Images of Sir Michael Palin and Mackenzie Crook’s new comedy released

Images from the new Mackenzie Crook comedy Small Prophets have been released, including of Sir Michael Palin, who also stars in the series.

The BBC comedy was written and directed by Bafta award-winning Crook, who has created a “weird and wonderful new world” where the magical and the mundane unfold in a suburban cul-de-sac.

It will launch on iPlayer and BBC Two early next year and also stars Pearce Quigley, who appeared in Crook’s previous comedy Detectorists, Bafta award-winning writer and actress Sophie Willan, and Games Of Thrones star Paul Kaye.

Small Prophets was filmed and set in and around Manchester and incorporates visually stunning animation elements.

The story centres around eccentric Michael Sleep (Quigley) whose partner Clea disappeared seven years ago.

Since then, Sleep has lived a very ordinary life, working in a DIY store with manager Gordon (Crook) and visiting his father Brian (Sir Michael).

One day Brian shares an old recipe involving rainwater and horse manure to create Homunculi – magical prophesying spirits that can predict the future.

The six-part series is produced by Bafta award-winning Gill Isles, and also stars Jon Pointing of Plebs and Big Boys, and Lauren Patel of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.

Crook said: “Like all my best ideas, this one has been percolating for nearly a decade and is finally ready to see the light of day.”It’s wonderful to be working again with my friends Gill Isles and Pearce Quigley and to realise a long-term ambition of collaborating with animators Ainslie Henderson and Will Anderson.”

BBC director of comedy Jon Petrie said: “BBC viewers are in for a treat with Bafta winner Mackenzie Crook’s Small Prophets.

“This magical comedy series brims with wit and wonder – from Mackenzie himself and Sir Michael Palin to Sophie Willan, Pearce Quigley, Lauren Patel and Jon Pointing – and is backed by a top-tier creative team and stunning animation.

“It’s British comedy at its finest.”