Upstart Crow

Comedy about the life and times of William Shakespeare as he starts to make a name for himself in London, whilst also trying to balance life as a husband and father for his family in Stratford-upon-Avon.

ComedyDrama

Seasons

1. Star Crossed Lovers

Air Date: 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.

2. The Play's the Thing

Air Date: 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?

3. The Apparel Proclaims The Man

Air Date: 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 London's most upmarket events. The playwright's rival Sir Robert Greene offers him some fashion tips, but is it a double bluff, a triple bluff, or something even more fiendish?

4. Love is Not Love

Air Date: 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?

5. What Bloody Man is That?

Air Date: 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.

6. The Quality of Mercy

Air Date: 2016-06-13

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

1. The Green Eyed Monster

Air Date: 2017-09-11

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

2. I Know Thee Not, Old Man

Air Date: 2017-09-18

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

3. I Did Adore a Twinkling Star

Air Date: 2017-09-25

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

4. Food of Love

Air Date: 2017-10-02

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

5. Beware My Sting!

Air Date: 2017-10-09

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

6. Sweet Sorrow

Air Date: 2017-10-16

Will's finished Romeo and Juliet but now there's competition over who will play Juliet.

1. Lord, What Fools These Mortals Be!

Air Date: 2018-08-29

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

2. Wild Laughter in the Throat of Death

Air Date: 2018-09-05

Will Shakespeare has been working on his masterpiece. His friends tell him it's his greatest comedy yet, but Will insists that Hamlet isn't actually meant to be funny.

3. If You Prick Us, Do We Not Bleed?

Air Date: 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 Pig's Bladder Day” is a triumph.

4. Sigh No More

Air Date: 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.