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: 1,238

Press clippings Page 5

David Mitchell and Ben Elton quiz each other

A new series of Upstart Crow, starring David Mitchell as Shakespeare and written by Ben Elton, begins this week. They talk life, love and drinking too much.

Ben Elton & David Mitchell, The Guardian, 26th August 2018

David Mitchell interview

'This is what I imagined TV would be like before I worked in it'.

Belfast Telegraph, 25th August 2018

David Mitchell: 'I stay away from edgier jokes now'

David Mitchell can pinpoint the moment when Britain's sense of humour changed. In 2008, Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross left a series of lewd messages on the answerphone of the Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs which included, among other things, comments about Brand's relationship with Sachs's granddaughter. Questions were asked in Parliament.

Ben Lawrence, The Telegraph, 24th August 2018

Upstart Crow: Not a comedy but an outdated tragedy

Sadly, the majority of the humour belongs in the past.

Georgina Gambetta, Shout Out UK, 26th January 2018

Upstart Crow Series 3 guest stars announced

The BBC has announced Upstart Crow's guest stars for the upcoming third series, including Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Planer, Kenneth Branagh and Lily Cole.

British Comedy Guide, 25th January 2018

Upstart Crow gets Series 3

Upstart Crow will return to screens for a third series, the BBC has announced.

British Comedy Guide, 16th October 2017

Upstart 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

Upstart Crow and its Shakespearean accuracy

Upstart Crow is more accurate about Shakespeare than you might think.

Finlay Greig, i Newspaper, 18th September 2017

Upstart Crow makes a quiet return on BBC2

While I am Will-ing Upstart Crow to have more jokes, it is still an enjoyable watch and worth tuning in for again. "All's well that ends well"

Cecilia, The Custard TV, 12th September 2017

Preview - Upstart Crow

Ben Elton recently complained about critics being too harsh on sitcoms filmed in front of studio audiences. He may well have evidence to back his point, because in January 2017 readers of the British Comedy Guide voted his sitcom Upstart Crow the best new TV sitcom of last year.

Ian Wolf, On The Box, 11th September 2017

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