Sky ramps up investment in original drama productions

17 September 2013

Sky ramps up investment in original drama productions

Coinciding with the biggest and most ambitious drama season ever, and building on its commitment to original British drama productions, Sky announces four brand new dramas to be filmed in the coming months.

The new programmes include a high-octane medical drama Critical, two new films for the Playhouse Presents... strand, and a psychological thriller Penny Dreadful. All four feature some of the most highly respected drama talent working in television today, both on and off screen, including Josh Hartnett, Ben Whishaw, Billie Piper, Eva Green, Ashley Walters and Rory Kinnear.

Running across Sky's portfolio of entertainment channels, and complemented by popular returning series, the new dramas reflect Sky's drive to bring more high-quality, exclusive programming to customers. The new commissions are part of Sky's commitment to invest £600 million a year in home-grown programming by 2014, an increase of 50% over three years.

The new dramas are:

Critical (Sky 1): a 13-part, high-octane medical drama from Jed Mercurio, which unfolds in real time

Two brand new films for the Playhouse Presents... strand on Sky Arts:

*Nightshift: Ashley Walters and Daniel Mays star as two coppers, on duty overnight in South East London, discussing life, the universe and everything.

*Foxtrot: Billie Piper, Ben Whishaw and Lindsay Duncan star in this tale of a gang heist gone wrong, penned by Polly Stenham in her first project for TV

Penny Dreadful (Sky Atlantic): a frightening psychological period horror, created by John Logan and starring Eva Green, Josh Hartnett, Timothy Dalton, Rory Kinnear and Billie Piper

Stuart Murphy, Director of Sky Entertainment, commented: Were so happy with the dramas we've made so far, and I hope our new programmes will underline how much we put a premium on creative endeavour at Sky. We really believe that our philosophy of backing world class creative talent and pushing them to make their best work is the way to go.

Cameron Roach, Head of Drama, added: We love making these programmes and we hope that everyone who watches them feels like they've discovered something new, exciting and very special.

The new commissions follow a host of original Sky productions which will be on screen in the coming months including:

Drama Matters (Sky Living): a season of five original dramas from some of Britain's most renowned and critically-acclaimed female screenwriters, including Sally Wainwright, Gwyneth Hughes and Annie Griffin. Drama Matters features an all-star cast including Suranne Jones, Anna Friel, Russell Tovey, Sophie Rundle and Freema Agyeman

The Tunnel (Sky Atlantic): Ben Richards (Spooks, Party Animals) heads up the writing team based on the format of The Bridge and set against the backdrop of Europe in crisis and starring Stephen Dillane and Cl mence Po sy.

Strike Back (Sky 1): starring Philip Winchester and Sullivan Stapleton, this returns for a fourth series this October.

Dracula (Sky Living): based on a script from Cole Haddon, the series stars Jonathan Rhys Myers and will launch this Autumn.

Moonfleet (Sky 1): a two-part family drama adaptation by Ashley Pharaoh (Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes) of the classic John Meade Falkner story, starring Ray Winstone and Aneurin Barnard.

Mad Dogs: The Finale (Sky 1): a two-part conclusion to the BAFTA-nominated drama starring Max Beesley, Philip Glenister, John Simm and Marc Warren

Fleming (Sky Atlantic): starring Dominic Cooper in the lead role in a series based on the life of Bond creator Ian Fleming

The return of A Young Doctor's Notebook & Other Stories (Sky Arts) starring Daniel Radcliffe and Jon Hamm.

The Smoke (Sky 1): created by Lucy Kirkwood (Skins), this follows the adrenaline fuelled and gut-wrenchingly emotional stories of the White Watch crew of a London fire station and stars Jamie Bamber and Jodie Whittaker.

Customers can view highlights from Sky's new drama presentation at www.sky.com/skydrama

-ENDS-

For more information please contact:

Luke Morrison

T: 020 7032 1479

M: 07584 580026

luke.morrison@bskyb.com

Notes to editors:

SKY DRAMA: SYNOPSES

CRITICAL (13 x 60 Hat Trick Productions). Written and created by Jed Mercurio (Cardiac Arrest, Bodies and Line Of Duty), CRITICAL is a high octane medical drama which unfolds in real time. This 13 part series promises to deliver an action packed show, which sees the ensemble cast dealing with the minute by minute pressures, tensions and joys, as they battle to save lives. Never cutting away from the heart stopping action, this promises to be a medical series like no other - real, truthful and emotional, with humour pumping through it - all in the true spirit of a high pressure, Major Trauma Centre. CRITICAL will be executive produced by Mark Redhead for Hat Trick Productions and Cameron Roach for Sky.

PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS NIGHTSHIFT (1 x 30', Cajun Pictures and World Productions) Written by Jimmy Gardner, and starring Daniel Mays, Ashley Walters and Scarlett Alice Johnson, Nightshift follows two coppers as they cruise the streets of South East London in the small hours discussing life, the universe and everything else amidst the surreal world of the night. NIGHTSHIFT is produced by Cajun Pictures and World Productions.

PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS FOXTROT (1x30', Sprout Pictures) stars Billie Piper, Ben Wishaw, Lindsay Duncan and Alice Sanders star in, written and directed by Polly Stenham. In her first television drama, the critically-lauded playwright brings her unique voice and vision to a contemporary ill-fated girl gang heist. FOXTROT is produced by Adrian Bate, creative producer is Pip Broughton, and Gina Carter and Zoe Rocha will be executive producers.

PENNY DREADFUL (8x60 ) features some of literature's most

LINK:	http://corporate.sky.com/media/press_releases/2013/sky_ramps_up_invest...
	See more stories from sky

Most recent headlines