Created, written and directed by BAFTA-winning Mackenzie Crook (Detectorists, Worzel Gummidge) and produced by BAFTA-winning Gill Isles (Car Share, Alma’s Not Normal), Small Prophets is a dark comedy about a man who embarks on a journey to find his missing partner, armed only with the enigmatic guidance of the Homunculi. The series incorporates visually stunning animation elements as we tell a story of friendships and hope, the magical and the mundane, and where secrets and lies lurk in a suburban cul-de-sac.
This is a comic tale of eccentric Michael Sleep (Pearce Quigley – The Way Back, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger) who, since his darling Clea disappeared seven years ago, has lived a very ordinary life. He works in a DIY store, visits dad Brian (Sir Michael Palin – Monty Python, Time Bandits) and hopes for Clea to return.
That is just the way it is, until one day Brian shares an old recipe involving rainwater, horse manure and more than a little alchemy. With recipe in hand, Michael sets out to create Homunculi – magical prophesying spirits that can predict the future – in the hope they have the answer to his burning question, ‘will I ever see Clea again?’.
Michael gets help from young work mate Kacey (Lauren Patel - Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), an unlikely friendship that blossoms partly through their mutual dislike of store manager Gordon (Mackenzie Crook - Detectorists, The Office). Their friendship adds to the frustration and intrigue of his nosy neighbours (Jon Pointing - Big Boys and Sophie Willan - Alma’s Not Normal) who are obsessed with trying to find out what the hell is going on in the garden shed.
Small Prophets is a Treasure Trove and Blue House Production, commissioned by the BBC. Written, directed and starring BAFTA-winning Mackenzie Crook (Detectorists, Worzel Gummidge) and produced by BAFTA-winning Gill Isles (Car Share, Alma’s Not Normal), the executive producers are Mackenzie Crook and Lisa Thomas for Treasure Trove Productions and Christine Gernon and Emma Strain for Blue House Productions.