David Mitchell sees success with Ludwig as Upstart Crow is cancelled

David Mitchell is experiencing contrasting fortunes with his BBC programming. His cosy crime drama, Ludwig, has seen significant success with the launch of its second season. The premiere episode attracted approximately 2.8 million viewers, representing 28.5% of the television audience at the time. This performance surpassed both the BBC One slot average and its primary competitor, ITV1’s The Chase Around the World.

In contrast, the BBC has officially cancelled the sitcom Upstart Crow. Despite receiving a BAFTA nomination and maintaining a dedicated fanbase, the series—which follows the early career of William Shakespeare—will not receive further episodes or Christmas specials. Mitchell expressed disappointment regarding the cancellation, noting that while the BBC had previously considered more episodes, there are now no plans for the future of the show.