“I thought that this was just a bedtime story, I didn’t think it might actually be real.” Apple TV revealed an official US trailer for a British series titled Small Prophets, a comic tale of the eccentric Michael Sleep. This originally debuted on BBC earlier in 2026 and is already in development for another season. It’s finally hitting the US streaming via Apple TV starting in October this fall. Small Prophets is the story of a man who sets out to create homunculi — magical spirits that can predict the future. These magical creatures may have the answers Michael’s been searching for. Michael Sleep is still struggling after his girlfriend, Clea, vanished 7 years earlier. Sleep works in a DIY store, visits his dad Brian and hopes for Clea’s return. After receiving an alchemical recipe to create homunculi, he uses their prophecies to search for answers about whether he will ever see her again… Featuring Pearce Quigley as Michael Sleep, Mackenzie Crook, Michael Palin, Paul Kaye, Lauren Patel, Sophie Willan, Jon Pointing. Another modern series focused on grief, with a creative twist on how to deal with it. This looks oddly charming and kooky enough to watch – check it out.
Here’s the official US trailer for BBC’s series Small Prophets, direct from Apple TV’s YouTube:
Small Prophets is a comic tale of the eccentric Michael Sleep (Pearce Quigley) who, since his darling Clea disappeared seven years ago, has lived a very ordinary life. He works in a DIY store, visits his dad Brian (Sir Michael Palin) and hopes for Clea to return. One day Brian shares an old recipe involving rainwater, horse manure & more than a little alchemy. With recipe in hand, Michael sets out (albeit with skepticism) to create homunculi — magical 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 his young coworker Kacey (Lauren Patel), an unlikely friendship that blossoms partly (but not wholly) through their mutual dislike of store manager Gordon (Mackenzie Crook). Their friendship adds to the frustration & intrigue of nosy neighbors (Sophie Willan, Jon Pointing) who are obsessed with trying to find out what the hell’s going on in the shed.
Small Prophets is a series created and written and directed by British comedy actor / writer Mackenzie Crook, also director on series “Britannia”, “Worzel Gummidge”, “Detectorists”, “The Change” previously. The full series is written & directed by Crook. Produced by Gill Isles. Made by Treasure Trove, Blue House, Hot Olives Productions. Executive produced by Mackenzie Crook, Lisa Thomas, Christine Gernon, Emma Strain. This originally debuted in the UK on BBC iPlayer in February 2026. Apple TV debuts Crook’s Small Prophets series streaming on Apple TV in the US starting on October 7th, 2026 this fall. Who’s intrigued?
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