![Upstart Crow. Will Shakespeare (David Mitchell). Copyright: BBC Upstart Crow. Will Shakespeare (David Mitchell). Copyright: BBC](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/comedies/300x200/u/upstart_crow_s2.jpg)
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.
Episode menu
Series 2, Episode 4 - Food Of Love
![Upstart Crow. Image shows from L to R: Bottom (Rob Rouse), Kate (Gemma Whelan), Burbage (Steve Speirs), Marlowe (Tim Downie), Will Shakespeare (David Mitchell), Condell (Dominic Coleman), Sir Robert Greene (Mark Heap), Kempe (Spencer Jones), Lucy (Jocelyn Jee Esien), Morley (Noel Fielding). Copyright: BBC Upstart Crow. Image shows from L to R: Bottom (Rob Rouse), Kate (Gemma Whelan), Burbage (Steve Speirs), Marlowe (Tim Downie), Will Shakespeare (David Mitchell), Condell (Dominic Coleman), Sir Robert Greene (Mark Heap), Kempe (Spencer Jones), Lucy (Jocelyn Jee Esien), Morley (Noel Fielding). Copyright: BBC](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/comedies/900x450_eps/u/upstart_crow_0204.jpg)
Further details
Will Shakespeare takes it badly when everybody tells him his new play about two sets of identical twins separated at birth and given the same names is rather far-fetched, until he hits on a sure fire way to stop any audience minding when the plot gets really ridiculous - make it a musical.
In fact, he's going to make it the first ever musical. And to really guarantee a hit he wants to use the songs of Thomas Morley, a rocking, rolling, madrigal-composing, tax-avoiding Tudor music legend.
Back in Stratford, Will's dad John is determined to get Will to use his new-found writing fame to make the Shakespeare family properly posh, which turns out to be rather a big ask.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Monday 2nd October 2017
- Time
- 8:30pm
- Channel
- BBC Two
- Length
- 30 minutes
Cast & crew
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 |
Jocelyn Jee Esien | Lucy |
Rosanna Beacock | Judith |
Joe Willis | Hamnet |
Noel Fielding | Morley |
Andrew Bicknell | Spencer |
Mark Phoenix | Kydd |
Simon Coleman | Nashe |
Ben Elton | Writer |
Richard Boden | Director |
Gareth Edwards | Producer |
Chris Sussman | Executive Producer |
Jake Bernard | Editor |
Julian Fullalove | Production Designer |
Alex Beverly | Production Designer |
Catherine Willis | Casting Director |
Leah Archer | Costume Designer |
Vanessa White | Make-up Designer |
Martin Kempton | Lighting Designer |
Grant Olding | Composer |
Paul Mottram | Composer |
Press
Upstart Crow facts - series 2 episode 4: Food of Love
A look at the true facts behind this episode.
Jazzy Janey, A Dose Of David Mitchell, 2nd August 2020Upstart Crow, Food Of Love, BBC2 review
This second series of Upstart Crow has felt a little under the radar. I'm not sure whether that is to do with the blink-and-you'll-miss-it 8.30pm scheduling or the fact that we are now not so delighted by Ben Elton's Blackadder-ish turns of phrase as we were first time round. It's been good but it has not really blown me away.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 1st October 2017