Ayoade first played Learner in the Edinburgh Fringe stage shows "Garth Marenghi's Fright Knight" and "Garth Marenghi's Netherhead" in 2000 and 2001 respectively. In 2004 he appeared in Channel 4's spoof horror comedy "Garth Marenghi's Darkplace", and in 2006 in his own TV show, "Man to Man with Dean Learner", which aired on Channel 4 from October 2006. It was recorded in Teddington Studios in April–May 2006 in front of a live audience and featured Learner interviewing celebrity guests – all of whom happen to be his clients (and played by Ayoade's writing partner Matthew Holness) – including Marenghi.