Small Prophets

Last updated

Small Prophets
Genre Sitcom
Created by Mackenzie Crook
Screenplay byMackenzie Crook
Directed byMackenzie Crook
Starring
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes6
Production
Executive producers
  • Mackenzie Crook
  • Lisa Thomas
  • Christine Gernon
  • Emma Strain
ProducerGill Isles
Running time28–29 minutes
Production companies
  • Treasure Trove
  • Blue House
  • Hot Olives Productions
Original release
Network BBC Two
Release9 February 2026 (2026-02-09) –
present

Small Prophets is a British sitcom created, written and directed by Mackenzie Crook. Set in and around Manchester, it stars Pearce Quigley as a man who turns to alchemy and homunculi in an attempt to learn what happened after his girlfriend disappeared, with the cast also including Crook, Michael Palin, Lauren Patel, Sophie Willan and Jon Pointing. It premiered on BBC Two and iPlayer on 9 February 2026.

Contents

Premise

Set in Manchester, Michael Sleep is still struggling after his girlfriend, Clea, vanished seven years earlier. After receiving an alchemical recipe to create homunculi, he uses their prophecies to search for answers about whether he will ever see her again. As he pursues this, he is helped by a colleague, hindered by their unpopular boss, and drawn into conflict with nosy neighbours who become suspicious of what he is doing in his shed. [1]

Cast and characters

Episodes

No.Title  [2] Directed byWritten byOriginal release date  [3] U.K. viewers
(millions)  [4]
1"Episode 1" Mackenzie Crook Mackenzie Crook9 February 2026 (2026-02-09)TBD
2"Episode 2"Mackenzie CrookMackenzie Crook16 February 2026 (2026-02-16)TBD
3"Episode 3"Mackenzie CrookMackenzie Crook23 February 2026 (2026-02-23)TBD
4"Episode 4"Mackenzie CrookMackenzie Crook2 March 2026 (2026-03-02)TBD
5"Episode 5"Mackenzie CrookMackenzie Crook9 March 2026 (2026-03-09)TBD
6"Episode 6"Mackenzie CrookMackenzie Crook16 March 2026 (2026-03-16)TBD

Production

In May 2025, the BBC commissioned the six-part sitcom Small Prophets, created, written and directed by Mackenzie Crook. [1] [5] [6] The series is produced by Treasure Trove, Blue House and Hot Olives Productions, with Gill Isles as producer, and Crook serving as an executive producer alongside Lisa Thomas, Christine Gernon, and Emma Strain. [6] [7] [8] Crook has said his idea for the series part-came from a footnote in a book about Swiss alchemist Paracelsus. The theme tune The Wise Man’s Song is written by musician Cinder Well exclusively for the series. [9]

The series includes animation by Ainslie Henderson and Will Anderson. [10] It was filmed in and around Manchester. [11]

Release

The series premiered on BBC Two on 9 February 2026, with new episodes airing weekly. [12] [13] All episodes were released on BBC iPlayer the same day.

Reception

The series received five stars in The Guardian , where it was described as a "show full of gorgeous surprises" and "pure, pure pleasure". [14] The series was given four stars in The Daily Telegraph , where it was described as "eccentric, funny, sweet, and sad – often all at once" with praise for the performances of Quigley and Palin. [15] The series also received five stars in The Times with Crook praised for his "joyous storytelling" that "can make you feel strangely and intensely alive". [16]

References

  1. 1 2 Molander, Joe (22 May 2025). "Mackenzie Crook to write and direct new BBC sitcom Small Prophets". Royal Television Society . Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  2. ↑ "BBC Two - Small Prophets". BBC . Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  3. ↑ "Small Prophets - British Comedy Guide Episodes". British Comedy Guide . Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  4. ↑ "Weekly Top 50 Shows (select date from dropdown)". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board . Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  5. ↑ Creamer, Jon (21 May 2025). "BBC orders 10 new and returning comedies". Televisual. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  6. 1 2 Richardson, Jay (21 May 2025). "Mackenzie Crook's magical comedy Small Prophets brought to life by BBC". British Comedy Guide . Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  7. ↑ Rowan, Iona (25 May 2005). "'BBC viewers are in for a treat': An exciting new Manchester-set series is on the way - you won't want to miss". Digital Spy . Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  8. ↑ "BBC Two - Small Prophets, Series 1, Episode 1". BBC . 9 February 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  9. ↑ "I'm Mackenzie Crook, and this is the 16th-century inspiration for my new comedy Small Prophets – and how we brought it to life". Radio Times. 2 February 2026. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  10. ↑ Mensah, Katelyn (22 May 2025). "Mackenzie Crook reunites with Detectorists co-star for new BBC comedy – featuring Monty Python legend". Radio Times . Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  11. ↑ "Mackenzie Crook creates a new BBC comedy". Chortle . 21 May 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  12. ↑ Hibbs, James (29 January 2026). "The Office icon's series Small Prophets confirms release with trailer". Radio Times . Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  13. ↑ "Small Prophets - BBC2 sitcom". British Comedy Guide . Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  14. ↑ Seale, Jack (9 February 2026). "Small Prophets review – Mackenzie Crook's magical new comedy is pure, pure pleasure". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  15. ↑ Singh, Anita (9 February 2026). "Michael Palin is superb in Mackenzie Crook's follow-up to Detectorists". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  16. ↑ Dowell, Ben (9 February 2026). "Small Prophets review: the loveliest British comedy since Detectorists". The Times. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
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