Upstart Crow

Satirical Blackadderesque sitcom about how friends, family, historical circumstances, and his arch-rival Robert Greene, who first coined the derogatory term \upstart crow\, influenced William Shakespeare to write his famous plays.

2016 HD 30min United Kingdom English

Ben Elton Liza Tarbuck David Mitchell Paula Wilcox Spencer Jones Harry Enfield Gemma Whelan Mark Heap Helen Monks Dominic Coleman

Comedy History

sitcom england satire 16th century period sitcom

S1E1 - Star Crossed Lovers 2016-05-09

Episode one sees Will struggle to find inspiration for Romeo while having to deal with an angry actor, a very annoying house-guest and his family’s not terribly helpful script suggestions.

S1E2 - The Play's the Thing 2016-05-16

Just when Will’s controversial new play is about to be presented to Queen Elizabeth, it goes missing. As the finger of suspicion points to his best friend Marlowe, can Will come up with a way to recover his stolen masterpiece? Given its politically sensitive content, is he really wise to want it back?

S1E3 - The Apparel Proclaims The Man 2016-05-23

Will hopes to move up in the world when he is invited to a high-society party hosted by Lord Southampton, but is unsure what a poorly-educated country boy should wear to one of Londons most upmarket events. The playwrights rival Sir Robert Greene offers him some fashion tips, but is it a double bluff, a triple bluff, or something even more fiendish?

S1E4 - Love is Not Love 2016-05-30

Will has completed his final sonnet and senses literary immortality just around the corner. But will the fair youth and the dark lady like them as much as he hopes? And is Anne likely to be impressed that her husband’s 154 hot new love poems don’t contain much about her?

S1E5 - What Bloody Man is That? 2016-06-06

The plague leads Will and his friends to escape to the family home in Stratford. On the way, they meet three witches who have some surprising predictions to make about Will’s future, leading to a very serious case of house envy.

S1E6 - The Quality of Mercy 2016-06-13

When Wills savings go missing, he is forced to make an unusual bargain with his rival. Kates frustration with the lack of roles for women leads her to make a dramatic intervention.

S2E1 - The Green Eyed Monster 2017-09-11

When a dashing African Prince comes to town, Will decides to befriend him.

S2E2 - I Know Thee Not, Old Man 2017-09-18

When his old teacher invites himself to stay, Will must confront some awful memories.

S2E3 - I Did Adore a Twinkling Star 2017-09-25

Will has to write a romance set in an exotic foreign location Kate has fallen for Marlowe.

S2E4 - Food of Love 2017-10-02

Will Shakespeare has invented an amazing new dramatic form: the greatest hits musical.

S2E5 - Beware My Sting! 2017-10-09

The women in Wills life are not impressed with his play about a strong woman humiliated.

S2E6 - Sweet Sorrow 2017-10-16

Wills finished Romeo and Juliet but now theres competition over who will play Juliet.

S3E1 - Lord, What Fools These Mortals Be! 2018-08-29

Will needs inspiration for his new play A Midsummer Nights Dream. Meanwhile how can he get hold of some love potion, and where is Bottom going to put that stuffed donkey head?

S3E2 - Wild Laughter in the Throat of Death 2018-09-05

Will Shakespeare has been working on his masterpiece. His friends tell him its his greatest comedy yet, but Will insists that Hamlet isnt actually meant to be funny.

S3E3 - If You Prick Us, Do We Not Bleed? 2018-09-12

London is full of anti-immigrant rioting. Will looks forward to an age when such sentiments are long-gone, but in the meantime he and the players plan to do their bit to help those worse off than themselves with a fund-raising charity gala night. “Inflated Pigs Bladder Day” is a triumph.

S3E4 - Sigh No More 2018-09-19

When Kate stands in for Sue at the masked ball she accidentally sets off a chain of events that leaves Sue humiliated by the other local teenagers and Will needs to come up with a ruse to turn the tables on the bullies. Meanwhile in all the confusion Hamnet has gone missing.