Small Prophets
GenreComedy drama
Fantasy
CreatorMackenzie Crook
WriterMackenzie Crook
DirectorMackenzie Crook
Starring
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Num series1
Num episodes6
Executive producer
  • Mackenzie Crook
  • Lisa Thomas
  • Christine Gernon
  • Emma Strain
ProducerGill Isles
Runtime28–29 minutes
Company
  • Treasure Trove
  • Blue House
  • Hot Olives Productions
NetworkBBC Two
First aired9 February 2026
Last airedpresent

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

Premise

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 nosey neighbours who become suspicious of what he is doing in his shed.[1]

Cast and characters

Production

In May 2025, the BBC commissioned the six-part sitcom Small Prophets, created, written and directed by Mackenzie Crook.[1][2][3] 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.[3][4][5] Crook has said his idea for the series part-came from a footnote in a book about Swiss alchemist Paracelsus.[6] The theme tune The Wise Man's Song is written by musician Cinder Well exclusively for the series.[7]

The series includes animation by Ainslie Henderson and Will Anderson.[8] It was filmed in Greater Manchester, with scenes shot on location in residential streets in Urmston, at the Wickes store and Covent Garden café in Stockport, the Garrick's Head pub in Flixton, and along the Bridgewater Canal under the M60 at junction 7.[9][10]

Release

The series premiered on BBC Two on 9 February 2026, with new episodes airing weekly.[11][12] 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".[13] 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.[14] 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".[15] The show won the award for "best series in the international panorama competition" at Series Mania 2026.[16]

The first episode attracted 7.7 million viewers (28-day figure).[17]

See also

References

  1. ^ Molander, Joe (2025-05-22). "Mackenzie Crook to write and direct new BBC sitcom Small Prophets". Royal Television Society. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  2. ^ Creamer, Jon (2025-05-21). "BBC orders 10 new and returning comedies". Televisual. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  3. ^ Richardson, Jay (2025-05-21). "Mackenzie Crook's magical comedy Small Prophets brought to life by BBC". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  4. ^ Rowan, Iona (2025-05-25). "'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 2025-05-28.
  5. ^ "BBC Two - Small Prophets, Series 1, Episode 1". BBC. 2026-02-09. Retrieved 2026-01-30.
  6. ^ Magliola, Anna Sky (12 February 2026). "Mackenzie Crook opens up about the unusual inspiration behind his latest comedy Small Prophets". Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  7. ^ "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 Feb 2026. Retrieved 9 Feb 2026.
  8. ^ Mensah, Katelyn (2025-05-22). "Mackenzie Crook reunites with Detectorists co-star for new BBC comedy – featuring Monty Python legend". Radio Times. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  9. ^ "Mackenzie Crook creates a new BBC comedy". Chortle. 2025-05-21. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  10. ^ Maidment, Adam (9 February 2026). "The Greater Manchester filming locations in new BBC show with Mackenzie Crook". Manchester Evening News. Archived 10 February 2026 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  11. ^ Hibbs, James (2026-01-29). "The Office icon's series Small Prophets confirms release with trailer". Radio Times. Retrieved 2026-01-30.
  12. ^ "Small Prophets - BBC2 sitcom". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 2026-01-30.
  13. ^ Seale, Jack (9 Feb 2026). "Small Prophets review – Mackenzie Crook's magical new comedy is pure, pure pleasure". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 Feb 2026.
  14. ^ Singh, Anita (9 Feb 2026). "Michael Palin is superb in Mackenzie Crook's follow-up to Detectorists". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 Feb 2026.
  15. ^ Dowell, Ben (9 February 2026). "Small Prophets review: the loveliest British comedy since Detectorists". The Times. Retrieved 10 Feb 2026.
  16. ^ "2026" (in French). Festival Séries Mania. Retrieved 2026-03-30.
  17. ^ "Small Prophets is the biggest new scripted launch of the year on the BBC". BBC. Retrieved 18 March 2026.