Mackenzie Crook Returns to TV with 'Small Prophets'—And He’s Got a Lot to Say About The Office Spin-Off

The King of Gentle Comedy Is Back

Mackenzie Crook—the man who brought us the quirky metal-detecting duo in Detectorists and the bug-eyed Ragetti in Pirates of the Caribbean—is heading to MIPCOM Cannes with his latest creation. And if you thought you had his number, think again.

His new BBC series, Small Prophets, is a six-part comedy that blends the mundane with the magical in a way only Crook can pull off. But this time, he’s not starring. Instead, he’s handed the lead to his longtime friend and comic genius, Pearce Quigley. And he’s enlisted the legendary Michael Palin as Quigley’s on-screen dad. The result? A show that Crook calls a “sad comedy” with a heart as big as its ambition.

The Story Behind 'Small Prophets'

A Seed Planted a Decade Ago

Crook reveals that the idea for Small Prophets was sparked by an obscure passage he discovered ten years ago in a book on Paracelsus, the medieval Swiss alchemist. The passage described how to create Homunculi—prophesizing spirits that can predict the future. “It really piqued my interest,” Crook says. He later learned that other writers, including Lawrence Durrell and W. Somerset Maugham, had tried to adapt the same passage. But Crook waited, letting the idea simmer until everything fell into place.

The Casting Coup

At the center of Small Prophets is Michael Sleep, played by Pearce Quigley, a man living a quiet, ordinary life after his beloved Clea disappeared seven years earlier. When his father (Palin) shares a bizarre recipe for creating Homunculi, Michael’s desperation to find answers leads him down a strange path. Crook says he wrote the role specifically for Quigley, whom he calls “a real comic talent who only usually plays peripheral parts.”

• Michael Palin as the father: Palin, who hadn't acted much recently, was tempted back by the script. Crook calls his performance “heartbreakingly brilliant.”
• Lauren Patel as Kacey: Patel plays the second lead, a friendship that blossoms through mutual disdain for the local store manager (played by Crook himself). Patel and Quigley had worked together before and their chemistry is electric.
• Sophie Willan and Jon Pointing: This comedic duo plays the nosy neighbors who become obsessed with what’s happening in Michael’s shed.

The show also features stunning stop-motion animation from Ainslie Henderson and Will Anderson, who bring the Homunculi to life. Crook has known Henderson for over 20 years and always wanted to collaborate. “There’s something magical about stop-motion,” he says. “Mixed with live-action, it’s unusual to see on British TV.”

The Legacy of 'Detectorists'

Fans of Detectorists will find familiar warmth in Small Prophets. Crook confirms the new show has “that same gentle, uncynical tone and the same humor.” But he’s quick to stress it’s not a carbon copy. Set in suburban Manchester, Small Prophets starts as a story of quiet desperation before spiraling into something far stranger.

As for Detectorists itself, Crook and producer Gill Isles are adamant: the story is finished. “I hope I can leave it there,” Isles says. “I’m so proud of it and I don’t want to spoil it.” Crook adds that he’s amazed by the show’s longevity. “It has proved to have longevity, and people are still discovering it. It’s amazing to me that it’s the thing people talk to me the most these days, above The Office and Pirates of the Caribbean.”

Crook’s Honest Take on 'The Paper'

When asked about The Paper, the new spin-off of the American version of The Office, Crook doesn’t hold back. “I never really got into the American Office,” he admits. “I was put out about it when it first came out, but I understand it became its own thing.” Still, he’s curious about the spin-off, largely because it stars Tim Key, a comedian he’s a massive fan of. “It’s interesting that after all these years they’ve come back round to an offshoot of The Office.”

Crook’s own role in the original UK Office as the hapless Gareth Keenan made him a household name. But he’s clearly focused on the present—and the future—rather than looking back.

Why Crook Is Leaving Film Acting Behind

One of the most surprising revelations from the interview is Crook’s decision to step away from film acting. Despite his memorable turn as Ragetti in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, he says he’s found his true love in television. “Over the years, I’ve realized TV is my love. That’s where I feel comfortable, and more specifically, I love making comedy for the BBC.”

He explains that working in film often meant long hours of waiting around. “With actors, it is the old cliché that you’re sitting around for hours and hours, days and weeks not doing very much at all.” In contrast, writing and directing Small Prophets has given him a sense of purpose. “It feels I’m properly working hard now.”

Crook also praises the BBC for its unique role in British comedy. “With them, you can make something that will bed down into the national consciousness, whereas on other platforms it can seem like it is fleeting—they’re there and then they’re gone. With the BBC, you can make something that could become a classic.”

What’s Next for 'Small Prophets'?

Crook has big ambitions for the show. He envisions three seasons, with the first ending on a cliffhanger. “The plan is to end this one on ‘to be continued’; Michael doesn’t get all of his answers by the end of the first season. There is still more story to tell, and I’ve started mapping out the outline for the next season. It would be all wrapped up by the end of the third season.”

Producer Gill Isles is equally optimistic, despite the budget challenges of making BBC shows. “It is always challenging as budgets inevitably get smaller or stay the same, as everything else becomes really expensive. But my attitude is to do shows where people will have fun and a good time, and that it’s never for the money.”

Crock and Isles are heading to MIPCOM Cannes to meet with international buyers, and Crook admits he’s nervous but excited. “I’ve got no idea what to expect, but I’m so enthusiastic about Small Prophets that I can talk about it all day. If people are willing to listen, then great.”

Given the slow-burn success of Detectorists, which became a cult hit worldwide, it’s safe to say that Small Prophets could be the next gentle, whimsical show to quietly conquer the globe. And with Crook’s passion and vision, it’s hard to bet against him.

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