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Sky 1 HD today (Wednesday 16 May, 2012) announces an original, new three part factual series with actor and comedian Eddie Izzard.  The programme will follow Izzard as he takes on the incredible challenge of running 27 marathons across South Africa in 27 days -  each marathon marking one year that Nelson Mandela spent incarcerated in prison.

Whilst completing each marathon Izzard will also be telling Mandela’s story and the turbulent history of South Africa, something that he’s incredibly passionate about and a subject that is close to his heart.  This will be an epic journey that traces the life of one of the world’s most celebrated figures.  During the expedition he will be visiting the sites linked to Mandela’s personal history – retracing the life of the 93 year old.  

Viewers can also expect his natural humour and unique perspective on the country’s most famous South African in this intimate personal journey.   Izzard will provide his signature , with humorous interpretations of this time in history.

Izzard will be running over 700 miles in total and as he travels across the country he will be visiting the places that mattered most to Mandela and meeting the people whose lives he touched.  His journey will begin in the Eastern Cape, where the former president was born. From there he will travel to Cape Town, where one of the marathons will take place on Robben Island – where he spent the majority of his 27 year long prison sentence. The last few marathons will be in the Johannesburg area finishing in Pretoria, where he was on trial.

Eddie Izzard, said “Starting on Tuesday 15th May 2012, I will attempt to run 27 marathons in 27 days, as a small tribute to Nelson Mandela and 27 years he spent in prison.   The marathons will be run all over South Africa in areas that resonate with his life including: Mvezo, Qunu, Fort Hare,  Cape Town and Robben Island where he was imprisoned for 18 of the 27 years, Johannesburg, Soweto, , Rivonia, and Pretoria.

As the marathons are run, we will be filming a documentary about Nelson Mandela's life and I will be talking to people who know him and who struggled with him over those 27 years. The documentary will be broadcast on Sky 1 HD later this year.

Siobhan Mulholland, Commissioning Editor, Factual & Features, Sky commented: “Eddie Izzard’s Mandela Marathons is going to be a fun and thought provoking three part series.  Eddie will bring his own insights into South Africa’s recent past, with his unique interviewing . He will be speaking to key people who contributed to and shaped Mandela’s destiny.

Nick Catliff, Executive Producer andManaging Director Lion TV, added: “This is very much for real. Nothing is guaranteed. Eddie will be running for 700 miles through open country, across mountain ranges, through cities and in townships. If he gets there in one piece it will be a very personal tribute to Nelson Mandela as well as a triumph for Eddie’s bloody minded courage and determination… and he will have very sore feet”.

This latest commission is part of Sky's commitment to increase its investment in original British content by 50% over the next three years. By 2014, Sky expects to invest £600 million a year in British programmes across its portfolio of channels.  This commitment follows the success of home-grown comedies such as TROLLIED, SPY and STELLA, entertainment hits GOT TO DANCE and A LEAGUE OF THEIROWN, dramas such as STRIKE BACK and MAD DOGS, and factual shows

including ROSS KEMP EXTREME WORLD, AN IDIOT ABROAD and the BAFTA-winning documentary FLYING MONSTERS 3D.

Eddie Izzard’s Mandela Marathons will be shown exclusively on Sky 1 HD and Sky 1 this Autumn. Following the addition of Sky 1 HD to Sky Go, customers will also be able to watch on the move on iPad, selected smartphones and laptops at no extra cost.

The three part series has been commissioned by Celia Taylor, Head of Factual, Sky and will be Executive Produced by Siobhan Mulholland, Commissioning Editor, Factual & Features, Sky and Nick Catliff Executive Producer for Lion TV.  The programme is directed by Sarah Townsend.  Eddie Izzard’s Mandela Marathons is due to TX on Sky 1 HD later this year.

For further information please contact

Elena Kemp - Publicist, BSkyB
T:
E: elena.kemp@bskyb.com

Notes to editor 

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