# Where to watch Norbert Smith – a Life in the UK

> Norbert Smith – a Life is not currently listed on any UK streaming, rental, or purchase service. Last verified on 3 May 2026 by ScreenSearch.

**Type:** TV series  
**TMDB rating:** 8.0/10  
**Genres:** Comedy  
**Seasons:** 1  
**Region:** United Kingdom (GB)  
**Last verified:** 3 May 2026 (2026-05-03T12:38:36.942Z)  

## Synopsis

Norbert Smith – a Life is a spoof TV documentary film charting the life and career of the fictitious British actor Sir Norbert Smith. It stars Harry Enfield in the title role. It was written by Harry Enfield and Geoffrey Perkins and directed by Geoff Posner. It was made by Hat Trick Productions for Channel 4 and was first broadcast on 3 November 1989.

The film is presented as if it were an edition of the ITV arts programme The South Bank Show, and features Melvyn Bragg, the presenter of the real South Bank Show, playing himself as the interviewer visiting Sir Norbert at his home, and encouraging him to reminisce about his past career. The humour arises from the fact that although Sir Norbert is acclaimed as one of Britain’s “Knights of the Theatre”, in the mould of a Laurence Olivier or John Gielgud, actually none of his contemporaries has anything particularly good to say about him, and he appears to have had limited success in landing good film roles. Interviewed now in his old age, he is demented, and has confused memories about his past.

The main point of the film, however, is the parodying of various 20th century film genres, through interspersed clips that feature Enfield as Sir Norbert in a variety of film roles.

## Streaming options in the United Kingdom

No current UK streaming, rental, or purchase listings were found for Norbert Smith – a Life in our daily-updated TMDB feed. The title may be on physical media only, awaiting UK release, or in a temporary licensing gap.

## Frequently asked questions

**Where can I watch Norbert Smith – a Life in the UK?**

Norbert Smith – a Life is not currently listed by any UK streaming, rental, or purchase service in our daily-updated TMDB feed. It may be on physical media, an aggregator, or pending a UK release. Check back later — availability changes frequently.

**Are all seasons of Norbert Smith – a Life on the same service?**

Not always — TV licensing is sometimes negotiated season by season. ScreenSearch shows availability across all seasons on the title's page; for season-specific availability, look at the season picker inside the search dialog.

**Is Norbert Smith – a Life on Netflix, Disney+ or Amazon Prime Video in the UK?**

Norbert Smith – a Life is not currently included with any major UK subscription service. It may still be available to rent or buy.

**How accurate is this TV series's availability data?**

Availability is sourced from The Movie Database (TMDB), which in turn pulls from JustWatch. Listings are refreshed daily. For purchase decisions, the provider's own site is the source of truth.

## Sources

- Streaming availability: The Movie Database (TMDB), refreshed daily.
- Underlying licensing data: JustWatch.
- Canonical URL: https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/8834/norbert-smith-a-life
- JSON variant: https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/8834/norbert-smith-a-life.json

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