Suburban Alchemist Seeks Lost Love Through Magical Spirits

Mackenzie Crook's new six-part comedy 'Small Prophets' is set to premiere in the coming months, marking the BAFTA winner's long-awaited return to TV acting. However, Crook is not the star this time - that accolade goes to Pearce Quigley, whom Crook describes as "a real comic talent who only usually plays peripheral parts."

The show follows Michael Sleep (Quigley), a man who has lived a quiet, ordinary life in a DIY store since his darling Clea disappeared seven years ago. One day, Michael's father, Brian (played by British comedy legend Michael Palin), shares an old recipe to create Homunculi - magical prophesying spirits that can predict the future. Desperate to know if he will see Clea again, Michael pushes aside his skepticism and begins experimenting, with the help of an unlikely friend named Kacey (Lauren Patel).

As the experiments continue, Michael's nosy neighbors (Sophie Willan and Jon Pointing) become increasingly curious about what's happening in his shed. The show blends the mundane and the incredible, much like Crook's beloved BBC comedy 'The Detectorists,' and promises to deliver the same gentle, uncynical tone and humor.

Crook, who also wrote and directed the series, says he would love for 'Small Prophets' to run for three seasons, with the first ending on a 'to be continued' note, leaving more story to tell. With the international success of 'Detectorists' in mind, this quirky new comedy could very well become the next quiet hit, captivating audiences with its whimsical storytelling.