Upstart Crow. Will Shakespeare (David Mitchell). Copyright: BBC
Upstart Crow

Upstart Crow

  • TV sitcom
  • BBC Two
  • 2016 - 2020
  • 21 episodes (3 series)

Sitcom about the life of jobbing playwright William Shakespeare, struggling to find inspiration in Tudor London. Also features David Mitchell, Rob Rouse, Gemma Whelan, Liza Tarbuck, Harry Enfield and more.

  • JustWatch Streaming rank this week: 728

Episode menu

Series 1, Episode 3 - The Apparel Proclaims The Man

Upstart Crow. Image shows from L to R: Will Shakespeare (David Mitchell), Marlowe (Tim Downie)
Will hopes to move up in the world when he is invited to Lord Southampton's party. But what should a poorly-educated country boy wear to London's poshest do? And are Sir Robert Greene's fashion tips a double bluff, a triple bluff, or something even more fiendish?

Preview clips

Broadcast details

Date
Monday 23rd May 2016
Time
10pm
Channel
BBC Two
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Saturday 24th February 2018 10:20pm Gold
Monday 14th May 2018 10:00pm Gold
Tuesday 15th May 2018 2:20am Gold
Sunday 14th April 2019 10:00pm Gold
Tuesday 17th September 2019 2:05am Gold
Tuesday 15th October 2019 3:15am Gold
Saturday 2nd November 2019 2:00am Gold
Saturday 2nd November 2019 11:50pm Gold
Wednesday 7th June 2023 11:00pm Gold
Monday 10th July 2023 12:20am Gold
Monday 10th July 2023 3:15am Gold
Sunday 10th September 2023 1:15am Gold
Monday 11th September 2023 12:00am Gold

Cast & crew

Cast
David Mitchell Will Shakespeare
Rob Rouse Bottom
Gemma Whelan Kate
Liza Tarbuck Anne Hathaway
Harry Enfield John Shakespeare
Paula Wilcox Mary Arden
Helen Monks Susanna
Steve Speirs Burbage
Tim Downie Marlowe
Dominic Coleman Condell
Mark Heap Sir Robert Greene
Spencer Jones Kempe
Guest cast
Sebastian Barker Hamnet
Emma Barker Judith
Jason Forbes Footman
Production team
Matt Lipsey Director
Gareth Edwards Producer
Myfanwy Moore Executive Producer
Jake Bernard Editor
Julian Fullalove Production Designer
Grant Olding Composer

Video

Shakespeare and son

William Shakespeare's dad has a suggestion for how they can work together. It's not necessarily quite the direction Will has in mind...

Featuring: David Mitchell (Will Shakespeare), Liza Tarbuck (Anne Hathaway), Harry Enfield (John Shakespeare) & Paula Wilcox (Mary Arden).

Press

Review: Upstart Crow, BBC2, episode 3

There was a bit of chat on Twitter recently about how Upstart Crow is a refreshing real sitcom, contrasting it with the trend for non-sidesplitting studio comedies, which I guess means things like Going Forward and Mum. I think there is room for both. I like the more subtle comedies and while there is nothing subtle about Ben Elton's Shakespearen send-up I can certainly see the attraction of Upstart Crow if you just want stupid, painless laughs and smutty innuendo.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 26th May 2016

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