Sky today reinforced its commitment to offering customers high-quality original programming with the announcement of eight new commissions, following Group Chief Executive Jeremy Darrochs pledge earlier this year to increase investment in original productions by 25%. Responding to demand from customers for more high-quality programming and building on a successful year for Sky Original Productions in which shows including Riviera and Tin Star attracted record audiences, todays announcement takes the number of original series on Sky in 2018 to over 50, of which 24 are returning shows. This news further demonstrates Skys commitment to offering its customers a unique mix of the best international and local shows.
Managing Director, Content Gary Davey said: Theres never been a more competitive time to be in the content business and Im incredibly excited by the scale, quality and authenticity of the UK TV industry right now. Next year will see over 50 Sky Original Productions on air and over 20 of these will be returners - a testament to the popularity of our shows and it doesnt stop there, with our increased investment, the focus for 2018 remains getting even better on screen.
Following its phenomenal success earlier this year Skys best-performing original series to date, Riviera returns with Julia Stiles reprising the role of Georgina Clios for another high-octane series about the lives of the super-rich on the C te dAzur. Jack Whitehalls comedy thriller Bounty Hunters is set to return for more action and adventure. And brand-new drama Gangs of London, a fresh and original gangland thriller, will take viewers on an adrenaline-fuelled journey into the hidden heart of the capital. Added to these are more true (ish) tales from cultural history with three brand-new comedies from Sky Arts Urban Myths series. Rolling Stone and acclaimed painter Ronnie Wood visits some of the most iconic art institutions in the country sketching, painting and providing a unique insight into what makes each place special in Ronnie Wood Artist in Residence. And in brand-new entertainment show Loot eight ordinary citizens play an extraordinary game . . .
With some of the very best British talent including Idris Elba (In the Long Run), Benedict Cumberbatch (Patrick Melrose), Lennie James (Save Me), Suranne Jones (Save Me) and David Morrissey (Britannia) already set to appear on screen in 2018, the eight Sky Original Productions announced today see this list expand to include Noel Fielding, David Suchet, Paul Kaye, Ade Edmondson, Paterson Joseph and Abdul Salis, plus familiar faces Julia Stiles, Luke Treadaway, Jack Whitehall, Sheila Hancock, Philip Glenister and Ronnie Wood.
Bounty Hunters was a huge hit with viewers this autumn and quickly became Sky Ones biggest sitcom launch since 2011. Series two of the comedy thriller from writing team Jack Whitehall and Freddy Syborn will see Barnaby (Jack Whitehall) and Nina (Rosie Perez) back with a bang - quite literally - ready for more adventures and scrapes in the second instalment of this hit show. Bounty Hunters is a Cave Bear and Tiger Aspect Production for Sky and will be produced by Ben Cavey and Pippa Brown.
Riviera 2 sees Julia Stiles reunited with cast members Lena Olin, Roxane Duran and Dimitri Leonidas for a second series of Sky Atlantics record-breaking drama. Viewers will be transported back to the stunning sun-soaked setting of the C te DAzur, to see what lies ahead for the Clios family after the explosively thrilling finale to series one. Riviera is a Sky Original Production in association with Altice. Produced by Archery Pictures, Primo Productions and Sky, the Executive Producers are Kris Thykier, Paul McGuinness and Cameron Roach. International distribution is being handled by Sky Vision.
Gangs of London (w/t) is set in present day London - a dynamic and multicultural city thats being torn apart by the turbulent power struggles of the international gangs in control. When the head of a criminal organisation is assassinated, the sudden power vacuum his death creates threatens the fragile peace between the intricate web of gangs operating on the streets of the city. Coming to Sky Atlantic in 2019, Gangs of London (w/t) is created and executive produced by Gareth Evans, director of the award-winning The Raid film franchise and co-commissioned with Cinemax. The series was developed and will be produced by Pulse Films (American Honey) in association with Sister Pictures.
Urban Myths: When Bowie Met Bolan brings to life the story of when Davie Jones first met Mark Feld. As struggling teenage musicians, they were both summoned to their manager Les Conns office in Denmark Street one morning and, in lieu of them making him any actual money by selling any records, asked to repaint his office. Starring Luke Treadaway as David Bowie, Jack Whitehall as Marc Bolan and Ade Edmondson as Les Conn, the show is directed by Jim OHanlon, produced by Richard Grocock, written by Freddy Syborn and executive produced by Simon Welton. When Bowie Met Bolan is made by Lion TV for Sky Arts. International distribution is being handled by Sky Vision.
Urban Myths: The Dali and The Cooper tells the incredible true story of Alice Coopers encounter with Salvador Dali in New York in 1973. Over the course of a few days, Alice Cooper was invited to one of the most surreal dinner parties ever by Dali before being asked to pose in a photo-shoot for one of the worlds first holograms while wearing a tiara made up of $2million worth of gems while brandishing a shish-kebabbed statuette of the Venus De Milo. Starring David Suchet as Salvador Dali, Noel Fielding as Alice Cooper, Shelia Hancock as Gala Dali and Paul Kaye as Shep Gordon. Written by Roger Drew and Ed Dyson, the show is directed by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard, produced by Krishnendu Majumdar and Richard Yee, with compose
