Every once in a while, a show comes along that sounds genuinely strange on paper but ends up being exactly the kind of thing people can’t stop talking about. Small Prophets is one of those shows. The BBC comedy-drama has already pulled in up to 9.2 million viewers in the UK, and now it’s finally heading global, premiering on Apple TV on October 7, 2026.
When and Where to Watch
Apple TV has acquired worldwide rights to Season 1, and the first two episodes drop on October 7, 2026, for audiences outside the UK. Interestingly, UK viewers watching through Apple TV will have to wait a bit longer, with Season 1 arriving there sometime later in 2027, timed closer to the Season 2 premiere.
If you want a proper sense of why this show has become such a talking point, this review calling Small Prophets possibly the most magical comedy show of the year is genuinely worth reading before diving in.
What’s the Show About
Created, written, and directed by Mackenzie Crook, best known for his role in the UK version of The Office, Small Prophets follows Michael Sleep, played by Pearce Quigley, a Manchester resident still trying to adjust to life after his partner Clea mysteriously disappeared seven years earlier.
While working a fairly ordinary job at a DIY store, Michael hatches a genuinely bizarre plan with his father Brian, played by Michael Palin, to create Homunculi, small magical prophesying spirits, using an old alchemical recipe, all grown quietly in his garden shed. The goal is simple on the surface: figure out what actually happened to Clea, but the show builds a genuinely strange, wonder-filled world around that search.
Along the way, Michael forms an unlikely friendship with Kacey, played by Lauren Patel, while juggling pressure from his boss Gordon, played by Crook himself, and dealing with his endlessly nosy neighbours Bev and Clive, played by Sophie Willan and Jon Pointing.
Why This Show Has Resonated So Strongly
Emma Lawson, the BBC’s interim director of comedy, described the show as a world packed with wonder, magic and genuinely unforgettable characters, calling it unlike anything else currently on television. That originality seems to be exactly what’s driven its breakout success, a blend of grief, offbeat family dynamics and genuine fantasy elements that doesn’t really fit neatly into any single genre.
Season 2 Is Already Confirmed
Given the show’s strong UK ratings, the BBC renewed Small Prophets for a second season, set to premiere in 2027. As part of that renewal, the show is also being promoted from BBC One to BBC Two for its next run. Crook has said Season 2 will cover what he calls the second half of this strange story, continuing Michael’s mystical search for answers about Clea’s disappearance.
Speaking about the renewal with his usual dry humour, Crook joked that the prophets have foretold Season 2 is happening next year, and since they’re compelled to speak the truth, audiences can take that as a safe bet.
Behind the Scenes
Small Prophets is a Treasure Trove Productions and Channel X North production. Crook serves as executive producer alongside Lisa Thomas for Treasure Trove, with Alan Marke and Jim Reid producing for Channel X North. Gill Isles serves as producer, and Sphere Abacus handles international distribution.
Should You Watch It
If you’re drawn to shows that blend grief, family, dry British humour and genuine magical realism into something that doesn’t resemble anything else currently airing, Small Prophets looks like a genuinely worthwhile watch. With strong UK ratings already backing it up and a second season already locked in, this is shaping up to be one of Apple TV’s more quietly compelling acquisitions this year.
Small Prophets premieres globally on Apple TV on October 7, 2026, with Season 2 arriving in 2027.