Will Shakespeare poster
Seen it?

Will Shakespeare

TV·1978–1978·1 season, 6 episodes·ITV1·Drama·50m·Created by John Mortimer

Not streaming in your region — see every region's options

A dramatisation of the life of famed playwright William Shakespeare from 1590 to 1607.

Cast

Tim CurryTim CurryWilliam ShakespearePaul FreemanPaul FreemanDick BurbageJohn NormingtonJohn NormingtonAlex Cooke
Ronald Herdman
Ronald HerdmanSam CrosseRon CookRon CookJack RiceRoger Lloyd PackRoger Lloyd PackJack HemingeRichard CorderyRichard CorderyHenry Condell

Episodes by season

Season016Episodes1978Aired—Season avg
  1. S01E01Dead ShepherdJune 13, 1978—Queen Elizabeth I rules the country and Christopher Marlowe rules the theatre. From Stratford-upon-Avon, a young man called William Shakespe
  2. S01E02Alms for OblivionJune 20, 1978—As England lies ravaged by plague, Shakespeare has usurped Marlowe as playwright of the day.
  3. S01E03Of Comfort and DespairJune 27, 1978—Will Shakespeare produces the greatest play about young love - Romeo and Juliet. But what of his own love? Who is the 'dark lady' he adores
  4. S01E04The Loved BoyJuly 4, 1978—Shakespeare wishes for his son Hamnet to have everything, despite disapproval from the rest of his family.
  5. S01E05Rebellion's MasterpieceJuly 11, 1978—Shakespeare is drawn into the dangerous political intrigues of Robert Devereux the Second Earl of Essex.
  6. S01E06The Living RecordJuly 18, 1978—Queen Elizabeth dies and King James succeeds her to the throne. What does the future hold for Will Shakespeare and for the actors who bring

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

Shows like Will Shakespeare all similar shows

The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.

  1. 01Drama·Action·Science-FictionArrow2012–2020·The CWAfter a violent shipwreck, billionaire playboy Oliver Queen was missing and presumed dead for five years before being discovered alive on a remote island in the Pacific.7.4Compare
  2. 02Drama·Crime·ThrillerTrue Detective2014–presentStreaming on HBO MaxTouch darkness and darkness touches you back.8.1Compare
  3. 03Drama·Action·Science-FictionThe Flash2014–2023·The CWStreaming on NetflixAfter a particle accelerator causes a freak storm, CSI Investigator Barry Allen is struck by lightning and falls into a coma.7.5Compare
  4. 04Drama·Action·SupernaturalSupernatural2005–2020·The CWStreaming on Amazon Prime VideoThis haunting series follows the Winchester brothers as they crisscross the lonely and mysterious back roads of the country in their '67 Chevy Impala, hunting down every evil supernatural force they encounter along the…8.3Compare
  5. 05Drama·Comedy·CrimeFargo2014·FXStreaming on HuluFargo is a seasonal anthology crime drama with some dark comical elements, inspired by the film Fargo written by the Coen brothers.8.6Compare
  6. 06Drama·CrimeChicago P.D.2014–present·NBCStreaming on Amazon Prime VideoDistrict 21 of the Chicago Police Department is made up of two distinctly different groups.8.0Compare

Head-to-head pick any opponent

Stack Will Shakespeare's full episode-rating history against a rival, on one chart.

Will Shakespeare vs ArrowFull episode chartWill Shakespeare vs True DetectiveFull episode chartWill Shakespeare vs The FlashFull episode chart

Keep exploring top shows

ShortcutThe essential episodes

Short on time? The pilot-to-finale shortcut, only the episodes that matter.

MatchupCompare with another show

Two shows' episode ratings on one chart — settle it.

NetworkBest ITV1 shows

More from the same network, ranked by rating.

GenreBest drama shows & films

The top of the drama pile, across both mediums.