Particle.news

David Mitchell Says BBC Has Axed Upstart Crow

The shelving of a recently considered Christmas special shows the BBC will not recommission the Ben Elton sitcom.

Overview

  • Mitchell confirmed on Monday that the BBC has dropped plans for further Upstart Crow episodes and that a recently discussed Christmas special has been shelved.
  • The sitcom ran on BBC Two from 2016 to 2020 across three series and concluded on television with a 2020 Christmas special.
  • Upstart Crow was written by Ben Elton and starred Mitchell as a fictionalised William Shakespeare, a format built on Elizabethan history and literary in-jokes.
  • Ben Elton’s stage adaptation transferred to the West End with returns including a 10-week run at the Apollo Theatre, underlining continued audience interest beyond TV.
  • Mitchell is now focused on other projects, notably the second series of Ludwig and Last One Laughing UK, which helps explain why a TV revival was not pursued and suggests the show’s future will remain on stage and streaming rather than new BBC episodes.