Mad Dogs is a British black comedy and psychological thriller television series created by Cris Cole that started broadcast on Sky1 on 10 February 2011. It was produced by Left Bank Pictures, and co-produced by Palma Pictures. The series stars John Simm, Marc Warren, Max Beesley and Philip Glenister, with Ben Chaplin and María Botto serving as additional cast. It follows four long-time, middle-aged friends getting together in a villa in Majorca to celebrate the early retirement of Alvo, a fifth friend. However, the group find themselves caught up in the world of crime and police corruption after Alvo is murdered.
The series was initially a story about a rock band, but changed after feeling bands have been "done to death." After gaining interest from some terrestrial networks, the series was commissioned by British Sky Broadcasting. Filming took place on location throughout the island of Majorca starting May 2010, and took around four million euros and 44 days to make. The main themes are friendship and growing older; Glenister said it is about ageing and "getting closer to death." Photographer David LaChapelle directed three 30-second advertisements for the series. Mad Dogs opened with 1.61 million viewers, the 17th highest rated programme ever for Sky1, and attracted generally positive reactions from critics. They noted similarities with British gangster films, more predominantly the 2000 film Sexy Beast. The second series premiered in January 2012. A third series has also been commissioned by Sky.
