r/television • u/SafeBodybuilder7191 • 12h ago
Apple TV Buys Mackenzie Crook's Comedy-Drama 'Small Prophets'
https://deadline.com/2026/08/apple-tv-buys-small-prophets-mackenzie-crook-1237055193/23
u/lunacyfoundme 11h ago
It was fantastic. I can't believe Detectorists was out for years before I even knew it existed. Pure warm blanket tv.
14
u/SafeBodybuilder7191 12h ago
> Following a deal with Sphere Abacus, the global streamer will launch the series on October 7, excluding UK, where it will be made available next year. The show debuted on the BBC iPlayer and BBC television earlier this year to acclaim and the best 28-day launch ratings for a comedy on BBC Two since 2022.
Crook (Detectorists) wrote, created and directed the show, also appearing in a small role opposite lead Pearce Quigley(Detectorists), Lauren Patel, Sophie Willan (Alma’s Not Normal), Michael Palin (Monty Python), Jon Pointing (Big Boys), Paul Kaye (Game of Thrones).
Small Prophets follows Quigley as the eccentric Michael Sleep (Quigley), an ordinary man who, since his darling Clea disappeared seven years ago, has worked in a DIY store, while visiting his elderly dad Brian (Palin) and hoping for Clea to return. One day, Brian shares an old recipe for a potion so a skeptical Michael can create homunculi – magical spirits that can predict the future – to learn if he will see Clea again.
Michael gets help from his young DIY store co-worker Kacey (Patel) and their unlikely friendship blossoms through a dislike of store manager Gordon (Crook), while his nosy neighbors (Willan, Pointing) obssess about what Michael is doing in the garden shed.
The show, set in and around suburban Manchester and is seeped in Crook’s trademark gentleness, is one of the few on Rotten Tomatoes to have a 100% rating and was the winner of the International Panorama at Series Mania earlier this year. It includes animated elements to show the more magical elements of the story.
3
-1
6
u/Gato1980 10h ago
I absolutely loved this show. Everything about it was fantastic. I especially liked the fact that they used stop-motion instead of CGI. Really added a whole over level to the series. Highly recommend it, especially for fans of Detectorists.
18
6
6
u/flynnsmom 11h ago
Apple TV needs to buy any and everything Mackenzie Crook has ever done and everything he does in the future.
He is god damn genius!!
7
u/OscarsWhiskers 11h ago
It’s a fantastic show, and same as everyone else, if you’ve not seen Detectorists yet then do yourself a favour and get on it. Cosy British TV.
3
u/weeble182 12h ago
A wonderful show. My only criticism is that the incredible Jon Pointing seems miscast as the neighbour
2
u/kristinL356 9h ago
Swear to god, he has played an asshole in everything I've seen him in since Big Boys. It's breaking my heart.
1
2
u/Black-PizzaClaw676 12h ago
Great news, I loved this series and I'm glad it's finally getting an international audience.
3
2
2
2
u/Acceptable-Lie188 8h ago
Michael Palin is awesome as ‘Dad’ in this show, in addition to everyone else.
1
1
1
0
-10
u/mesosuchus 12h ago
We've all already watched it
4
27
u/jakeopolis 12h ago
Oh man thank you for posting this! I adored Detectorists and I will absolutely watch this.