Small Prophets is officially returning for a second series after becoming the BBC’s biggest new comedy of the year so far. Created, written and directed by Mackenzie Crook, the six-part comedy will return in 2027 with Pearce Quigley, Sir Michael Palin, Lauren Patel and Crook all back, while the new run will also make the move from BBC Two to BBC One following the success of Series 1.

Will There Be a Small Prophets Series 2?

Yes. The BBC has confirmed that Small Prophets will return for another six episodes, with Mackenzie Crook once again writing and directing and Gill Isles returning as producer. Treasure Trove Productions and Channel X North will make the new run, which is due to arrive sometime in 2027.

Crook said he was “thrilled” to continue the story and added: “The prophets have foretold that series two will be happening next year and, as we know, they are compelled to speak the truth.” The new episodes will continue Michael Sleep’s story following the events of the first series, with more details about filming and the plot still to come.

Who Is Returning for Small Prophets Series 2?

Pearce Quigley will return as Michael Sleep, alongside Sir Michael Palin as his father Brian, Lauren Patel as Kacey and Mackenzie Crook as Gordon. Sophie Willan and Jon Pointing also appeared in Series 1 as Michael’s nosy neighbours Bev and Clive, although the BBC’s renewal announcement specifically highlights the four central returning cast members.

Series 1 followed Michael, whose partner Clea disappeared seven years earlier, as his otherwise ordinary life took a strange turn after Brian shared an old recipe for creating Homunculi. With Kacey’s help, Michael began conjuring magical spirits capable of predicting the future, while the pair also formed an unlikely friendship through their shared dislike of Gordon and tried to keep Bev and Clive from discovering exactly what was happening in the garden shed.

Why Is Small Prophets Moving to BBC One?

Series 2 will move from BBC Two to BBC One after a very strong first run. The series averaged 6.3 million viewers across 28 days, with 82% of that viewing coming through BBC iPlayer, while the opening episode has now grown to 9.2 million viewers.

Those figures make Small Prophets the BBC’s biggest new comedy series of 2026 so far, and the move gives the show an even bigger platform when it returns. Emma Lawson, BBC Interim Director of Comedy, said the team was “beyond delighted” to bring it back, praising the world Crook has created and teasing that the story is very much “to be continued”.

When Will Small Prophets Series 2 Be Released?

The BBC says Series 2 will arrive next year, so viewers can expect the new episodes sometime in 2027. A specific release date has not been announced, and further casting and filming details are still to come.

The new run will once again be set in and around Manchester and will return to Marvin Gardens as Michael continues his mystical quest. With Crook describing Series 2 as the second half of this “strange story”, it sounds like the next six episodes will continue directly from the first run rather than starting a completely separate chapter.

For CultureCues, we are very happy to see Small Prophets coming back. Mackenzie Crook has created something genuinely unusual with it, and the mix of ordinary suburban life with strange magical elements gives the show a lot of charm. Moving to BBC One after such strong viewing figures also feels like a big vote of confidence, and we are very curious to see where Michael’s mystical quest goes next.

Small Prophets will return for a six-part second series on BBC One in 2027.