BBC is bringing a new comedy to screens with Small Prophets, a six-part series created, written, and directed by Mackenzie Crook. Known for his distinctive ability to weave eccentric characters into everyday landscapes, Crook’s latest project takes us into stranger territory.
In Crook’s vision, ordinary lives tilt into unexpected rhythms, where each decision carries the weight of timing and foresight. It is within this delicate balance that the story draws us towards echoes of anticipation beyond the screen. Every day choices can feel like waiting for the right train to arrive, knowing a single delay changes the journey. They can resemble the hush before a theatre curtain rises, when expectation hangs heavier than sound.
Or they can echo the stillness before the gates open on a racecourse, where the moment of release defines everything that follows. Just as Crook explores foresight, audiences will feel the same tension in everyday choices — from waiting for a train, choosing a book, to checking racing tips before a big day at the racetrack. AI-powered platforms analyse form and data daily, offering a clear shortlist without the need to sift through statistics. Early selections secure better prices, providing a practical edge, while transparent performance pages keep results accountable. Many platforms also offer valuable promotions, boosting the betting experience with bonuses and free bet opportunities for new users.
That same interplay between patience, timing, and the search for patterns mirrors the world Michael Sleep inhabits. His quiet routine is broken by a pursuit of answers, where each experiment carries the weight of possibility. Just as with measured insights elsewhere, the story lingers on the tension between what is known and what might yet be revealed.
The series follows Michael Sleep, played by Pearce Quigley, a man whose life has remained suspended in quiet routine since the mysterious disappearance of his partner. His world shifts when he turns to alchemy, creating a strange concoction that summons Homunculi, supernatural figures that offer him glimpses of hidden truths. It is a premise that promises equal measures of humour, melancholy and surreal invention.
The casting adds further intrigue. Sir Michael Palin takes on the role of Michael’s father, a part that places one of Britain’s most enduring comic voices in a new, off-beat context. Lauren Patel, whose performances have drawn praise for their charm and immediacy, joins as Michael’s colleague, drawn reluctantly yet curiously into his experiments.
Together they form the heart of a show that blends ordinary settings with extraordinary visions, where the clutter of daily life collides with flashes of the bizarre. This is familiar Crook territory, where small details open up vast imaginative spaces.
Production is based in Manchester, adding a grounded backdrop to the magical twists of the story. The setting mirrors the balance at the centre of the series: recognisable, often mundane environments where moments of otherworldly wonder quietly intrude.
Such a contrast has been a hallmark of Crook’s previous work, and here it looks set to be pushed further, with animated sequences adding new textures to the sitcom form. The mix of live action and stylised invention gives the series an identity that feels rooted in tradition while stepping into fresh creative ground.
What makes Small Prophets stand out is not only its cast or its fantastical premise, but the atmosphere it aims to create. There is an emphasis on tone as much as on plot. The everyday is infused with strangeness, yet handled with a light touch that resists spectacle.
The humour is expected to emerge from understatement, pauses, and the absurdity of belief rather than from broad jokes. Viewers can anticipate something both intimate and expansive, in the way only British comedy often dares to be. With Crook at the helm, Palin returning to scripted comedy, and a narrative that blends longing with invention, Small Prophets positions itself as one of the most intriguing projects on the BBC slate this year.