Mackenzie Crook

Detectorists' Mackenzie Crook wins Bafta craft award

Mackenzie Crook, best known as a star of The Office and the Pirates of the Caribbean films toking home the comedy writing award for BBC Four's Detectorists - about a pair of metal detector enthusiasts - in which he also starred.

Radio Times review

This gently wonderful six-parter proved that a sitcom needn't be about Big Issues to work its magic. That said, the quiet, rural escapades of metal detectorists had much to say about friendship, love and the truly valuable things of life. Mackenzie Crook, the sallow stooge of The Office and Pirates of the Caribbean, led from the front as writer, star and debut director of what was clearly a labour of love, while Toby Jones and Rachael Stirling were among many genius casting decisions. In a comedy world writhing with mordant cynicism, Detectorists proved a glittering find. Bleeping brilliant.

You'll forgive us for thinking that a BBC Four comedy about the hobby of metal detecting sounded about as fun as an afternoon excavating a trench. But Detectorists proved to be one of our highlights of the year.

It would be easy to assume that Mackenzie Crook was handed his own series to write, direct and star in because of his name rather than the content. And yet the portrait of old friends Andy and Lance (the ever-amazing Toby Jones) negotiating midlife crises, roaming around the countryside looking for a lot more than gold, was wryly amusing and even moving.

The achingly slow pace was either loved or loathed by viewers - and we really loved it. A beautiful soundtrack by Johnny Flynn, sweeping vistas of the Suffolk countryside and what wasn't being said all made Detectorists fantastic.

Mackenzie Crook on creating Detectorists

Mackenzie Crook talks about writing, performing and creating BBC Four's Detectorists.

Mackenzie Crook was 'very nervous' about directing

The 43-year-old wrote, starred in and directed BBC Four's Detectorists and told Digital Spy that he would be keen to direct again.

Mackenzie Crook writes to metal detecting forum

I'm thrilled that metal detectorists themselves gave the show a chance, enjoyed it and could relate to the situations and characters. Even though the show had to appeal to a wide audience, it's been the views of the detectorists that have been most interesting to me.

Mackenzie Crook interview

I'm always thinking of ideas and trying to keep writing.

Series one of Mackenzie Crook's brooding sitcom bows out tonight, with Crook's character Andy vowing to quit the metal detecting game in order to win back girlfriend Becky. Predictably, it doesn't last long, especially since the high-stakes land at Bishop's Farm has been deserted by the police excavators, leaving the amateur detectorists to have another root around for their fortune. Meanwhile, Lance (Toby Jones) sees the light regarding his ex-wife, and a treasure-related revelation leaves the door for a second series wide open.

Radio Times review

Before this utterly charming series had even begun, headlines were written about the show belittling metal-detecting. Nothing could be further from the truth. The pastime was more of a peg on which to hang a sitcom about people, a celebration of the rural pace of life. It's gathered momentum and confidence as it's gone on, with characters we really care about.

Whether or not the series is recommissioned, the appropriately poetic ending has a "just right" feel to it, and it's better the more you think about it. For Mackenzie Crook, as star, writer and director, Detectorists has been a quiet but unequivocal triumph.