---
name: "Tristram Shapeero"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/tristram-shapeero"
fi1m_id: "tristram-shapeero"
imdb_id: "nm0788426"
tmdb_id: 1220517
wikidata_id: "Q7844218"
roles: ["Director"]
born: "1 January 1966"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 15
average_fi1m_score: 77
average_as: "director"
average_over: 15
updated: "2026-10-07T15:06:59.130619+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Tristram Shapeero

## Identity

Tristram Shapeero

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/tristram-shapeero
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** tristram-shapeero
- **IMDb ID:** nm0788426
- **TMDB ID:** 1220517
- **Wikidata ID:** Q7844218
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tristram_Shapeero, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7844218, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0788426/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1220517

Director. Born 1 January 1966 in Bath, Somerset, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Director
- **Born:** 1 January 1966, Bath, Somerset, England, UK
- **Active:** 1997–present
- **Also known as:** Tristam Shapeero
- **Frequently works with:** [Beth McCarthy-Miller](https://film.one/person/beth-mccarthy-miller.md), [Claire Scanlon](https://film.one/person/claire-scanlon.md), [Craig Zisk](https://film.one/person/craig-zisk.md), [Ken Whittingham](https://film.one/person/ken-whittingham.md), [Tucker Gates](https://film.one/person/tucker-gates.md), [Dean Holland](https://film.one/person/dean-holland.md), [Linda Mendoza](https://film.one/person/linda-mendoza.md), [Matt Murray](https://film.one/person/matt-murray.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 77, as director, over 15 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 70 (2), 2000s 76 (6), 2010s 80 (6), 2020s 74 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 76 to 70 across 11 titles
- **Score spread:** 8 at 80+, 5 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Genres:** Comedy 15, Drama 4, Crime 2, Mystery 1, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 1, Sport 1
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tristram_Shapeero, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7844218, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0788426/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1220517

## Streaming the US now

- **Netflix:** [*GLOW*](https://film.one/tv/glow.md) (78), [*Brooklyn Nine-Nine*](https://film.one/tv/brooklyn-nine-nine.md) (78), [*Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt*](https://film.one/tv/unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt.md) (76), [*Never Have I Ever*](https://film.one/tv/never-have-i-ever-2020.md) (74)
- **Disney+:** [*The Good Place*](https://film.one/tv/the-good-place.md) (84), [*New Girl*](https://film.one/tv/new-girl.md) (80)
- **BritBox:** [*Peep Show*](https://film.one/tv/peep-show.md) (88)
- **Peacock:** [*Parks and Recreation*](https://film.one/tv/parks-and-recreation.md) (83)
- **Hulu:** [*Community*](https://film.one/tv/community.md) (83)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Green Wing*](https://film.one/tv/green-wing.md) (83)
- **HBO Max:** [*Veep*](https://film.one/tv/veep.md) (82)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Nurse Jackie*](https://film.one/tv/nurse-jackie.md) (72)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Tristram Shapeero

> Tristram Shapeero understands how much comedy can happen on the face of the person listening. We rate his work on *Peep Show* highly: the point-of-view framing makes private cowardice painfully visible, though the embarrassment can become tiring.

In *Peep Show* (2003), a neutral face can look threatening because the voice in our ear is interpreting it for its own convenience. Directors Tristram Shapeero and Jeremy Wooding keep that point-of-view format working throughout a conversation, rather than spending its effect on the first close-up. We laughed, then wanted a little distance, because each ordinary exchange makes us feel so uncomfortably inspected. Shapeero’s work here is sharp, patient comedy direction, attentive to what a face can do while somebody else supplies the excuse.

His British directing work includes the second series of *I'm Alan Partridge*, as studio director in 2002, followed by *Green Wing* (2004) and *Pulling* (2006). On *Peep Show*, he directed twelve episodes across series two and three. David Mitchell and Robert Webb give the excuses their due, but the direction also keeps us attending to the people receiving them. Our admiration is for how Shapeero uses the programme’s established format; it need not depend on treating him as its inventor.

The move to Los Angeles in 2009 brought a sustained run of American single-camera sitcoms. On *Community*, he directed 24 episodes between 2010 and 2014 and produced two seasons. He also directed the pilot of *Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt* (2015), a job that meant starting a programme rather than joining one already running. That combination suggests a director trusted both to establish a comic rhythm and to maintain it. It is useful work, even when the programme’s format is more immediately recognisable than the person directing it.

The limitation is there in *Peep Show* too: relentless embarrassment can make another well-judged exchange feel like more than we need. The performances and writing keep it worth the discomfort, but we would not confuse sustained pressure with an obligation to watch several episodes at once. Shapeero helps make the awkwardness last as long as the joke requires. Start there, and leave a little time afterwards for a conversation without access to anybody’s thoughts.

## Biography

Tristram Shapeero is an English television director and producer. He began his career in British television in the late 1980s, working as a runner and assistant director before directing episodes of comedy series including *Smack the Pony*, *Gimme Gimme Gimme*, *Brass Eye*, *Absolutely Fabulous* and *I'm Alan Partridge* (2002). He directed series 2 and 3 of *Peep Show* (2004–2005), all episodes of *Pulling*, and half the episodes of *Green Wing* (2004–2007).

Shapeero relocated to Los Angeles in 2009. He has since directed episodes of numerous American comedy series, including *Parks and Recreation*, *Community* (where he also served as producer for two seasons), *Veep*, *Brooklyn Nine-Nine*, *Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt*, *New Girl* and *Never Have I Ever*. He directed the feature film *A Merry Friggin' Christmas* (2014).

He has received eight BAFTA nominations for his directing work on British series. Shapeero was born in Somerset and grew up in Bath.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, comedy.co.uk.*

## On Fi1m (15)

- *Never Have I Ever* (2020), Fi1m 74, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/never-have-i-ever-2020.md)
- *GLOW* (2017), Fi1m 78, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/glow.md)
- *The Good Place* (2016), Fi1m 84, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-place.md)
- *Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt* (2015), Fi1m 76, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt.md)
- *Brooklyn Nine-Nine* (2013), Fi1m 78, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/brooklyn-nine-nine.md)
- *Veep* (2012), Fi1m 82, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/veep.md)
- *New Girl* (2011), Fi1m 80, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/new-girl.md)
- *Bored to Death* (2009), Fi1m 50, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/bored-to-death.md)
- *Community* (2009), Fi1m 83, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/community.md)
- *Nurse Jackie* (2009), Fi1m 72, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/nurse-jackie.md)
- *Parks and Recreation* (2009), Fi1m 83, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/parks-and-recreation.md)
- *Green Wing* (2004), Fi1m 83, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/green-wing.md)
- *Peep Show* (2003), Fi1m 88, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/peep-show.md)
- *Gimme Gimme Gimme* (1999), Fi1m 52, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/gimme-gimme-gimme.md)
- *I'm Alan Partridge* (1997), Fi1m 88, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/im-alan-partridge.md)

## Complete filmography (49)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Z-Suite* (2025), series, Director
- *St. Denis Medical* (2024), series, Director
- *Dinner with the Parents* (2024), series, Executive Producer
- *Acapulco* (2021), series, Director
- *Mr. Mayor* (2021), series, Director
- *Never Have I Ever* (2020), series, Director — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/never-have-i-ever-2020.md)
- *Four Weddings and a Funeral* (2019), series, Director, Executive Producer
- *Turn Up Charlie* (2019), series, Executive Producer
- *I Feel Bad* (2018), series, Director
- *A.P. Bio* (2018), series, Director
- *The Mayor* (2017), series, Director
- *GLOW* (2017), series, Director — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/glow.md)
- *Great News* (2017), series, Director
- *Speechless* (2016), series, Director
- *The Good Place* (2016), series, Director — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-place.md)
- *Teachers* (2016), series, Director
- *Blunt Talk* (2015), series, Executive Producer
- *Grace and Frankie* (2015), series, Director
- *Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt* (2015), series, Director — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt.md)
- *Fresh Off the Boat* (2015), series, Director
- *A Merry Friggin' Christmas* (2014), Director
- *Benched* (2014), series, Director
- *The Michael J. Fox Show* (2013), series, Director
- *Trophy Wife* (2013), series, Director
- *Brooklyn Nine-Nine* (2013), series, Director — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/brooklyn-nine-nine.md)
- *Big Bad World* (2013), series, Director
- *Veep* (2012), series, Director — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/veep.md)
- *How to Be a Gentleman* (2011), series, Director
- *New Girl* (2011), series, Director — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/new-girl.md)
- *Happy Endings* (2011), series, Director
- *The Persuasionists* (2010), series, Director
- *Jimmy Carr: Telling Jokes* (2009), Director
- *Bored to Death* (2009), series, Director — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/tv/bored-to-death.md)
- *Community* (2009), series, Director — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/community.md)
- *Nurse Jackie* (2009), series, Director — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/nurse-jackie.md)
- *Reggie Perrin* (2009), series, Director
- *Parks and Recreation* (2009), series, Director — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/parks-and-recreation.md)
- *Childrens Hospital* (2008), series, Director
- *Sidney Turtlebaum* (2008), Director
- *Green Wing Special* (2007), Director
- *Feel the Force* (2006), series, Director
- *Green Wing* (2004), series, Director — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/green-wing.md)
- *Absolute Power* (2003), series, Director
- *Peep Show* (2003), series, Director — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/peep-show.md)
- *Jam* (2000), series, First Assistant Director
- *Smack the Pony* (1999), series, Director
- *Gimme Gimme Gimme* (1999), series, Director — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/tv/gimme-gimme-gimme.md)
- *I'm Alan Partridge* (1997), series, Director — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/im-alan-partridge.md)
- *Men Behaving Badly* (1992), series, as Floor Runner

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/tristram-shapeero