Upstart Crow Series 1, Episode 6 - The Quality Of Mercy - British Comedy Guide (original) (raw)
There's money to be made investing in cargoes from the New World: but while Marlowe invests in tobacco and potato products, Will would rather invest in building a new theatre. When Will's savings go missing he's forced to make a rather unusual bargain with his rival Robert Greene. Meanwhile Kate's frustration with the lack of roles for women leads her to make a rather dramatic intervention.
Broadcast details
Date
Monday 13th June 2016
Time
10pm
Channel
Length
30 minutes
Cast & crew
Cast
| David Mitchell | Will Shakespeare |
|---|---|
| Rob Rouse | Bottom |
| Gemma Whelan | Kate |
| Liza Tarbuck | Anne Hathaway |
| Harry Enfield | John Shakespeare |
| Paula Wilcox | Mary Arden |
| Helen Monks | Susanna |
| Steve Speirs | Burbage |
| Tim Downie | Marlowe |
| Dominic Coleman | Condell |
| Mark Heap | Sir Robert Greene |
| Spencer Jones | Kempe |
| Jocelyn Jee Esien | Lucy |
Guest cast
| Evan Rees | Squeaky Boy |
|---|---|
| Tom Edden | Clerk |
| Gabrielle Glaister | Judge 'Bob' Roberts |
Writing team
| Ben Elton | Writer |
|---|
Production team
| Matt Lipsey | Director |
|---|---|
| Gareth Edwards | Producer |
| Myfanwy Moore | Executive Producer |
| Jake Bernard | Editor |
| Julian Fullalove | Production Designer |
| Grant Olding | Composer |
Video
Decision time
Kate is having trouble choosing what to wear to look like a man.
Featuring: David Mitchell (Will Shakespeare), Rob Rouse (Bottom) & Gemma Whelan (Kate).
Press
In the last in the series of Ben Elton's bard-based sitcom, the age of exploration promises great riches for London residents brave enough to fling savings at the futures market. Sadly for Shakey, though, family finances are floundering, so if a modest investment of his own is to blossom, the offer of a loan from rival Robert Greene will need to be taken. However, Greene's interest rates turn out to be even more injurious than anything the likes of Wonga could impose.
Mark Gibbings-Jones, The Guardian, 13th June 2016
I returned to Upstart Crow kicking and screaming, forced into watching it by the dearth of good TV this week. Euro 2016 has taken up much of the scheduling space, the games festooned on either side by droning analysis and followed by the news with its camera-phone footage. In this miserable melee, where is the good TV? I couldn't find it, so was compelled to watch the final episode of Upstart Crow, having been left stone-cold and unimpressed by its earlier outings.
Making fun of the money-grabbing investors who put their money into the newly-discovered potatoes, tobacco and "cases of syphilis" from Virginia, Shakespeare (David Mitchell) prefers to put his money into the theatre. Still, high jinks and a court case arise when his cash goes missing. There are some very deliberate reminders of Blackadder II here - but all that does is make you pine for what you're missing.
Julie McDowall, The National (Scotland), 13th June 2016
Review: Upstart Crow, episode 6
I won't go into a lot of detail about tonight's episode except to say that it is one of the best in the series.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 13th June 2016