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Pearce Quigley plays Michael Sleep, Sir Michael Palin plays his father Brian, and Mackenzie Crook plays Gordon, the manager at Michael’s DIY store. Crook also created, wrote and directed Small Prophets, Apple TV’s six-episode comedy set in and around Manchester.
Small Prophets cast and characters
| Actor | Character | Relationship to Michael | Role in the story | Additional role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pearce Quigley | Michael Sleep | Lead character | Investigates whether magical homunculi can tell him if his missing partner, Clea, will return. | Cast performer |
| Sir Michael Palin | Brian | Michael’s father | Shares the recipe that starts Michael’s supernatural investigation. | Cast performer |
| Mackenzie Crook | Gordon | Michael’s workplace manager | His mutual dislike with Michael and coworker Kacey helps drive an unlikely friendship. | Creator, writer and director |
Who does Pearce Quigley play?
Pearce Quigley plays Michael Sleep, an eccentric man whose partner Clea disappeared seven years ago. Michael has since lived an ordinary life, working in a DIY store and visiting his father, Brian, while hoping Clea might return.
Brian gives Michael an old recipe involving rainwater, horse manure and alchemy. Michael uses it to try to create homunculi—magical spirits said to predict the future—and seeks an answer to the question of whether he will see Clea again.
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Who does Michael Palin play?
Sir Michael Palin plays Brian, Michael Sleep’s father. Brian’s recipe gives Michael the starting point for his attempt to make homunculi and find out what the future holds.
Who does Mackenzie Crook play?
Mackenzie Crook plays Gordon, the manager at the DIY store where Michael works. Gordon and Michael dislike each other, as does coworker Kacey; that friction helps set up an unlikely friendship.
Crook is also the series’ creator, writer and director. The rest of the announced ensemble includes Lauren Patel as Kacey, Sophie Willan and Jon Pointing as nosy neighbors, and Paul Kaye.
When does Small Prophets come out on Apple TV?
Apple says the first two episodes premiere on October 7, 2026, with new episodes weekly through November 4. The six-episode comedy was filmed and is set in and around Manchester. Apple TV availability in the UK is planned for 2027; Apple has not given a more specific UK date.
Watch Small Prophets on Apple TV.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to know about the series
Apple describes Small Prophets as a comic tale about Michael Sleep, who has lived a very ordinary life since Clea disappeared seven years earlier. Its supernatural premise centers on his effort to create homunculi that might answer whether he will see her again.
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Apple’s August 2026 announcement identifies Treasure Trove Productions and Blue House Productions as producers, with Sphere Abacus as international distributor. Apple’s press release also reports that the series received a 100% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes and the Best Series Award in Series Mania’s International Panorama in March 2026. Those distinctions are reported by Apple; the score is not a guarantee of an individual viewer’s reaction.
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