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.
Streaming rank this week: 1,350
Episode menu
Tomorrow & Tomorrow & Tomorrow: Lockdown Christmas 1603
Further details
The plague has hit London and as Christmas approaches Will and Kate are in wave fifteen of state-enforced home confinement together in Will's London lodgings.
As Kate fills endless time with baking, painting, hoarding, clapping and DIY haircuts, Will is doing his absolute best to use the plaguey lock-in to pen a classic for the new King so his head doesn't end up in a basket. The problem is he's got zero inspiration...
Can Will come up with the perfect play? And far from their friends and loved ones can he and Kate find a way to create their own kind of Christmas merriment?
Broadcast details
- Date
- Monday 21st December 2020
- Time
- 9pm
- Channel
- BBC Two
- Length
- 30 minutes
- Recorded
-
- Thursday 10th December 2020, 20:00 at Zoom (Virtual)
Cast & crew
| David Mitchell | Will Shakespeare |
| Gemma Whelan | Kate |
| Ben Elton | Jack Smiggins (Voice) |
| Rodney Earl Clarke | The Balcony Singer (Voice) |
| Gemma Whelan | Gerty Long-Girdle (Voice) |
| Ben Elton | Writer |
| Richard Boden | Director |
| Gareth Edwards | Producer |
| Andy Bennions | Line Producer |
| Josh Cole | Executive Producer |
| Jake Bernard | Editor |
| Julian Fullalove | Production Designer |
| Leah Archer | Costume Designer |
| Vanessa White | Make-up Designer |
| Paul Mottram | Composer |
| Martin Hawkins | Lighting Designer |
| Carly Mason | Graphics |
| Kate Daughton | Commissioning Editor |
Press
Upstart Crow review
Review of the Christmas special set during a plague lockdown.
Carol Midgley, The Times, 22nd December 2020Upstart Crow: Lockdown Christmas 1603, BBC Two review
A certain flatness goes with the territory here.
David Nice, The Arts Desk, 22nd December 2020Upstart Crow, review: Is Covid comedy a plagued format?
Despite some good topical gags, the smug tone made this Ben Elton farce a tiresome turkey.
Anita Singh, The Telegraph, 21st December 2020Upstart Crow, Lockdown Christmas 1603, BBC2, review
The two-hander lacked the usual rollicking ensemble and was based on a single joke.
Barbara Speed, i Newspaper, 21st December 2020