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NewsLos Angeles Times — EntertainmentOctober 28, 2026Los Angeles County

Apple TV streams 'Small Prophets', a gentle British comedy created by Mackenzie Crook

Photo: Los Angeles Times — Entertainment

Mackenzie Crook's gentle comedy series 'Small Prophets' follows a DIY store worker searching for his missing girlfriend with the help of magical homunculi. The show combines handmade stop-motion animation, practical effects, and themes of grief and nostalgia.

TelevisionComedyAnimationStreaming
Read the full story at Los Angeles Times — Entertainment

Why It Matters

The British comedy series became a major streaming launch on Apple TV and BBC after premiering on BBC Two and securing a second-season renewal.

Key Facts

  • The television comedy series 'Small Prophets' streams on Apple TV and originally premiered on BBC Two in February.
  • The series was renewed for a second season on BBC One.
  • The show's creator, writer, and director is Mackenzie Crook.
  • The plot follows Michael Sleep (Pearce Quigley), a DIY store worker whose girlfriend Clea vanished seven years ago.
  • Michael's father Brian (Michael Palin) suggests that tiny magical spirits called homunculi may know what happened to Clea.
  • The inspiration for the homunculi came from Lawrence Durrell's novel 'Clea', the fourth book in the 'Alexandria Quartet'.
  • Production relied heavily on practical in-camera effects and stop-motion puppet animation rather than CGI.
  • Seven total puppet figures were created for the three homunculi characters by fabricator Mackinnon & Saunders and sculptor Glen Southern.
  • Mackenzie Crook previously created the BAFTA-winning television comedy 'Detectorists' and starred in the original British version of 'The Office'.

Who's Mentioned

PersonPearce Quigley“Actor playing Michael Sleep”PersonAinslie Henderson“Animator who worked on 'Small Prophets'”PersonLaura Esquivel“Author of 'Like Water for Chocolate'”PersonClea“Michael's missing girlfriend”PersonDavid Lynch“Filmmaker whose creative trick inspired Crook”locationEgypt“Place where Brian learned about homunculi”PersonMichael Palin“Actor playing Michael's dad, Brian”OrganizationMackinnon & Saunders“Puppet fabricator for the show”locationLeeds“City in Yorkshire where Crook was directing a feature film”OrganizationBBC One“Network airing the second season”PersonMichael Sleep“Main character in 'Small Prophets' played by Pearce Quigley”PersonBrian Sleep“Michael's father in the show”OrganizationApple TV“Streaming platform airing 'Small Prophets'”PersonMackenzie Crook“Creator, writer, and director of 'Small Prophets'”PersonLauren Patel“Actor playing Kacey”PersonGlen Southern“Designer and sculptor of the homunculus creatures”OrganizationBBC Two“Original television network that premiered the show”locationYorkshire Dales“Location where production designer Lucy Spink worked”PersonFrancis Bacon“Painter whose works were referenced for creature designs”PersonLawrence Durrell“Author of 'Alexandria Quartet'”PersonLucy Spink“Production designer for 'Small Prophets'”locationYorkshire“Region in England”PersonKacey“Character who befriends Michael at work”PersonWill Anderson“Animator working on digital animation and compositing”