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.
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.
Stream and download
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
-
- Saturday 9th March 2024 at 2:30am on Gold - Series 2, Episode 5
- Friday 8th March 2024 at 11:10pm on Gold - Series 2, Episode 5
- Tuesday 26th December 2023 at 1:50am on Gold - Christmas Special
Recording details
- The London Studios
- Zoom (Virtual) - 2020 Christmas special