Upstart Crow continues on BBC Two tonight for a second series with a huge array of stars on the cast.
Among the names signed up for the new series, Emma Thompson (Love Actually) will take on the role of Queen Elizabeth I in the Christmas special episode due to air later this year.
Noel Fielding (The Mighty Boosh) will also join the cast to play Thomas Morley in one of the episodes.
The programme follows the quest of William Shakespeare to make it as a playwright in London, whilst juggling family life with his loved ones in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Upstart Crow is written by Ben Elton and sees David Mitchell (Peep Show) return as William Shakespeare for series two. The new series includes referenced to Shakespeare masterpieces such as Othello, Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night and many more.
In the new series Will is still striving to make his mark in the theatre. But while the London elite sneer at country-boy Will at least he has the help of his servant Bottom (Rob Rouse), trusty friend Kate (Gemma Whelan) and not-so-trusty friend Marlowe (Tim Downie).
The rest of the cast includes Harry Enfield (Harry & Paul) as Will’s dad, John Shakespeare; Paula Wilcox (Mount Pleasant) as Will’s mum, Mary Arden; Liza Tarbuck (Linda Green) as Will’s wife Anne Hathaway; Helen Monks (Raised By Wolves) as their daughter Susanna; Gemma Whelan (Game Of Thrones) as Kate and Rob Rouse (Grownups) as Bottom.
They’re joined by Mark Heap (Friday Night Dinner) as Will’s nemesis Robert Greene; Jocelyn Jee Esien (Little Miss Jocelyn) as Lucy; Dominic Coleman (Peaky Blinders) as Condell; Steve Speirs (Big School) as Burbage; Tim Downie (Toast) as Kit Marlowe and Spencer Jones (Big Babies) as Kempe.
David Mitchell said: “Perhaps the hardest part of being in a new series of Upstart Crow is the challenge of improving on the quote I gave for the press announcement of the first series – a challenge which I have come to the conclusion I am unequal to.”
Upstart Crow airs tonight on BBC Two, October 9, from 8:30PM.
