Small Prophets: Sir Michael Palin returns to TV acting after seven years

Sir Michael Palin appears in the BBC drama Small Prophets, his first TV acting role in seven years, praising its humour and empathetic tone; the series, written by Mackenzie Crook, mixes suburban life with magical elements and is available on iPlayer.

Small Prophets is a new BBC drama that marks Sir Michael Palin's first television acting role in seven years. The series was created and written by Mackenzie Crook and blends everyday suburban life with touches of magic. It follows Michael Sleep, played by Pearce Quigley, who seeks his missing partner and begins creating small folkloric creatures that can foretell the future. Palin said he was drawn to the show's humour and its empathetic treatment of characters. Key details: - Sir Michael Palin plays the elderly father of Michael Sleep in the series. - Michael Sleep's partner Clea vanished seven years earlier, which sets the story in motion. - The creatures, described in the show as homunculi, are made using a recipe that includes rain water, horse manure and a little alchemy. - The series was written by Mackenzie Crook, who also wrote and directed Worzel Gummidge, Palin's previous TV acting role. - Critical reaction has been largely positive: the Guardian and The Times gave five-star reviews, while the Telegraph and the Independent awarded four stars and noted some uneven moments. Summary: Sir Michael Palin praised Small Prophets for its warmth and careful character writing and described Mackenzie Crook as a marvellous, original writer. The six-part series has attracted strong reviews for its blend of the mundane and the magical and is available now on BBC iPlayer.