Small Prophets, the hit series created, written and directed by BAFTA-winning Mackenzie Crook, has captivated audiences, attracting 7.7 million viewers (28-day figure) for episode one, making it the BBC’s biggest new scripted launch of the year to date.
It is the biggest comedy launch episode across the market (excluding specials) since Ludwig in 2024 (9.5 million viewers, 28-days). For BBC Two, it’s the biggest comedy episode of the last 10 years, well ahead of The Detectorists 2022 Christmas Special (4.5M).
BBC iPlayer viewing is exceptionally high at 5.9M for episode one, making up over three quarters of viewing. This makes it the biggest comedy launch on iPlayer since at least 2022 (ahead of Ludwig Ep 1 at 5.5M). 4 million viewers have already watched through to the end of the series on iPlayer and the episode has continued to accrue viewing outside of 28 days, now up to 7.9m to date.
The series, which ended its six-part run on Monday 16 March, features a host of comedy stars including Mackenzie Crook, Sir Michael Palin, Pearce Quigley, Lauren Patel, Sophie Willan, Jon Pointing and Paul Kaye. Produced by BAFTA-winning Gill Isles (Car Share, Alma’s Not Normal), It was filmed and set in and around Manchester and incorporates visually stunning animation elements throughout as a story of the magical and the mundane unfolds in a suburban cul-de-sac.
Mackenzie Crook says: "I couldn’t be happier with the response to Small Prophets. The feedback from the audience, the reviews and figures have been better than I dared to hope.
“I gradually crafted this idea over the course of about 10 years and I think it has benefited from that slow percolation. The BBC comedy department has long given me the space, support and trust to make my shows and there is nowhere else I would rather go. The BBC feels like home. I ended Small Prophets with ‘to be continued’ and I hope that is a promise I can keep in the not-too-distant future."
Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy, adds: “Small Prophets has been a brilliant success story. Loved by critics and viewers alike, it’s exactly the sort of show the BBC does best. We knew it was a bit of a risk and involved a huge amount of trust, but we felt there was something incredibly special in it. Alongside the beautifully drawn comedic characters, there was so much heart, and an almost fairytale quality to it that feels deeply embedded in our psyches from childhood. It’s also arrived at a moment when a bit of hope and humanity probably isn’t the worst thing in the world.
“Mackenzie Crook is a genius, so we knew it would be in very safe hands, alongside a fantastic cast and the brilliant production teams at Treasure Trove and Blue House. Even so, it has surpassed all our expectations, and the ratings speak for themselves. It has been loved, nurtured and allowed to grow over ten years, much like the precious homunculi at the heart of the show, and it is all the better for it. Letters of appreciation still land in our inboxes every day. A rare, unusual and magical series, and one we are incredibly proud to have on the BBC.”
Small Prophets (6x30') is a Treasure Trove and Blue House production for the BBC. It was commissioned for BBC iPlayer and BBC Two by BBC Director of Comedy Jon Petrie. It is written and directed by Mackenzie Crook. The executive producers are Mackenzie Crook and Lisa Thomas for Treasure Trove Productions, and Christine Gernon and Emma Strain for Blue House Productions. The commissioning editor for the BBC is Emma Lawson. Sphere Abacus is the International Distributor.
