Huge blow to David Mitchell as Peep Show star’s BBC show is AXED after three series

HE was crowned champion of Last One Laughing and the second series of his cosy crime drama Ludwig is another hit. But I can reveal David Mitchell has also suffered a rare blow — his Bafta-nominated sitcom Upstart Crow has bitten the dust. Bafta-nominated sitcom Upstart Crow has been axed Credit: BBC Press Handout David Mitchell played William Shakespeare in the show Credit: Getty In it, he played William Shakespeare and Liza Tarbuck the bard’s wife, Anne Hathaway. It was scripted by Blackadder co-writer Ben Elton. But, after three series, the Beeb has dropped the final curtain. Sign up for the TV newsletter Thank you! David said: “There was a time, quite recently, when the BBC was giving serious consideration to more Upstart Crow, possibly in the form of a Christmas special. “But sadly nothing has come of it and now there are no plans for future episodes, which is a shame because it was a show of which I felt enormously proud and I know Ben — who I think is a genius — did too.” READ MORE ON DAVID MITCHELL The series also spawned a theatre show, which ran in the West End in 2020 and again in 2022. Upstart Crow was a comedic take on Shakespeare’s life, as he worked on plays such as Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, commuting be- tween Stratford-upon-Avon to the theatres of London. Upstart Crow was a (real life) insulting nickname given to Shakespeare by rival playwright Robert Greene (Mark Heap). One of the running jokes revolved around the problems he met getting to work and back by horse-and-carriage, which any modern rail commuter could relate to. Most read in TV Robert Webb as Jeremy and David Mitchell as Mark in Peep Show Credit: Channel 4 David Mitchell suffered a rare blow after his show was canned Credit: Getty The comedy also featured Game Of Thrones star Gemma Whelan as Kate, daughter of Shakespeare’s landlady. Harry Enfield played Shakespeare’s dad John and other star guests included Sir Kenneth Branagh, Lily Cole and Ben Miller. There were two Christmas specials, including one in Covid-hit 2020, in which the Shakespeare family was locked down, because of the onset of the plague. POIROT JUST GREW YOUNG Edward Bluemel stars in Agatha Christie’s classic detective saga Poirot Credit: MCPIX Edward filming alongside Supacell actor Calvin Demba Credit: MCPIX THE clocks have been turned back on Agatha Christie’s classic detective saga Poirot – with fresh-faced Edward Bluemel taking over as the master sleuth. Killing Eve star Edward plays the youngest-ever Hercule in the BBC prequel – and here’s a first look at him in action. Filming of the six-parter, Hercule, has begun in Liverpool and, as my pictures show, the actor has adopted the Belgian detective’s trademark style. Breathing new life into the famous role, played for almost 25 years by David Suchet, Edward looked dapper in his grey three-piece suit, Homburg hat and moustache. Edward looked dapper in his grey three-piece suit, Homburg hat and moustache Credit: MCPIX The actor filmed scenes alongside Riot Women’s Tamsin Greig Credit: MCPIX The series will feature three of Christie’s early stories. Earlier this month I revealed these will include Lord Edgware Dies – a 1933 story of a glam actress who talks about getting rid of her husband, only for him to be murdered 24 hours later. Producers will also revisit Christie’s 1932 novel, Peril At End House, which sees Poirot investigate a series of supposed accidents affecting a young heiress. Both books were turned into TV dramas during David Suchet’s tenure as the detective, on ITV. Edward filmed scenes alongside Riot Women’s Tamsin Greig and Supacell actor Calvin Demba this week. Cold Feet star James Nesbitt and Oppenheimer’s James D’Arcy will also feature. Hercule is expected to air next year. HAMZA’S LIVING IT LARD Wildlife presenter Hamza Yassin admits weight gain is affecting his filming Credit: Shutterstock Editorial WILDLIFE presenter Hamza Yassin lost two stone on Strictly Come Dancing when he won the 2022 series. But now he’s regained the weight, he admits it is affecting filming of his new BBC wildlife show African Birds Of Prey. On location, he has been asked to stay back and let a team of experts forge ahead through dense forest to look for birds – as his bulk would cause too much disturbance. He said: “I’ve been told I’m making too much noise trying to squeeze my big body through tiny gaps. The guys have had enough. They said, ‘You wait here and we’ll come and find you’.” Luckily, the crew found the a rare owl they had been hunting, and Hamza filmed it. He gasped: “Holy mackerel. I see it. It is so small. How pretty it is.” The show will air on Sunday on BBC One at 7pm. IT’S UP, THEN AWAY Taxi driver Tony in 7 Up: The Story Credit: Rex FANS of the groundbreaking Up docu-series eagerly awaiting its conclusion are also to get an extra TWO special episodes. The project has charted the lives of a single group of Brits since childhood, every seven years for over six decades, and the next and final season, 70 Up, will catch up with them one last time. They include taxi driver Tony, musician Peter and university administrator Sue. But ITV now says it will also air two bonus episodes – 7 Up: The Story explores how the landmark series came to be and 70 Up: The Victorians showcases long-lost footage of a group of 70-year-olds born in Victorian times who were interviewed around the time the series started in 1965. LUBA EYES MOVE INTO SOAPLAND Luba Mushtuk is eyeing a new career away from the dancefloor AXED Strictly Come Dancing pro Luba Mushtuk is eyeing a new career away from the dancefloor – acting. The Russian-British dancer was a fan favourite after seven years on the BBC show but got culled in this year’s overhaul. She said: “I just signed with an acting agent and I’m hoping this career will take off for me. “I am loving learning a new art form and have been to auditions – the best practice. There will be many nos before I get a yes, but I am loving it.” At the launch of immersive experience Peaky Blinders Under-world, Luba said she would love to be in EastEnders. She added: “I spent ten years of my life doing the same thing. “Now I have left the show, it’s opened the door to so many opportunities. I have a lot of projects at the moment. “Life is like a dance. When one dance finishes, there are new steps to learn. Maybe that dance will be even better.” Comment now