Mackenzie Crook’s hit BBC comedy Small Prophets has been commissioned for a second series.
It will also shift from BBC Two to BBC One.
The upcoming run will see Crook, who wrote, directed, and stars in the series, return alongside co-stars Sir Michael Palin, Pearce Quigley and Lauren Patel.
Set and filmed in and around Manchester, the fantasy comedy stands as the BBC’s top-performing new comedy series of the year.
The first series averaged 6.3 million viewers over 28 days, driven predominantly by iPlayer, which accounted for 82 per cent of viewing (5.2 million).
It has also received widespread critical acclaim, with The Guardian and The Times both awarding the first series five stars.
The Independent’s Nick Hilton called the series a “superb” follow-up to Crook’s earlier series Detectorists, describing it as “funny, strange, and surprisingly accessible”.
The storyline centres on the solitary life of DIY shop employee Michael Sleep (Quigley), who holds out hope for the return of his partner Clea, who has been missing for seven years.
When his father Brian (Palin) hands him an old recipe to make homunculi, Sleep joins forces with co-worker Kacey (Patel) to conjure tiny, magical spirits which are capable of foretelling the future.
A quiet camaraderie grows between the pair, united by a mutual frustration with shop manager Gordon (Crook). Meanwhile, neighbours Bev (Sophie Willan) and Clive (Jon Pointing) are desperate to discover what is happening in Sleep’s garden shed.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to tell the second half of this strange story and as intrigued as anyone else to find out what happens to Michael Sleep in his mystical quest,” Crook said.
“The prophets have foretold that series two will be happening next year and, as we know, they are compelled to speak the truth.”
Emma Lawson, the BBC’s interim director of comedy, said that the broadcaster was “beyond delighted” to be bringing Small Prophets back for a second series.
“Mackenzie has created a world packed with wonder, magic and unforgettable characters which feels completely unlike anything else on television and we can’t wait to see where the story takes us next.”
