The British comedy-drama Small Prophets is getting ready for its worldwide release. The show, created by Mackenzie Crook, already became a hit in the UK. Now it is coming to Apple TV for global audiences. The series features a remarkable cast of British comedy stars. It tells a magical story about loss, hope, and tiny creatures that can see the future.
The show originally aired on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer starting February 9, 2026. It quickly became the biggest new scripted launch of the year for the BBC. Now Apple TV has bought the worldwide rights. The series will premiere globally on October 7, 2026. The only exception is the UK. British viewers will have to wait until 2027 to watch it on Apple TV.
The show has already earned strong reviews. It holds a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. It also won the International Panorama award at the Series Mania festival. More than 7.7 million viewers watched it on BBC in the first 28 days. This made it the channel’s biggest comedy launch since 2022.
What Is Small Prophets About?
The story follows Michael Sleep, played by Pearce Quigley. Michael is an ordinary man who works at a DIY store. His girlfriend Clea vanished seven years ago. Michael still hopes she will come back. He visits his elderly father Brian regularly.
One day, Brian shares an old recipe with Michael. The recipe involves rainwater, horse manure, and alchemy. It can create tiny magical creatures called homunculi. These creatures can predict the future and answer any question. Michael decides to try the recipe. He sets up a laboratory in his garden shed. He hopes the homunculi will tell him if he will ever see Clea again.
The show is set in suburban Manchester. It mixes live-action with animation. The story explores friendship, hope, and the magical side of everyday life.
Pearce Quigley as Michael Sleep
Pearce Quigley plays the lead role of Michael Sleep. Quigley is from Salford, near Manchester. He has worked with Mackenzie Crook before on the show Detectorists.
In the series, Michael is a lonely man who cannot let go of his past. He works at a DIY store where he often teases customers and argues with his manager. He leaves work regularly to visit his father in the retirement home. Everyone around him believes Clea is gone forever. But Michael refuses to accept that.
When Michael learns about the homunculi, he thinks it is nonsense at first. But then he finds a drawing of a fully grown homunculus in his father’s journal. This changes his mind. He creates a laboratory in his shed and tries to bring the creatures to life.
Quigley enjoyed filming close to home. He said he had “seen more of my mum than I would have done normally” and added, “I love being back home in Manchester”.
Sir Michael Palin as Brian Sleep
Sir Michael Palin plays Brian Sleep, Michael’s elderly father. This marks Palin’s first TV acting role in seven years. His last TV acting work was in Worzel Gummidge, which was also written and directed by Crook.
Palin is a comedy legend. He was a member of the famous Monty Python group. He has also starred in many films and travel documentaries. In Small Prophets, he plays a father living in a care home. Brian spends his time creating unusual machines. But his memory is fading badly.
Brian gives Michael the recipe for the homunculi. This decision sets the whole story in motion. Palin said he was drawn to the show’s “humour and magic”. He also praised Crook’s writing style.
“Every single character in this series gets their moment, however small it might be. That line is thought out, careful, and is given to the actor as something special.”
Palin described the show as “funny, warm, and no car chases”. He said it deals with people in a very empathetic and human way.
“This is not a story where you’ll have car chases and people wanting to kill each other. There’s a warmth in the way [Crook] writes about people.”
Mackenzie Crook as Gordon
Mackenzie Crook not only created the show but also appears in it. He plays Gordon, the manager of the DIY store where Michael works.
Crook is best known for his roles in The Office and Detectorists. He wrote, created, and directed all six episodes of Small Prophets. This is his first new series since Detectorists ended in 2022.
Gordon is the boss that everyone dislikes. Michael and his co-worker Kacey bond over their mutual hatred of him. Crook’s character adds a layer of workplace comedy to the show.
Crook said the idea for the show had been growing for nearly a decade. He stumbled upon the story about creatures grown in jars. It took him a long time to figure out how to tell the story properly.
“Like all my best ideas, this one has been percolating for nearly a decade and is finally ready to see the light of day.”
Crook wanted to film in the North of England. He joked, “I wanted to shoot it [in the] North because I knew I’d be guaranteed seven weeks of glorious unbroken sunshine”. The show was filmed in Urmston and Stockport, near Manchester.
Lauren Patel as Kacey
Lauren Patel plays Kacey, Michael’s young co-worker and friend at the DIY store. Kacey becomes an important ally for Michael. She is one of the few people who learns about the homunculi.
Patel is known for her role as Jas Sharma in Waterloo Road Season 15. She also voiced PC Mukherjee in the 2024 comedy film Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.
Patel grew up in Manchester. She was happy to film in her hometown.
“Being able to film in Manchester where I’ve grown up and being able to have so many incredible people from the North working on it has been really cool.”
Kacey and Michael’s friendship grows because they both dislike their manager Gordon. Kacey helps Michael as he tries to create the homunculi.
Sophie Willan as Bev
Sophie Willan plays Bev, one of Michael’s nosy neighbours. Bev is married to Clive. The couple becomes suspicious of what Michael is doing in his garden shed.
Willan is a BAFTA Award winner. She is best known for creating and starring in the comedy series Alma’s Not Normal. She brings her comedic talent to the role of the curious neighbour.
Bev and her husband Clive add tension to the story. They are obsessed with figuring out what is happening in Michael’s shed.
Jon Pointing as Clive
Jon Pointing plays Clive, Bev’s husband and another nosy neighbour. Clive is just as curious as his wife about Michael’s activities.
Pointing is a BAFTA Award nominee. He is known for his role in the Channel 4 comedy Big Boys. He also appeared in the series Plebs.
Clive and Bev’s curiosity creates conflict for Michael. They represent the everyday world that does not understand his magical experiments.
Paul Kaye as Roy
Paul Kaye plays Roy, Clea’s brother. Roy is another character who wants answers about what happened to Clea.
Kaye is a SAG Award nominee. He is known for his role in Game of Thrones. He has also appeared in many British comedies and dramas.
Roy’s presence adds another layer to the mystery. He represents Clea’s family, who are also searching for the truth.
Ed Kear as Brigham
Ed Kear plays Brigham, Michael’s co-worker at the DIY store. Brigham is another colleague who interacts with Michael at work.
Kear is a comedy actor and writer. He has appeared in various British TV shows. His role adds to the workplace dynamics in the series.
Charlotte Mills as Hilary
Charlotte Mills plays Hilary, an employee at Brian’s care home. Hilary is part of the world that Brian lives in.
Mills is a British actress with credits in television and theatre. Her character helps show Brian’s life outside of his relationship with Michael.
Other Supporting Cast Members
The show also features several other actors in supporting roles:
- Shola Adewusi plays Olive, another neighbour of Michael
- Adam Wright plays Elliot
- Kathryn Drysdale plays Bea
- Rhiannon Clements plays Professor Drinkwater
- Howard Gossington plays Bob
These actors help build the world of the show. They create the suburban community where Michael lives and works.
The Show’s Critical Reception
Small Prophets has received strong reviews from critics. The Times newspaper gave it a five-star review. Critics have praised the show’s warmth and originality.
Ben Dowell of The Times wrote about the series:
“The existence of Small Prophets proves the point: that British telly can still create impossible marvels like this is a reason to keep believing in magic.”
The show has been compared to Ted Lasso for its gentle and kind storytelling style. It offers a more serialized approach rather than a traditional sitcom.
Global Release on Apple TV
Apple TV has secured worldwide rights to Small Prophets. This is the first time Apple TV has bought an existing English-language hit that already aired elsewhere. The platform usually develops its own shows first.
The series will premiere on Apple TV on October 7, 2026. It will be available in most countries around the world. The only exception is the United Kingdom. UK viewers will have to wait until 2027 to watch it on Apple TV. They can still watch it on BBC iPlayer for now.
For viewers in the United States, Canada, Australia, India, and other regions, the show will be available starting October 7. The series consists of six episodes. Each episode runs for about 28 to 29 minutes.
The Magic Behind the Show
The series combines live-action with animation. This helps bring the magical elements of the story to life. The homunculi are shown through animation.
Crook worked with animators Ainslie Henderson and Will Anderson on the project. He had wanted to collaborate with them for a long time.
The show was produced by Treasure Trove Productions and Blue House Productions. It was filmed in and around Manchester. The production team used real locations in Urmston and Stockport.
Local residents welcomed the cast and crew during filming. One resident, Sally Sadler, found out her house would be used in the series while shopping.
“It’s been amazing to be honest – it’s been bizarre at points and surreal when you’re seeing people staggering down the avenue pretending to be drunk and manure being delivered.”
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Why You Should Watch Small Prophets
Small Prophets offers a unique blend of comedy, drama, and magic. It tells a story about hope and loss in a very human way. The show features some of Britain’s best comedy actors. Sir Michael Palin makes a welcome return to TV acting. Mackenzie Crook brings his signature gentle storytelling style.
The series has already proven itself as a hit in the UK. Now global audiences will get to experience this magical story. The show’s perfect Rotten Tomatoes score and strong reviews suggest it is worth watching.
Small Prophets arrives on Apple TV on October 7, 2026. Mark your calendars for this special British dramedy.
Also Read: ‘The State of Us’ Review: British Buddy Comedy Brings Heart and Humor to a Difficult Subject
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