Small Prophets: Mackenzie Crook & Michael Palin

In a television landscape often dominated by gritty police procedurals and high-budget thrillers, a new BBC Two series has captured the hearts of viewers with a much gentler, albeit stranger, premise. Small Prophets, a six-part supernatural comedy created, written, and directed by Mackenzie Crook, premiered on February 9, 2026, marking a significant cultural moment for Greater Manchester.

The series brings together two titans of British comedy: The Office and Detectorists star Mackenzie Crook and the legendary Sir Michael Palin. Set against the suburban backdrop of Urmston and Stockport, the show is being hailed as a "spiritual successor" to Crook’s previous BAFTA-winning work, blending the mundane with the magical.

The Premise: Alchemy in the Garden Shed

The story follows Michael Sleep, played with a "magnificently deadpan" brilliance by Pearce Quigley (who fans will recognize as Russ from Detectorists). Michael’s life has been at a standstill for seven years, ever since his partner, Clea, vanished without a trace. He spends his days working at "Toolbox," a local DIY superstore, and his evenings visiting his elderly father, Brian.

The narrative takes a surreal turn when Brian—played by a "superb" Michael Palin—shares an ancient alchemical recipe involving rainwater and horse manure. The goal? To grow Homunculi: tiny, jar-dwelling "small prophets" that possess the power to predict the future. Michael hopes these magical creatures will finally answer the question that has haunted him for nearly a decade: Will I ever see Clea again?

A Masterclass in "Suburban Surrealism"

What makes Small Prophets stand out is how it anchors its fantastical elements in the very real, often grey, streets of Greater Manchester.

• The Toolbox Dynamic: Mackenzie Crook himself stars as Gordon, the petty and unpopular manager of the DIY store. The workplace banter, particularly between Michael and his younger colleague Kacey (Lauren Patel), provides a sharp, funny contrast to the mystical events occurring in Michael's garden shed.

• The Animation: Rather than using modern CGI, the show utilizes traditional stop-motion animation (created by Ainslie Henderson and Will Anderson) to bring the Homunculi to life. This choice gives the "prophets" a tactile, folk-horror-adjacent quality that fits perfectly with the show’s whimsical tone.

• The Nosy Neighbors: The cast is rounded out by Sophie Willan and Jon Pointing as Bev and Clive, the suspicious neighbors who are convinced Michael is up to something nefarious behind his garden fence.

Filming on Location: A Love Letter to Urmston

While Crook is originally from Kent, he insisted on filming the series in the North West. He jokingly told the BBC he chose Greater Manchester because he was "guaranteed seven weeks of glorious unbroken sunshine"—though locals know the reality of the Manchester weather likely added to the show’s atmospheric, slightly damp charm.

Key filming locations that local viewers will recognize include:

• The Garrick’s Head: This popular pub in Flixton serves as a central social hub in the series.

• Urmston Meadows: Used for the show’s more reflective, nature-focused scenes.

• Stockport Retail Park: The exterior of the Wickes store doubled as the "Toolbox" DIY shop where the characters work.

Critical Acclaim and "Binge" Potential

Since its debut, Small Prophets has received near-universal acclaim. The Guardian awarded it five stars, calling it an "impossible marvel of TV making," while The Times described it as "the loveliest British comedy since Detectorists."

While the show airs weekly on BBC Two, the BBC followed its modern tradition by releasing the entire six-episode box set on BBC iPlayer immediately. This has led to a "binge-watching" frenzy, with fans taking to social media to praise Crook’s "genius" in creating a world that is "eccentric, funny, sweet, and sad all at once."

Source - https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0jvj194dg2o

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