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.
Streaming rank this week: 1,236
Episode menu
Series 3, Episode 5 - The Most Unkindest Cut Of All
Further details
Will has decided to write a play about the life of Julius Caesar. The only problem is how to deal with his assassination. After all, Her Majesty is not likely to approve of any play about doing in the head of state, and Robert Greene is particularly keen to label Will a traitor.
Things are not going well in the theatre either. Burbage is hogging the limelight and the other players have decided to get together and depose him. Should Will back the conspirators? Or is there a way he can use his skill with words to stop the plotters in their tracks?
Broadcast details
- Date
- Wednesday 26th September 2018
- Time
- 8:30pm
- Channel
- BBC Two
- Length
- 30 minutes
Repeats
Show past repeats
| Date | Time | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 19th March 2021 | 11:40pm | Gold |
| Wednesday 12th May 2021 | 9:55pm | Gold |
| Thursday 13th May 2021 | 12:30am | Gold |
| Saturday 27th November 2021 | 11:55pm | Gold |
| Sunday 28th November 2021 | 10:30pm | Gold |
| Sunday 29th May 2022 | 11:40pm | Gold |
| Friday 11th November 2022 | 11:40pm | Gold |
| Saturday 12th November 2022 | 3:05am | Gold |
| Monday 6th February 2023 | 1:10am | Gold |
| Tuesday 7th February 2023 | 12:10am | Gold |
| Monday 28th August 2023 | 12:50am | Gold |
| Monday 30th October 2023 | 12:00am | Gold |
| Monday 30th October 2023 | 3:00am | Gold |
| Monday 27th November 2023 | 11:00pm | Gold |
| Tuesday 28th November 2023 | 1:55am | Gold |
Cast & crew
| David Mitchell | Will Shakespeare |
| Rob Rouse | Bottom |
| Gemma Whelan | Kate |
| Liza Tarbuck | Anne Hathaway |
| Steve Speirs | Burbage |
| Tim Downie | Marlowe |
| Dominic Coleman | Condell |
| Mark Heap | Sir Robert Greene |
| Spencer Jones | Kempe |
| Jocelyn Jee Esien | Lucy |
| Beattie Edmondson | Toby |
| Ola Orebiyi | Longinus |
| Ben Elton | Writer |
| Richard Boden | Director |
| Gareth Edwards | Producer |
| Chris Sussman | Executive Producer |
| Andy Bennions | Line 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 |
| Kate Daughton | Commissioning Editor |
Press
Upstart Crow: is it too smart for its own good?
This is a comedy about Shakespeare, yes, but unless the viewer has an expansive knowledge of his work, the best bits are wasted.
Sarah Carson, i Newspaper, 27th September 2018How do you sneak a play about the assassination of an emperor past Elizabeth I, a monarch not known to favour entertainments involving the ending of heads of state? Enjoy what happens when Will decides to write a play about Julius Caesar, prompting dramatist and snake Robert Greene to label him a traitor.
Mike Bradley, The Guardian, 26th September 2018