British Comedy Guide
Upstart Crow. Will Shakespeare (David Mitchell). Copyright: BBC
Upstart Crow

Upstart Crow

  • TV sitcom
  • BBC Two
  • 2016 - 2020
  • 21 episodes (3 series)

Sitcom about the life of jobbing playwright William Shakespeare, struggling to find inspiration in Tudor London. Also features David Mitchell, Rob Rouse, Gemma Whelan, Liza Tarbuck, Harry Enfield and more.

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Upstart Crow. Will Shakespeare (David Mitchell). Copyright: BBC

Key details

Genre
Sitcom
Broadcast
2016 - 2020
Channel
BBC Two
Episodes
21 (3 series)
Stars
David Mitchell, Rob Rouse, Gemma Whelan, Liza Tarbuck, Harry Enfield, Paula Wilcox, Helen Monks, Steve Speirs and more
Writer
Ben Elton
Directors
Matt Lipsey and Richard Boden
Producers
Gareth Edwards, Myfanwy Moore and Chris Sussman
Company

It's 1592 and Will Shakespeare is just at the beginning of his extraordinary career. The series focuses on both Will's family and professional life and include the surprising stories of where many of his ideas came from.

Also featured are his wife Anne and his extended family, his servant Bottom, his friends Kate and Marlowe, his theatrical troupe, and his rival Robert Greene.

In the series, Will finds inspiration for Romeo from an unlikely source; mislays a nearly treasonous masterpiece; gets tricked into a very embarrassing pair of tights; has a spot of bother with the wife over some sonnets; meets three witches who predict great things for him; and borrows some money on some rather unusual conditions.

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Additional details

Production
Studio
Camera set-up
Multi-camera
Picture
Colour

Website links

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Monday 9th May 2016 at 10pm on BBC Two
Most recent repeats

Recording details

  • The London Studios
  • Zoom (Virtual) - 2020 Christmas special

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