Patrick Melrose - Pleased to meet you: Benedict Cumberbatch stars in the first-look trailer for the Sky Original Production

Start off the New Year getting to know Patrick Melrose with the first-look trailer for the Sky Original Production, which launches on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV later this year.

The preview introduces us to Melrose (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his harrowing yet hilarious journey, in a true television saga that sweeps through the South of France in the 60s, New York in the 80s and Britain in the early 2000s.

Trailer link here.

Patrick Melrose is based on the acclaimed semi-autobiographical novels by Edward St Aubyn. The new five-part drama from Sky Atlantic and SHOWTIME skewers the upper class as it tracks its protagonists outrageous journey, from a deeply traumatic childhood through to adult substance abuse and, ultimately, towards recovery. The Patrick Melrose saga is subversive, savage and above all funny.

Each episode is devoted to one of the five Patrick Melrose novels. From abuse to addiction, episode one opens as the twenty something Patrick flies to New York to collect his fathers ashes, and goes on to spend a drug-crazed 24 hours. Episode two, set in the South of France in the 60s, takes place in the familys chateau where the sadistic and terrifying David Melrose (Hugo Weaving) dominates the lives of his son Patrick and his rich and unhappy American mother (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Episode three offers a sober and clean Patrick the possibility of recovery, and episode four shows the now-married Patrick as a father, struggling with child rearing, adultery and his mothers desire for assisted suicide. Finally, in episode five Patrick tries to solve the puzzle of his parents, and gropes towards tentative recovery.

The star-studded cast also includes Anna Madeley (The Crown), Blythe Danner (Meet the Fockers), Allison Williams (Girls), Pip Torrens (The Crown), Jessica Raine (Call the Midwife), Prasanna Puwanarajah (Doctor Foster), Holliday Grainger (Strike), Indira Varma (Game of Thrones) and Celia Imrie (Bridget Joness Baby).

BAFTA Award nominee David Nicholls (Far from the Madding Crowd, One Day) has written all five episodes of the television adaptation. Director Edward Berger (Deutschland 83, Jack) has brilliantly recreated each era, with a unique visual style for each episode.

The series will be available in the UK and Ireland on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV later this year.

For further information, please contact:

Sky PR

Sarah.el-hadidy@sky.uk

Notes to editors

Trailer link here.

Embed link: < iframe width=560 height=315 src=https://www.youtube.com/embed/juVDBGuL8Jk frameborder=0 gesture=media allow=encrypted-media allowfullscreen>

Patrick Melrose is executive produced by Michael Jackson and Oscar nominee and Emmy and Golden Globe -winning producer Rachael Horovitz (Moneyball, Grey Gardens). Jackson, the former Channel Four and IAC executive, recently formed the drama banner Two Cities Television. It will be the companys first production. Along with Cumberbatch and Adam Ackland who executive produce for SunnyMarch, Helen Flint executive produces for Little Island Productions.

The international distribution rights for Patrick Melrose will be handled by Sky Vision, Skys international production and distribution arm.

About Sky

Sky is Europes leading entertainment company, serving 22.5 million customers across seven countries - UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. The company has annual revenues of £12.9 billion and is Europes leading investor in television content with annual programming spend of over £6 billion.

From exclusive partnerships with HBO and Showtime, to Sky Original Productions, Sky offers the best and broadest range of content along with the best viewing experience to suit each and every customer. Whether thats through the multi-award winning next generation box, Sky Q, or Skys contract-free online streaming service, NOW TV, customers have access to the latest movies, drama, sports and kids entertainment wherever and whenever they like. This is all supported by Skys best in class customer service.

Skys success is not just based on what the company does but how it does it. Named as one of the Top 10 Green Companies in the World by Newsweek, one of the worlds most recognised rankings of businesss environmental performance, Sky ensures its responsible business strategy is embedded right across the group.

Sky has over 31,000 employees and is listed as one of The Times Top 50 employers for women. Sky is listed on the London Stock Exchange (SKY).

About NOW TV

NOW TV is a pick and mix TV streaming service that lets you choose from a range of passes contract free.

Available anytime, anywhere, you can watch through a NOW TV Box, on the web or on over 60 devices with the NOW TV app.

Whether youre into big dramas, blockbuster movies, live sports or even just some extra TV for the kids, NOW TV offers four passes which include the latest and best TV and movies: Entertainment, Sky Cinema, Kids and Sky Sports.

This includes Sky Atlantic, over 250 Box Sets on demand, all 10 Sky Sports channels and over 1,000 movies all available with no contract.

For more information visit nowtv.com

Follow us at facebook.com/NOWTV

Join the conversation on twitter @NOWTV

Visit us at Youtube.com/nowtvofficial

About Showtime Networks Inc.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME , THE MOVIE CHANNEL and FLIX , and also offers SHOWTIME ON DEMAND , THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND and FLIX ON DEMAND , and the networks authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME . Showtime Digital Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNI, operates the stand-alone streaming service SHOWTIME . SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Apple , Roku , Amazon, Google and Samsung

LINK:	https://www.skygroup.sky/corporate/media-centre/articles/en-gb/Patrick...
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