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.
Press clippings Page 10
New Ben Elton comedy takes a pop at Ricky Gervais
"Affectionate" lampooning has the Bard's cocky actor colleague speaking exactly like The Office star.
Ben Dowell, Radio Times, 3rd May 2016Is Upstart Crow as good as Blackadder?
Ben Elton - the writer of both shows, who has been pilloried for a lot of his recent work including the fairly dire The Wright Way - is clearly returning to his strengths. And I would say this does indeed deserve comparisons with Blackadder, the brilliant comedy he co-wrote with Richard Curtis, because it is very good.
Ben Dowell, Radio Times, 3rd May 2016David Mitchell on playing William Shakespeare
"He's arguably the globally most significant artistic figure - and he's just some bloke from the Midlands. That's an amazing story."
Chortle, 3rd May 2016David Mitchell and Liza Tarbuck interview
Upstart Crow stars David Mitchell as a nerdy William Shakespeare, and Liza Tarbuck as his wife Anne. They chatted to us about 'bard behaviour' and more...
TV Choice, 3rd May 2016Ben Elton interview
"Something like The Young Ones, I don't think could have possibly survived in the Twitter age, because within five minutes everyone would have gone, 'This is weird, I don't understand what's going on'... "
Romy Ash, The Saturday Paper, 24th January 2016Could Ben Elton's Upstart Crow be the new Blackadder?
Written by Elton, set in Tudor England, with witty and knowing nods to English cultural and political history, you say? Could this BBC Two show starring David Mitchell be another historical hit?
Ben Dowell, Radio Times, 21st January 2016David Mitchell to star as Shakespeare in new BBC comedy series
The BBC has announced a major new comedy. Upstart Crow, written by Ben Elton, will focus on William Shakespeare. The cast includes David Mitchell and Harry Enfield.
British Comedy Guide, 7th December 2015David Mitchell to star as Shakespeare in new BBC sitcom
David Mitchell has signed up to play William Shakespeare in Upstart Crow, a sitcom pilot for BBC Two overseen by Ben Elton.
British Comedy Guide, 2nd April 2015