For the first time, Apple TV has acquired the worldwide rights to an already established English-language hit. The streamer has picked up the BBC Two comedy Small Prophets, breaking with its usual strategy of developing its shows from the start.
Small Prophets had already proven itself before Apple stepped in. The BBC Two series delivered the channel’s strongest 28-day launch for a comedy since 2022, earned a 100% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, and won the Best Series Award in the International Panorama competition at the 2026 Series Mania festival.
Created, written, and directed by Mackenzie Crook, best known for his work on The Office, Detectorists, and the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, the six-episode series debuted on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two in the U.K. earlier this year. It stars Pearce Quigley, Lauren Patel, Sir Michael Palin, Sophie Willan, Jon Pointing, Paul Kaye, and Crook, who has a featured role.
Now, the British hit is heading across the pond. Small Prophets will make its Apple TV debut on October 7, introducing the quirky comedy to audiences around the world. (The U.K., where it remains available on BBC iPlayer, will get it on Apple TV in 2027.)
Here is everything we know so far about Small Prophets, including when it premieres on Apple TV, what the series is about, who’s in the cast, and more.
When will Small Prophets premiere?
The six-part series will debut on Apple TV on October 7.
BBC Two
What is Small Prophets about?
The series follows DIY store clerk Michael Sleep (Pearce Quigley), a man whose life has been in shambles since his beloved Clea disappeared seven years ago. Still waiting for her to return, Michael gets an unusual suggestion from his father, Brian (Sir Michael Palin), who gives him a recipe for creating Homunculi, magical spirits that can predict the future and could finally tell him what lies ahead with Clea.
With help from his coworker Kacey (Lauren Patel), with whom he bonds over their shared dislike of their boss, Gordon (Mackenzie Crook), Michael embarks on a strange journey to create the creatures and, hopefully, get the answers he has been waiting seven years to find.
“I couldn’t be happier with the response to Small Prophets. The feedback from the audience, the reviews, and figures have been better than I dared to hope,” Mackenzie Crook said in a statement. “I gradually crafted this idea over the course of about 10 years, and I think it has benefited from that slow percolation. The BBC comedy department has long given me the space, support and trust to make my shows, and there is nowhere else I would rather go. The BBC feels like home.”
Who stars in Small Prophets?
The series features a host of comedy stars, including Mackenzie Crook, Sir Michael Palin, Pearce Quigley, Lauren Patel, Sophie Willan, Jon Pointing and Paul Kaye.
Who is behind Small Prophets?
Small Prophets is a Treasure Trove and Blue House production. It has been commissioned by BBC Director of Comedy Jon Petrie. It is written and directed by Mackenzie Crook. The executive producers are Mackenzie Crook and Lisa Thomas for Treasure Trove Productions and Christine Gernon and Emma Strain for Blue House Productions. The commissioning editor for the BBC is Emma Lawson. Sphere Abacus is the International Distributor.
Is there a trailer for Small Prophets?
Yes! Check it out above!