London — Danny Dyer, the East End’s own rough-hewn gem, left audiences gobsmacked on April 26, as ITV’s The Assembly delivered what many are calling a television landmark. The show, a raw, no-filter interview format, saw Dyer grilled by a panel of neurodivergent and learning-disabled young people. What unfolded was a half-hour of unscripted heart that had viewers reaching for tissues and raving about one of the year’s standout TV moments.
The Assembly, now in its second series after a BBC pilot last year, puts celebrities in a hot seat where polished media training goes out the window. Dyer, 47, known for his Cockney swagger and roles like Mick Carter on EastEnders, faced questions that cut deep—his marriage, his father, his choice to send his kids to private school despite his working-class roots. He didn’t dodge. When asked about his wife Joanne Mas kicking him out years ago, he admitted with a wry chuckle, “I was a prick and she deserved better.” The room laughed, but the honesty stung.
The episode’s peak came when the panel surprised Dyer with a performance of Primal Scream’s “Movin’ On Up.” As the group belted out the 1991 anthem, Dyer’s tough-guy facade cracked. He tilted his head back, eyes glistening, trying to hold it together. By the end, he was wiping tears, joining in with a hoarse “F***ing amazing!” When someone cheekily asked if it beat EastEnders, he shot back, “Pisses all over it.” The moment was electric, unguarded, and real.
Viewers flooded the airwaves with praise. One called it “the most inspirational half-hour in years,” while another dubbed Dyer’s meditation session with the group—a spontaneous, slightly awkward guided breathing exercise—“BAFTA-worthy.” Critics echoed the sentiment. Radio Times hailed the episode as “remarkable television,” pinpointing Dyer’s emotional openness as a highlight. ITV, which snagged the series from the BBC, aired it at 10:05 PM, and the buzz suggests it’s already a contender for awards.
Dyer himself called the experience “the most open and honest interview I’ve ever given.” He spent three hours with the panel, diving into his upbringing, fame’s pressures, and his unease with daughter Dani’s Love Island stint. At the episode’s close, choking up, he told the group, “It’s been an honour. I learned about you lot, learned a bit about myself.” He warned them to brace for fame, adding with a grin, “Use it responsibly, ‘cause I never did.”
The Assembly’s format, inspired by France’s Les Rencontres du Papotin, thrives on its unpolished edge. No topic is off-limits, and the interviewers’ directness—asking about Dyer’s finances or his EastEnders exit—caught him off guard but won his respect. The series, which also features Gary Lineker, David Tennant, and Jade Thirlwall, runs for four episodes on ITV1 and ITVX.
Dyer’s episode was filmed in a plain office room, no flashy sets or effects. The simplicity let the emotions shine. He admitted to making “some s**t shows” in his career but insisted this wasn’t one of them. The panel’s performance, his tears, and that meditation moment have cemented The Assembly as must-watch TV, with Dyer’s raw humanity at its core.
The series continues with David Tennant’s episode on April 27. ITV has not announced plans for a third series.