‘Small Prophets’ Lands at Apple TV
'Small Prophets' has finally landed American distribution, as Apple TV announces it will debut in October 2026.
Small Prophets was originally commissioned in May 2025; we noted at the time that it would be a hard sell in the American market. It took over a year and a half, but the show has finally found a home on Apple TV.
The BBC initially described the series as “filmed and set in and around Manchester,” incorporating “visually stunning animation elements throughout as a story of the magical and the mundane unfolds in a suburban cul-de-sac.” While that got us interested, Americans tend to dismiss animated series as being for children, so we weren’t surprised to see it come and go without crossing the pond.
However, Small Prophets took off in the U.K., becoming a solid sleeper hit for the BBC, with the premiere amassing 7.7 million viewers in its first month and wound up becoming one of the big success stories for the British Broadcaster in early 2026. At the time, BBC comedy commissioner Jon Petrie said he was glad American distributors had been reluctant to board the series during development, as he felt they would have interfered with what makes the show work. Crook, meanwhile, started pushing for a Season 2 renewal, but there was no movement on that front.
Hopefully, having an American producer board the series now that it’s already established will make the difference. Apple TV is aiming to take over the slot long held by HBO as the place for high-end, quirky TV comedies (especially if the premium cable channel winds up being absorbed into American State Television in 2027), and this series is a great addition in that genre.
Here is the series synopsis:
We meet eccentric Michael Sleep, whose darling partner Clea disappeared seven years ago. Since then, Sleep has lived a very ordinary life. He eats Shreddies, works in a DIY store, visits his dad Brian, and hopes for Clea to return. One day Brian shares an old recipe involving rainwater, horse manure, and more than a little alchemy. With the recipe in hand, Sleep sets out (albeit with some skepticism) to create Homunculi - magical prophesying spirits that can predict the future.
Sleep gets help from young workmate Kacey, an unlikely friendship that blossoms partly, but not wholly, through their mutual dislike of store manager Gordon. Their friendship adds to the frustration and intrigue of his nosy neighbors, who are obsessed with finding out what the hell is going on in the garden shed. Meanwhile, Roy, Clea’s brother, has fallen on hard times. In desperation, he comes back into Michael’s life to reclaim the family home, convinced his sister will never return.
Pearce Quigley, Lauren Patel, Michael Palin, and Mackenzie Crook in 'Small Prophets' Season 1 (BBC/Matt Squire/Vishal Sharma)
The series stars Pearce Quigley (The Gentlemen) as Michael Sleep; Michael Palin (Monty Python) as his father, Brian; Lauren Patel (Wallace & Gromit) as his co-worker, Kacey; and Mackenzie Crook (Game of Thrones) as their boss, Gordon. The supporting cast includes Paul Kaye (Shardlake) as Roy, and Jon Pointing (Sweetpea) and Sophie Willan (Time) as the nosy neighbors.
Crook wrote and directed all six episodes of the series, and also executive produced alongside Lisa Thomas for Treasure Trove Productions, plus Christine Gernon & Emma Strain for Blue House Productions.
Apple TV will debut Small Prophets on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, and will stream one episode a week through mid-November. Season 2 still hasn’t been confirmed, but the pickup is a good sign that one will be forthcoming sooner rather than later.
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