Tim Key and Daisy May Cooper headline

A raft of top names has been added to the forthcoming BBC period comedy The Witchfinder, starring Tim Key and Daisy May Cooper.

Joining the ensemble are Jessica Hynes, Daniel Rigby, Tuwaine Barrett, Reece Shearsmith, Julian Barratt, Ricky Tomlinson, Rosie Cavaliero, Cariad Lloyd, Ellie White, Vincent Franklin, Joplin Sibtain, Allan Mustafa, Seb Cardinal and Dan Renton Skinner. 

According to the blurb for the show: ‘It’s the year of our Lord 1645 and fear of witchcraft is rife. Puritanical Christianity, deep-seated superstition and a willingness to scapegoat outsiders have created a tinderbox of suspicion in which few are safe.

‘In this environment, witchfinding has flourished, as self-appointed witch experts achieve hero status by investigating accusations of witchery and extracting confessions.’

Key plays a failing witchfinder who transports a suspected witch (Cooper) across East Anglia, But she is  an inquisitive, uncouth woman whose ability to prick his pomposity and ask uncomfortable questions turns a straightforward journey into a life-changing ordeal.

Baby Cow productions are making six episodes of The Witchfinder for BBC Two, written and directed by  Alan Partridge writers Neil and Rob Gibbons.

The producer is Joe Fraser, and the executive producers are Dave Lambert, Rupert Majendie and Sarah Monteith. The commissioning editor for the BBC is Tanya Qureshi. 

Published: 16 Feb 2022