashbat.co.ck, which he sees as a way to showcase his knowledge and expertise in the world of urban culture, fashion, and design. Nathan is constantly on the lookout for the next big thing, and he's always trying to stay one step ahead of his peers in the media industry.

Julian Barratt plays Dan Ashcroft, a frustrated and disillusioned writer who has become disillusioned with the state of popular culture. Dan is struggling to find his voice in a world where the media is dominated by people like Nathan, who values style and hype over substance and authenticity. Dan's disdain for Nathan and his ilk is palpable, and he spends much of his time criticizing Nathan and his followers.

The show also features Claire Keelan as Claire Ashcroft, Dan's long-suffering sister who is in a relationship with Nathan. Claire is a former painter turned performance artist who is constantly struggling to make ends meet. She is often exasperated by Nathan's antics but loves him despite his flaws.

Other notable characters in the series include Nathan's perpetually stoned sidekick, Pingu, and the staff of Sugar Ape, a magazine aimed at the youth market, which Nathan owns. The staff includes a group of young, attractive, and highly sexualized writers and editors who are more interested in partying and hooking up than actually doing any meaningful work.

Throughout the series, Nathan and his friends get into a variety of hijinks, including staging an art exhibition featuring a giant inflatable penis, starting a fashion trend based on "mung beans," and creating a fake terrorist scare as a publicity stunt.

The show's humor is often over the top, and it pokes fun at the excesses of the media industry and the shallow nature of popular culture. It's not a show for everyone, but those who appreciate dark humor and satire will find plenty to enjoy.

Overall, Nathan Barley is a clever and funny satire of the modern media landscape, and it features a talented cast of actors who do an excellent job bringing the show's quirky characters to life. If you're looking for something different and edgy, this series is definitely worth checking out.