The BBC has commissioned Small Prophets, a new comedy created, written and directed by BAFTA-winning Mackenzie Crook (Detectorists, Worzel Gummidge) and produced by BAFTA-winning Gill Isles (Car Share, Alma’s Not Normal), from Treasure Trove Productions and Blue House Productions. The series is planned to launch on iPlayer and BBC Two in early February 2026.

Filmed and set in and around Manchester, the six-part series will feature a host of comedy stars including Mackenzie Crook, Sir Michael Palin, Pearce Quigley, Lauren Patel, Sophie Willan, Jon Pointing and Paul Kaye.

Mackenzie Crook said: “Like all my best ideas, this one has been percolating for nearly a decade and is finally ready to see the light of day. It’s wonderful to be working again with my friends Gill Isles and Pearce Quigley and to realise a long-term ambition of collaborating with animators Ainslie Henderson and Will Anderson.”

Gill Isles says: “I’m absolute thrilled to be working with Mackenzie again on such a funny, beautiful and unique show.”

Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy, adds: “BBC Two viewers are in for a treat with BAFTA winner Mackenzie Crook’s Small Prophets. This magical comedy series brims with wit and wonder - from Mackenzie himself and Sir Michael Palin to Sophie Willan, Pearce Quigley, Lauren Patel and Jon Pointing - and is backed by a top-tier creative team and stunning animation. It’s British comedy at its finest.”

In Small Prophets, we meet eccentric Michael Sleep (Pearce Quigley) whose darling partner Clea disappeared seven years ago. Since then, Sleep has lived a very ordinary life. He eats Shreddies, works in a DIY store, visits his dad Brian (Michael Palin), and hopes for Clea to return. One day Brian shares an old recipe involving rainwater, horse manure and more than a little alchemy. With recipe in hand, Sleep sets out (albeit with some scepticism) to create Homunculi - magical prophesying spirits that can predict the future.

The series incorporates visually stunning animation elements throughout as we tell a story of friendships and hope, the magical and the mundane, and where secrets and lies lurk in a suburban cul-de-sac.

Small Prophets (6x30) is a Treasure Trove and Blue House production for the BBC. It has been commissioned for iPlayer and BBC Two by BBC Director of Comedy Jon Petrie. It is written and directed by Mackenzie Crook. The executive producers are Mackenzie Crook and Lisa Thomas for Treasure Trove Productions and Christine Gernon and Emma Strain for Blue House Productions. The commissioning editor for the BBC is Emma Lawson. Sphere Abacus is the International Distributor.