Gently does it
BBC series Small Prophets is Mackenzie Crook’s spiritual successor to the acclaimed Detectorists. He joins producer Gill Isles to outline the “gentle” new comedy, his decision to move behind the camera and creating the show’s animated stars. Deep in the post-production process, Mackenzie Crook is watching his new series come to life – with the help of some animated magical sprites. Crook is best known on screen as Gareth Keenan from The Office, or for his various turns as Ragetti in the blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. But over the past decade, he has established himself as a writer and director thanks to original series such as Detectorists and a reimagining of children’s fantasy show Worzel Gummidge. It’s a dual role the star now reprises on his latest project, Small Prophets, a six-part comedy commissioned by the BBC that reunites Crook with his Detectorists co-star Pearce Quigley. Quigley plays eccentric Michael Sleep who, since his darling Clea disappeared seven years earlier, has lived a very ordinary life. He eats Shreddies, works in a DIY store, visits dad Brian (Michael Palin) and hopes for Clea to return. Then one day, Brian shares an old recipe involving rainwater, horse manure and more than a little alchemy. With recipe in hand, Michael sets out (albeit with some scepticism) to create Homunculi – magical beings that can predict the future – in the hope they have the answer to his burning question, ‘Will I ever see Clea again?’ Michael gets help from his … Continue reading Gently does it
