Upstart Crow

David Mitchell stars as William Shakespeare in this six-part BBC comedy written by Ben Elton. Beginning in 1592, the series follows the struggles of the Bard's early career and his domestic life split between London and Stratford-upon-Avon. While trying to finish 'Romeo and Juliet', William practices his lines with his daughter Susanna (Helen Monks) but both she and his wife Anne (Liza Tarbuck) have objections about his use of flowery language.

The family's home life, and William's writing, is interrupted by the arrival of Robert Greene (Mark Heap)'s nephew but as his writing progresses William begins to move up in the world and becomes more convinced he is on the verge of a major breakthrough. The episodes are: 'Star-Crossed Lovers', 'The Play's the Thing', 'The Apparel Proclaims the Man', 'Love Is Not Love', 'What Bloody Man Is That?' and 'The Quality of Mercy'.