Learn about The Bard? Watch TV!

I’ve come across a gem of a comedy on BBC which is hilariously funny and very clever indeed.

Upstart Crow is written by Ben Elton and stars David Mitchell as William Shakespeare.

The title comes from a derisive nickname given to Shakespeare by his snobbish rival Robert Greene, who looked down on The Bard – he considered him to be an ill-educated upstart.

I think it is Ben Elton’s best work since the sublime Blackadder.

If you love Shakespeare you will chortle all the way through, but even if you don’t, I guarantee you will belly laugh.

The supporting cast includes Harry Enfield as Shakespeare’s uncouth father and Lisa Tarbuck as Brummie wife Anne Hathaway.

Teachers are using the sitcom to give pupils a greater understanding of the works of Shakespeare and that can only be a good thing.