BBC orders a third series

The BBC has ordered a third series of Ben Elton’s Shakespeare comedy Upstart Crow.

The news was confirmed by the BBC Two continuity announcer at the end of tonight’s closing episode of the second series.

Six new episodes plus a Christmas special will air next year.

Writer Elton said: ‘I am so pleased that the BBC have decided to commission Upstart Crow Part 3. 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.’

David Mitchell, who plays Shakespeare, 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.’

There will also be a Christmas special this year, featuring Emma Thompson as Queen Elizabeth I.

An average of 1.5million viewers have watched each episode in the current series, with more added on catch-up.

The starry ensemble cast includes Liza Tarbuck, Harry Enfield, Paula Wilcox, Rob Rouse, Gemma Whelan, Tim Downie, Spencer Jones and Mark Heap. And Noel Fielding made a cameo in the second series as songwriter Thomas Morley.

Upstart Crow is a BBC Studios production and was commissioned by BBC comedy commissioning controller Shane Allen. It will be directed by Richard Boden, produced by Gareth Edwards and the executive producer is Chris Sussman.

Published: 16 Oct 2017