Small Prophets’ Pearce Quigley on Mackenzie Crook comedy: ‘It’s the perfect TV show’

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Seven years ago, on Christmas Eve, Michael Sleep’s girlfriend, Clea, vanished. He has no idea why she left, only that she did, and her car was discovered on the Severn Bridge. Despite the search, Clea has never been found, and her location remains a mystery.

Mackenzie Crook, known for his beloved shows The Detectorists and Worzel Gummidge, is back with a new BBC Two series called Small Prophets. It’s a comedy, and like his previous work, it’s full of playful humor and lighthearted moments. But just like those shows, it also has surprisingly touching scenes, delivered with the subtle and skillful writing that Mackenzie Crook is known for.

People said Michael killed Clea, and the police investigation – including digging up his neglected garden – fueled that suspicion. The garden, now overgrown with weeds, seemed to mirror Michael’s grief and the way Clea had vanished from his life.

If Michael were to do things like mow the lawn or put away the Christmas decorations—which have been left out, making the living room feel frozen in time—it might seem like he’s trying to move on. But he isn’t. His love for Clea remains constant, and he still believes she’ll one day return, as if she’s just been away on a short trip.

Michael Palin is just fantastic as Brian. Seriously, he’s completely captivating in the role. I remember the actor who played his son saying how daunting it was to first meet him – it’s one thing to admire someone, but another entirely to realize Michael Palin is playing your dad on screen! He was clearly a bit stunned, wondering how he even got to that point.

And he might just have the answer: homunculi.

Quigley admitted that five years ago, he likely wouldn’t have known the answer to a pub quiz question about homunculi. Now, he says, it’s a topic he’s become an expert on – something he could confidently discuss on the show Mastermind.

These are small, human-like beings with unique powers, created through a carefully followed alchemy process.

The initial concept for the story came from a small detail in an old book about Paracelsus, a Swiss thinker and alchemist from the 1500s,” explained creator Mackenzie Crook in an interview with TopMob magazine. “The book mentioned a mystic who had magically created and grown eight tiny spirits – called homunculi – in jars of water, and these spirits could foresee the future.

What’s really important, Brian points out, is that they can respond to any question you ask – things like, ‘Will my missing girlfriend return soon?’ or anything else you’re wondering about.

Even though Michael is doubtful – he often points out it’s just a story his father used to tell him – and considering Brian’s declining mental health, the opportunity is too good to pass up.

What’s he going to do, wait another seven years? So, why not?

He discovered an old sketchbook belonging to his father, which inspired him to create homunculi. He gathered the necessary materials: six large glass jars, plenty of water (with more unusual ingredients added later), and six specific items for each one. These included a brass key, a pen nib, a simple button, an amethyst crystal, a gold ring, and a very old silver coin.

Surprisingly, when Michael returned from a trip to the pub, a tiny human-like creature appeared – and this isn’t giving away too much, as the trailer already shows it! I won’t go into detail about what these creatures look like or how Michael interacts with them, because that would ruin the surprise.

But Michael’s scepticism melts away. And for the first time in a very long time, he feels hopeful.

Quigley highlighted the show’s unique blend of the ordinary and the extraordinary, calling it ‘wonderful.’ He explained how the series effortlessly shifts between realistic settings, like Michael’s job at a hardware store, and fantastical, otherworldly scenes. This unexpected combination, he believes, is what truly makes the show stand out.

Right now, when things feel lacking in magic, wonder, and hope, Small Prophets offers a much-needed boost of positivity.

It’s not entirely happy, of course. There’s a real undercurrent of sadness because his father only shared the recipe with him due to Clea’s disappearance. But with things generally getting harder in the world, maybe this will offer people a welcome escape.

He believes the show is truly perfect, calling it beautiful and admitting he’s watched it countless times despite generally avoiding watching himself on screen. He’s completely captivated by it, and particularly praises Mackenzie’s work, describing the show’s slow, unpredictable unfolding as brilliant. He feels the word ‘genius’ is justified in this case.

Quigley and David Crooks first worked together in a production of The Seagull at The Royal Court eighteen years ago. Quigley admits he was initially intimidated, as Crooks was already well-known from The Office and Pirates of the Caribbean. However, Quigley found Crooks to be surprisingly humble and down-to-earth. Crooks, in turn, told TopMob magazine that he considers Quigley one of the funniest people he knows.

“We just we got on. Instantly. I mean, instantly,” added Quigley.

After the play moved to Broadway, they’d often spend their evenings at a local bar, sharing small burgers and writing little poems. They’d then read these poems aloud to each other – a charming habit that seems perfectly suited to the kind of stories Crook writes.

Then came The Detectorists, where Quigley starred as the quirky Russell, and now the pair are reuniting once more.

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I think the director chose me for this role because I share some similarities with the character, Michael. Of course, my life is quite different – my wife is safe and sound, and I definitely don’t have a secret lab in my garden! Plus, I don’t currently work at a hardware store, although who knows what the future holds.

To be honest, I’m really surprised I even got here. I’m struggling with a lot of self-doubt and can hardly believe I’m actually doing this role.

“It’s like Mackenzie’s made a suit for me, like a bespoke suit, because he knows my size.”

Having appeared in two successful projects by Crook – the beloved The Detectorists and the promising Small Prophets – he’s eager to work with him again, as you might expect.

“Oh, yeah, I’d do anything for him, really. Well, unless he went into porn. I wouldn’t do that.

I prefer to believe there’s more to this world, that its story isn’t over yet. It feels like a story with an unfinished ending – a ‘to be continued’. And being able to see what happens next would be an incredible thing.

But as Quigley notes, like all the best stories, this one doesn’t end when the credits roll.

The story will definitely keep going, even if we don’t create another season. The characters are moving on and their journeys aren’t over just because they’re off-screen.

You can watch Small Prophets on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer every Monday at 10pm, starting February 9th. All six episodes are available to stream on iPlayer right now.

Don’t miss out! Add Small Prophets to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download it today for daily TV recommendations and exclusive content.

Authors

Abby RobinsonDrama Editor

Abby Robinson is the Drama Editor at TopMob, where she writes about TV dramas and comedies. Before that, she was a TV writer for Digital Spy and a content writer for Mumsnet. She has a degree and a postgraduate diploma in English Studies.

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2026-02-09 16:09