‘Blackadder’ writer’s Shakespeare comedy ‘Upstart Crow’ will return

The BBC has ordered a third season of Upstart Crow.

Created by Ben Elton (Blackadder, The Young Ones), the popular sitcom will return to BBC Two in 2018 with six new 30-minute episodes and a Christmas special.

Upstart Crow is based on the life and times of William Shakespeare, played by Peep Show star David Mitchell.

It premiered in May 2016 as part of the BBC’s Shakespeare Festival to mark the 400th anniversary of the writer’s death.

Writer Ben Elton commented: “I am so pleased that the BBC have decided to commission Upstart Crow part three. As Shakespeare himself proved with Henry IV, his very long play cycle about a not very interesting Henry, if a thing’s worth doing, it’s worth doing thrice.”

Actor David Mitchell added: “I think I’m even pleaseder to be doing a third series of Upstart Crow than I was to be doing the second. In fact, given the choice, I would have done the third one second and saved the second till third. That would have made me pleasedest, but still, this is tremendous news.”

Emma Thompson will guest star as Queen Elizabeth I next month in a festival special, A Christmassy Crow.