Mackenzie Crook’s Small Prophets Gets a US Premiere Date

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Last Updated on September 1, 2026 by Stefanie Hutson

At long last, American viewers will finally get a chance to see Small Prophets, the critically-acclaimed new fantasy-comedy created by Detectorists star Mackenzie Crook. Apple TV has acquired the six-part series, which premiered on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer in the UK earlier this year – and it's set to premiere this autumn.

What Is Small Prophets About?

Pearce Quigley (Detectorists) stars as Michael Sleep, a man whose life has largely been on hold since his partner Clea disappeared seven years earlier. He works in a DIY store under manager Gordon, regularly visits his father Brian, and continues to hope that Clea will one day return.

That hope takes an unusual turn when Brian gives Michael an old recipe involving rainwater, horse manure and a bit of light alchemy. The instructions supposedly allow someone to create homunculi, magical beings capable of predicting the future. Michael is skeptical, but he has one question he desperately wants answered: will he ever see Clea again?

Michael enlists the help of his younger co-worker Kacey,, and the pair begin experimenting in his garden shed. Their unlikely friendship develops as the project becomes increasingly strange, while their activities attract the attention of Michael’s nosy neighbors.

The six half-hour episodes were filmed and set in and around Manchester, with animation woven into the live-action story.

Who’s in the Cast of Small Prophets?

Pearce Quigley leads the series as Michael Sleep. Quigley will be especially familiar to Detectorists viewers as Russell. Lauren Patel (Waterloo Road) plays Kacey, and Michael Palin (Monty Python, Ripping Yarns) stars as Michael’s father Brian, whose discovery of the old alchemical recipe sets the story in motion.

Mackenzie Crook appears as Gordon, Michael and Kacey’s unpleasant DIY store manager. Sophie Willan (Alma’s Not Normal) and Jon Pointing (Big Boys) play neighbors Bev and Clive, who become increasingly curious about what Michael's doing in his shed. Paul Kaye (Game of Thrones, After Life) also appears in the series.

Who Made Small Prophets?

In addition to appearing , Mackenzie Crook created, wrote and directed the six-part series and also serves as an executive producer.

The series is produced by Treasure Trove Productions and Blue House Productions. Lisa Thomas, Christine Gernon and Emma Strain also serve as executive producers.

Will There Be a Small Prophets Season 2?

Given the rave reviews for season 1, we'd be surprised if the second season doesn't happen. The series currently holds a 100% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, and here at BritishTV.com, we've received countless emails and messages on social media asking when US viewers will finally be able to see it.

In interviews, Mackenzie Crook has indicated he's already been thinking about where the story could go next. Speaking at the Series Mania festival earlier this year, he said he wants to make a second series of eight episodes and then bring the story to a close. After spending years developing the first season, he said the advantage now is that he understands what the series is and can concentrate on finishing it properly.

Crook has also indicated that the homunculi would remain an important part of the story, while a second season could potentially take Michael beyond the suburban setting of the first six episodes. He has said he's still considering how much of the original setting and format needs to remain in place as the story develops.

For now, though, there's no formal confirmation of a second season, and it's far too early for a premiere date. We wish Mackenzie Crook and the rest of the cast and crew the best of luck in getting that renewal and developing a great second series.

When Will Small Prophets Premiere in the US?

For American viewers, Small Prophets will premiere on Apple TV on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. The series has already aired in the UK, where it premiered on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two earlier in 2026.

Apple’s new deal covers territories outside the UK beginning October 7. UK viewers who want to watch through Apple TV will get access in 2027, although the series remains available there through the BBC, which most can already access.