Upstart Crow

Poor old Shakespeare - he's struggling to be all things to everybody

David Mitchell stars as William Shakespeare in Ben Elton's sitcom. He's struggling to be a family man, a husband, a computer, and the greatest literary genius of all time.

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Will struggles to find inspiration for Romeo.

Will struggles to find inspiration for Romeo while at the same time having to deal with an angry actor, a very annoying house-guest, and his family's not-terribly-helpful script suggestions.

Will's controversial new play is about to be presented to Queen Elizabeth.

Will's controversial new play is about to be presented to Queen Elizabeth when it goes missing. As the finger of suspicion points at his best friend Marlowe can Will come up with a way to recover his stolen masterpiece?

Will hopes to move up in the world when he is invited to Lord Southampton's party.

Will hopes to move up in the world when he is invited to Lord Southampton's party. But what should a poorly-educated country boy wear to London's poshest do?

Will has completed his final sonnet and senses literary immortality just around the corner. But will the fair youth and the dark lady like them as much as he hopes?

The plague leads Will and his friends to escape to the family home in Stratford.

The plague leads Will and his friends to escape to the family home in Stratford. On the way they meet three witches who have some surprising predictions to make about Will's future, leading to a very serious case of house envy.

There's money to be made investing in cargos from the New World.

There's money to be made investing in cargos from the New World: but while Marlowe invests in tobacco and potato products, Will would rather invest in building a new theatre.

David Mitchell stars in Ben Elton's Shakespeare sitcom.

David Mitchell stars in Ben Elton's Shakespeare sitcom. Will wants to up his family's social standing, so when a Moorish Prince comes to town he plans to use him to impress the nobility. But things go very awry when a hanky gets into the wrong hands.

Will's bullying former school teacher invites himself to stay.

When Will's bullying former school teacher invites himself to stay Will has to confront the demons of his childhood, but it soon turns out there's a lot more at stake, including Will's life.

Will has to write a romance set in an exotic foreign location.

Will has to write a romance set in an exotic foreign location. Meanwhile Kate has fallen for Marlowe but he's off to an exotic foreign location. Is inspiration on the way? All aboard for Verona!

Will's invented an amazing new dramatic form: the musical.

Will's invented an amazing new dramatic form: the musical. Problem is he needs the help of the greatest songwriter of the age, Thomas Morley, and he's got some ideas of his own.

Will's pleased with his new play The Taming of the Shrew.

Will's pleased with his new play The Taming of the Shrew. But for some reason the story of a strong-willed lady humiliated by a man doesn't go down well with any of the women in Will's life.

Will has finished Romeo and Juliet, but who will play the young lovers?

Will has finished Romeo and Juliet but now there's a lot of competition for who will play Juliet. Kate feels the part should be hers. If only lady-acting weren't against the law.

S3, E1. Lord, What Fools These Mortals Be!

Will Shakespeare has been working on his masterpiece.

Lord, What Fools These Mortals Be!

Will Shakespeare has been working on his masterpiece. His friends tell him it is his greatest comedy yet, but Will insists that Hamlet isn't actually meant to be funny.

S3, E2. Wild Laughter in the Throat of Death

A brilliant new actor has some surprising views about the authorship of Will's plays.

Wild Laughter in the Throat of Death

London is full of anti-immigrant rioting. Will looks forward to an age when such sentiments are long-gone, but in the meantime he and the players plan to do their bit to help those worse off than themselves with a fund-raising charity gala night.

S3, E3. If You Prick Us, Do We Not Bleed?

Will advises Kate to stand in for Sue at a masked ball. It doesn't go to plan.

If You Prick Us, Do We Not Bleed?

With the great fug making London too smelly to stay in Will and his friends have all come to Stratford. Will hopes for some peace and quiet so he can write but when Kate stands in for Sue at the masked ball she accidentally sets of a chain of events.

Will's new play about Julius Caesar is disrupted by a lot of back-stage back stabbing!

Sigh No More

Will has decided to write a play about the life of Julius Caesar. The only problem is how to deal with his assassination.

As Will wrestles with temptation a bigger threat to his family lurks in the wings.

The Most Unkindest Cut of All

The day of Will's son Hamnet's Confirmation is approaching and Anne has made sure it's been in Will's diary for months. The only problem is this also turns out to be the night of the first ever London Theatre Awards.

The day of Will's son Hamnet's Confirmation is approaching.

Go on and I Will Follow

The Shakespeares are planning a cosy Christmas with just the family

A Christmas Crow

The Shakespeares are planning a cosy Christmas up in Stratford with just the family. Until Kit wangles himself an invitation to join them. And then so does Kate.

The plague has hit London - everyone must stay inside for Christmas

Upstart Crow Christmas Special 2020: Lockdown Christmas 1603

Christmas Special 2020. The plague has hit London, forcing everyone to stay inside for Christmas. Will is desperate to write a play, but lacks inspiration. Oh no!

Will has promised Anne that he will be home for a quiet Christmas

Upstart Crow Christmas Special 2018: A Crow Christmas Carol

Will has promised his wife Anne that he will be home in good time for a quiet Christmas with just the family.

Upstart Crow

Upstart Crow

Series 1

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4

Episode 5

Episode 6