Mackenzie Crook makes patient, funny television about people whose friendships deserve the attention he gives them. We recommend his uncynical comedies, though his affection for eccentricity sometimes excuses behaviour that needs a sharper look.
Fi1m perspective
In Small Prophets (2026), Michael and his colleague Kacey like one another, and Crook gives that ordinary fact time to matter. Pearce Quigley and Lauren Patel make their friendship absorbing without help from the series’ folk magic. We were moved by the ease of their affection, because neither actor strains to make it seem important. Crook’s judgement as writer and director is to give them room rather than hurry towards the next strange occurrence.
That patience marks a change from the work that first brought him attention. As an actor, he broke through as Gareth Keenan in The Office (2001–2003), then played Ragetti in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003). With Detectorists (2014–2022), which he created, wrote, directed and starred in alongside Toby Jones, hobbies and landscape became central concerns. The Worzel Gummidge adaptations (2019–2022) gave him folklore and magic to work with. Across his own series, he favours pauses and downplayed emotion over the familiar discomfort of cringe comedy.
Crook also plays Gordon in Small Prophets, but his larger contribution is deciding how much attention to give everybody else. Quigley, who also appeared in Detectorists, is part of a cast trusted to be funny without making their characters’ sadness look foolish. Michael Palin’s Brian Sleep is especially valuable here: he can let a feeling register while the humour continues. Crook does not require a solemn pause before allowing grief to matter, and Palin keeps the kindness from becoming precious.
His weakness is how carefully he protects these people. In Small Prophets, oddness can feel like a qualification for his approval before the writing has made someone interesting. We wanted the occasional exchange to be sharper, and some behaviour to be treated less indulgently. The warmth would survive a little more friction; across six episodes, the comedy sometimes feels too sheltered. For the clearest reason to follow him as a director, watch what Quigley and Patel do together in Small Prophets.
Biography
Mackenzie Crook, also credited as Paul Mackenzie Crook, is an English actor, writer and director. Born on 29 September 1971 in Maidstone, Kent, he first gained prominence playing Gareth Keenan in the BBC sitcom The Office (2001–2003).
He is known for his role as Ragetti in the Pirates of the Caribbean film trilogy (2003–2007) and as Orell in Game of Thrones (2011). Crook created, wrote, directed and starred in the BBC series Detectorists (2014–2022) and wrote, directed and starred in the BBC revival of Worzel Gummidge (2019–2022). In 2026 he wrote, directed and appeared as Gordon in the BBC series Small Prophets.
