Small Prophets premieres on Apple TV on October 7, 2026, bringing a six-episode comedy from Detectorists creator Mackenzie Crook. The series follows Michael Sleep, a lonely DIY store worker who turns to an unusual alchemical recipe after his girlfriend disappears.
Starring Pearce Quigley, Michael Palin, Mackenzie Crook, Lauren Patel, Sophie Willan, Jon Pointing and Paul Kaye, the series mixes comedy, friendship, mystery and magical elements around one question: will Michael ever see Clea again?
Here is everything to know about Small Prophets, including its release date, cast, trailer, story, episode schedule, and where to watch.
When Does Small Prophets Come Out?
Small Prophets premieres Wednesday, October 7, 2026, on Apple TV.
Apple TV will release the first two episodes on October 7, followed by one new episode every Wednesday through November 4.
The series is launching internationally on Apple TV, excluding the UK, where Apple says it will become available to subscribers in 2027. The show previously premiered on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two in the UK earlier in 2026.
For the latest official information, viewers can check the Small Prophets page on Apple TV Press.
Small Prophets Episode Schedule
Episode Release Date
Episode 1 October 7, 2026
Episode 2 October 7, 2026
Episode 3 October 14, 2026
Episode 4 October 21, 2026
Episode 5 October 28, 2026
Episode 6 November 4, 2026
The first two episodes arrive together on premiere day before the series moves to a weekly Wednesday schedule. Apple TV confirms that Season 1 contains six episodes.
What Is Small Prophets About?
Small Prophets follows Michael Sleep, an eccentric man whose life has been on hold since his girlfriend Clea disappeared seven years earlier.
Michael now lives a quiet and ordinary life. He works in a DIY store, visits his father Brian, and continues to hope that Clea might somehow return.
Everything changes when Brian gives Michael an old recipe involving rainwater, horse manure, and alchemy.
The recipe supposedly allows Michael to create homunculi â magical spirits capable of predicting the future.
Michael decides to try it because he desperately wants an answer to one question:
Will he ever see Clea again?
The experiment also brings Michael closer to his younger co-worker Kacey. Their unlikely friendship develops partly because they share a dislike of their manager, Gordon.
Meanwhile, Michaelâs nosy neighbors become increasingly interested in what is happening inside his garden shed.
The result is a story that combines everyday suburban life with magical elements, friendship, and a mystery surrounding Michaelâs missing girlfriend.
Small Prophets Cast
The Small Prophets cast includes several recognizable British comedy performers.
Pearce Quigley as Michael Sleep
Pearce Quigley plays Michael Sleep, the central character whose life has remained largely unchanged since Clea disappeared.
Michaelâs search for answers drives the story and leads him to experiment with the strange recipe given to him by his father.
Quigley previously worked with Mackenzie Crook on Detectorists, another series created by Crook.
Michael Palin as Brian
Sir Michael Palin plays Brian, Michaelâs father.
Brian introduces Michael to the mysterious recipe that eventually becomes central to the story.
Palin is widely known for his work with Monty Python and his extensive career in British comedy and television.
Mackenzie Crook as Gordon
Mackenzie Crook plays Gordon, Michaelâs store manager.
Crook is also the creator, writer and director of Small Prophets.
He is best known for creating and starring in Detectorists, and his new series once again places unusual ideas inside an ordinary British setting.
Lauren Patel as Kacey
Lauren Patel plays Kacey, Michaelâs young co-worker.
Kacey becomes one of Michaelâs closest allies as he begins experimenting with the mysterious recipe.
Their friendship becomes an important part of the showâs story.
Other Small Prophets Cast Members
The series also stars:
- Sophie Willan
- Jon Pointing
- Paul Kaye
Apple TVâs official announcement confirms the principal cast and their involvement in the six-episode comedy.
Small Prophets Trailer
Apple TV released the official Small Prophets trailer on September 30, 2026.
The trailer introduces Michaelâs unusual situation and gives viewers a first look at his attempt to create homunculi.
It also previews the relationships between Michael, Kacey, Brian, and his increasingly curious neighbors.
You can watch the official Small Prophets trailer on Apple TV Press.
The trailer reinforces the showâs unusual combination of comedy, magical elements, and an emotional story about someone trying to find answers after losing a loved one.
Where to Watch Small Prophets
In the United States and other international markets covered by the October launch, Small Prophets is streaming on Apple TV starting October 7, 2026.
The official Apple TV listing for Small Prophets confirms Pearce Quigley, Michael Palin and Mackenzie Crook among the cast.
Apple TVâs official listing describes the show as a comedy and confirms Michaelâs story revolves around a mystical recipe that could provide answers about his missing girlfriend.
For viewers following other Apple TV releases, FilmRadar is also covering Slow Horses Season 6, which premiered on Apple TV in September 2026.
FilmRadar has also covered The Savant release update, another upcoming Apple TV series.
How Many Episodes Does Small Prophets Have?
Small Prophets has six episodes in Season 1.
The first two episodes will premiere together on October 7, followed by one episode each Wednesday.
Apple TVâs listing provides the episode titles and descriptions:
- Down at the Cul-de-Sac â October 7
- Is This Legal? â October 7
- Should I Be Scared? â October 14
- The Birds of America â October 21
- Whoâs Gonna Make Me Laugh? â October 28
- The Wise Manâs Song â November 4
The episode listings show runtimes of approximately 29â30 minutes.
What Is the Small Prophets Story Really About?
Although the series uses a magical premise, its central story is about Michaelâs inability to move on after Cleaâs disappearance.
For seven years, Michael has continued living an ordinary life while hoping that Clea will return.
The strange recipe gives him something he has not had for a long time: the possibility of an answer.
But creating homunculi is only the beginning.
Michaelâs experiments bring him closer to Kacey while attracting the attention of his neighbors.
The show therefore combines the mystery of Cleaâs disappearance with a story about friendship, loneliness, and the possibility of moving forward.
Apple TV describes the series as a story of friendship and hope that combines the magical with the mundane.
Where Was Small Prophets Filmed?
Small Prophets was filmed and set in and around Manchester, England.
The Manchester setting helps place the unusual story inside an otherwise familiar suburban environment.
Apple TV also confirms that the series incorporates animation elements throughout the story.
The contrast between the ordinary setting and Michaelâs strange experiments is an important part of the showâs identity.
Is Small Prophets Based on a Book?
No. Small Prophets is an original television series created by Mackenzie Crook.
Crook serves as creator, writer, and director, with Lisa Thomas, Christine Gernon, and Emma Strain among the executive producers.
The series is produced by Treasure Trove Productions and Blue House Productions, with Apple TV acquiring it from international distributor Sphere Abacus.
Is Small Prophets a Comedy?
Yes. Apple TV classifies Small Prophets as a comedy.
However, the story also deals with grief, loneliness, friendship, disappearance, and hope.
The supernatural elements are therefore connected to Michaelâs emotional situation rather than existing only as a traditional fantasy storyline.
That combination gives the series a more unusual premise than a straightforward workplace or family comedy.
Why Is Small Prophets Getting Attention?
One of the main reasons Small Prophets has attracted attention is its combination of British comedy talent and an unusual story.
Mackenzie Crook created the series after his work on Detectorists, while Michael Palin brings another major British comedy name to the cast.
The series has also received early recognition.
Apple TV says the first season won the Best Series Award in the International Panorama section at Series Mania in March 2026.
Appleâs September announcement also reported a 100% criticsâ score on Rotten Tomatoes at that time. Because Rotten Tomatoes scores can change as additional reviews are added, the figure should be treated as a snapshot rather than a permanent rating.
Small Prophets Release Date: Quick Facts
Here are the key details to remember before the premiere:
- Title: Small Prophets
- Release date: October 7, 2026
- Platform: Apple TV
- Episodes: 6
- Premiere: First two episodes
- New episodes: Wednesdays
- Finale: November 4, 2026
- Creator: Mackenzie Crook
- Writer: Mackenzie Crook
- Director: Mackenzie Crook
- Lead: Pearce Quigley
- Cast: Michael Palin, Lauren Patel, Sophie Willan, Jon Pointing and Paul Kaye
- Setting: Manchester, England
- Genre: Comedy
Apple TVâs official announcement confirms the October 7 premiere, six-episode format, and weekly rollout through November 4.
Final Thoughts
Small Prophets brings together an unusual magical premise and a grounded story about a man who has spent seven years waiting for answers after his girlfriend disappears.
Pearce Quigley leads the series as Michael Sleep, while Michael Palin plays his father Brian and Mackenzie Crook plays Gordon. Crook also created, wrote, and directed the series.
For US viewers and other international markets covered by the October launch, Small Prophets premieres October 7, 2026, on Apple TV, with the first two episodes arriving together.
The remaining four episodes will be released weekly through November 4.
If youâre looking for a new comedy with a strange premise, a strong British cast, and a mystery at its center, Small Prophets is one of Apple TVâs notable October 2026 releases.