Reversioned episodes from the archive and digital masterclasses will join brand new episodes from this May

TX: From 22^nd May, Sky Arts 1, 9.30pm

The South Bank Show returns to Sky Arts this May with six brand new episodes, as well as The South Bank Show Originals – thirty reversioned episodes which will bring some of the best of the most high profile arts documentary series in the world back onto television, with added contemporary contributions. There will also be 15 editions of another new series – The South Bank Show Masterclasses.

With a line-up as diverse and exciting as ever, the six brand new episodes of The South Bank Show - presented, edited and written by Melvyn Bragg - will feature TV producer John Lloyd, actor Daniel Radcliffe, singer Angel Blue, author Kate Atkinson, playwright Abi Morgan, and a special episode on King Lear, with contributions from the National’s most recent Lear, Simon Russell Beale and director Sam Mendes.

For thirty five years, The South Bank Show made a widely acclaimed, significant contribution to arts broadcasting, profiling the world’s most renowned performers, artists, actors, writers and musicians forming a vast and vivid archive of 20th century culture.

The South Bank Show Originals will update some of the most famous episodes of the series, adding new interviews, links and footage, including David Puttnam on David Lean and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa on Pavarotti.  Over the course of the next five years, Sky Arts will reversion thirty Originals a year, beginning this July, with episodes featuring Francis Bacon, Iggy Pop, Pavarotti, Ingmar Bergman and Sylvie Guillem. Paul McCartney will kick off the new series as he did in the first episode of the South Bank Show in January 1978.

The South Bank Show and Sky will also extend their commitment to supporting and inspiring young people in the arts, with a series of brand new digital masterclasses. As part of Sky Academy, the masterclasses will see some of the leading lights of the arts such as Nicholas Hytner and Tracey Emin offering insight into their working practices. Melvyn Bragg is a creative advisor for Sky Academy which is using art, sport and TV to help 1 million young people fulfil their potential. The digital masterclasses will launch later this year.

“I’m delighted. It’s like holding a royal flush. The South Bank Show continues to profile the best artists of the day; The South Bank Show Originals will remodel new programmes from old; and the masterclasses will give young people access to leading artists. In short, you could say we will inform, educate, and entertain.  And next year of course, there will be another South Bank Sky Arts Awards – and all under one brand!” comments Melvyn Bragg, presenter and editor of The South Bank Show.

“The South Bank Show has a natural home on Sky Arts,” adds Phil Edgar-Jones, director of Sky Arts. “From its inception, Melvyn’s aim was to challenge the boundaries between ‘traditional’ and ‘popular’ arts; and that’s very much what we try to do on Sky Arts. We’re delighted that we’re able to bring The South Bank Show, in all forms, to our customers.”

Since arriving on Sky Arts in 2012, the South Bank Show has been as contemporaneous as ever, covering everything from the world of Grime with Dizzee Rascal and Wiley; to contemporary ballet, following Tamara Rojo in her first months as Artistic Director of the English National Ballet. The show has also profiled Tim Minchin, Alison Balsom, Pat Barker, David Hare, Nicola Benedetti, Nicholas Hytner and Alfie Boe.

The South Bank Show Masterclasses, The South Bank Show Originals and The South Bank Show will join The South Bank Sky Arts Awards on Sky Arts. The Awards are now in their 17^th year.  The next South Bank Sky Arts Awards will take place in May 2015.

Ends

THE SOUTH BANK SHOW ORIGINALS

Classical

    Pavarotti

    Daniel Barenboim

    Stéphane Grappelli & Yehudi Menuhin

    Kiri Te Kanawa

Visual Art

    Francis Bacon

    Paula Rego

    David Hockney

    Tracey Emin

    Ronnie Wood

Pop

    Paul McCartney

    Pete Townshend

    John Lee Hooker

    Iggy Pop

    Dolly Parton

    Sting

Authors

    Norman Mailer

    William Golding

    Joseph Heller

    PD James

    Beryl Bainbridge

Dance

    Mikhail Baryshnikov

    Sylvie Guillem

    Michael Flatley

    Mama Lu Parks

    Merce Cunningham

Film Directors

    Ingmar Bergman

    David Lean

    Ken Loach

    Steven Spielberg

    Ken Russell

From 3^rd July, Sky Arts 1

THE SOUTH BANK DIGITAL MASTERCLASSES

    Joan Armatrading on song writing

    Simon Armitage on poetry

    Angel Blue on opera

    Noel Clarke on writing and directing films

    Jamie Cullum on song writing

    Tracey Emin on mono printing

    Dame Evelyn Glennie on percussion

    Nicholas Hytner on how to direct a play

    Peter Lord on stop motion animation

    Jacqueline Mills on costume design

    Abi Morgan on screenwriting

    Patrick Ness on writing

    Paul Noble on the pencil

    Edward Watson on ballet

    Tim Webber on visual effects

Launching later this year as part of Sky Academy

For further information please contact

Dominic Collett Sky Arts Publicist, Sky Press Office
T: 0207 032 4892
E:

Notes to editor

Sky Academy

Sky Academy is a unique and ground-breaking set of initiatives that uses the power of television, creativity and sport to inspire young people and help them reach their potential. Sky Academy will make the most of our strengths in media and
technology as well as the passion and expertise of our people. And it will link up with schools and other organisations and work with inspirational role models from the world of TV, sport and the arts.

Head-quartered in a brand new building at the heart of the West London campus, Sky Academy will comprise initially of four initiatives: Sky Academy Skills Studio, Sky Sports Living for Sport, Sky Academy Scholarships and Sky Academy Starting Out. A fifth, built around creativity and the arts, will follow in 2014. Together, these initiatives will create opportunities for under-25s across Britain and Ireland and bring more of this generation into Sky to build their skills and gain valuable experience.

About Sky

Sky is the UK and Ireland’s leading home entertainment and communications company.  Around 40% of all homes have a direct relationship with Sky through its range of TV, broadband and home telephony services.

Sky is the UK’s biggest investor in television content, investing more than £2.5 billion a year in channels such as Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, Sky Living, Sky Arts, Sky Sports, Sky Movies and Sky News.   Around two-thirds of Sky’s content spend is invested in the UK and Sky is the fastest-growing source of investment in original British programmes.  More than 30 million people watch Sky content each week.

Alongside its commitment to offering customers a greater choice of high-quality content, Sky is a leading innovator.  Customers enjoy total control and flexibility over their favourite TV through Sky+, watch TV on the move through Sky Go, and enjoy the best quality TV experience at home through High Definition and 3D.

Sky distributes its content broadly over several platforms, including satellite, cable, IPTV, mobile and WiFi.  NOW TV, Sky’s second consumer brand, builds on the company’s leadership in internet TV.  Sky is also the UK's fastest-growing home communications company and favourite ‘triple-play’ provider of TV, broadband and home phone.

Sky believes in making a wider contribution to the communities in which it operates by taking positive action on the environment, supporting grassroots sports and increasing access to, and participation in, the arts.  Sky employs 24,000 people, has annual revenues of £7.2 billion and is estimated to support a £5.9 billion contribution to UK GDP.  Sky is listed on the London Stock Exchange (BSY).