Small Prophets, the “masterpiece” comedy series from Mackenzie Crook with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, has received an exciting update. The hit BBC comedy is set to return for a second season and will move from BBC Two to BBC One.
As with season one, Crook will write, direct and star in the second, with Michael Palin, Pearce Quigley and Lauren Patel all reprising their roles from the first outing.
Season one stars Quigley as the eccentric Michael Sleep, who sets out to create magical spirits using a recipe given to him by his father, Brian (Palin), after his partner, Clea, disappeared seven years earlier.
VISHAL SHARMA
Related: Best streaming services
Sleep forms an unlikely friendship with his colleague Kacey (Patel) through their mutual dislike of their boss, store manager Gordon (Crook).
The synopsis reads: “With recipe in hand, Sleep sets out (albeit with some scepticism) to create Homunculi – magical prophesying spirits that can predict the future.”
Speaking about the series renewal, Crook said: “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to tell the second half of this strange story and as intrigued as anyone else to find out what happens to Michael Sleep in his mystical quest.
“The prophets have foretold that series two will be happening next year and, as we know, they are compelled to speak the truth.”
VISHAL SHARMA
Producer Gill Isles said: “It’s a real privilege to be producing the second series of Small Prophets. Mackenzie has created such a distinctive, magical world, and I can’t wait to return to Marvin Gardens and help bring this new chapter to life.”
The show has proved a hit with audiences, averaging 6.3 million viewers over 28 days. The first episode has continued to attract viewers beyond 28 days and has now reached 9.2 million, making it the BBC’s biggest new comedy series of the year so far.
In their review of series one, The Age said Small Prophets was “a gentle, jewel-like, unhurried masterpiece that is funny, profound and manages to break and mend your heart in equal measures”.
Small Prophets is available on BBC iPlayer.
Visit our Streaming Guide now to see at a glance where you can view ALL your favourite shows and movies.
The new edition of Legends, a 100-page all-colour celebration of Ariana Grande, is here! Buy Ariana Grande in newsagents or online.
Reporter, Digital Spy
Harriet is a freelance news writer specialising in TV and movies at Digital Spy.
A horror enthusiast, she joined Digital Spy after working on her own horror website, reviewing films and focusing largely on feminism in the genre.
In her spare time, Harriet paints and produces mixed-media art. She graduated from the University of Kingston with a BA in fine art, where she specialised in painting. She also has an MA in journalism from Birkbeck University.