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Mackenzie Crook on filming comedy Small Prophets

Annie Knowlsonand
Rumeana Jahangir,North West
News imageBBC/HOT OLIVES PRODUCTIONS LIMITED Mackenzie Crook as a shop worker with headset and glasses. he wears a shirt and tie and points with a pen.BBC/HOT OLIVES PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
Mackenzie Crook wrote and starred in Small Prophets

A new BBC Two comedy show filmed in Greater Manchester and starring Sir Michael Palin and Mackenzie Crook will be shown later.

Crook, known for roles in The Office and Detectorists, also wrote and directed the Small Prophets six-part series.

After filming in Urmston and Stockport, he teased: "I wanted to shoot it [in the] North because I knew I'd be guaranteed seven weeks of glorious unbroken sunshine."

The series sees Salford-born Pearce Quigley's character Michael looking for answers years after his girlfriend's disappearance.

Michael's father Brian, played by Sir Michael Palin, shares an ancient recipe involving rainwater, horse manure and a little alchemy, leading to the emergence of prophesying spirits that can predict the future - all from his garden shed.

News imageBBC/HOT OLIVES PRODUCTIONS LIMITED Pearce Quigley stands next Sir Michael, who is sitting on a chair while leaning on a walking stick. A range of items are displayed on the walls and shelves around them in a room.BBC/HOT OLIVES PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
Sir Michael Palin features in the comedy with Pearce Quigley

Crook said the script had been a decade in the making, and added: "It was a story that I stumbled upon about these creatures being grown in jars.

"It's been that long in figuring out how to tell the story and it was various elements that came together before I realised what it was going to be.

"A lot of it was I wanted to work with my friend Pearce and when I realised he was the main character, it sort of started to crystallise in my head."

News imageBBC/HOT OLIVES PRODUCTIONS LIMITED Sophie Willan, who has red mid-length hair styled into a loose bob, smiles as she waves while standing next to man outside a front door.BBC/HOT OLIVES PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
Bolton actress Sophie Willan also appears in the comedy

Crook said local residents had been "really welcoming" to the cast and crew.

Sally Sadler said she found out her house was going to be a part of the series while out food shopping.

"It was by text [and] I was in the supermarket," she said. "One of my neighbours told me Mackenzie Crook was on the drive next door.

"It's been amazing to be honest - it's been bizarre at points and surreal when you're seeing people staggering down the avenue pretending to be drunk and manure being delivered and all this greenery arriving next door."

Cast member Lauren Patel, who memorably voiced PC Mukherjee in the recent Wallace and Gromit hit, added: "Being able to film in Manchester where I've grown up and being able to have so many incredible people from the North working on it has been really cool."

Pearce added that had "seen more of my mum than I would have done normally", adding: "I love being back home in Manchester."

Small Prophets will be shown on BBC Two at 22:00 GMT on Monday 9 February and will also be available to watch on the BBC iPlayer

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