Sky Arts’ much-loved Landscape Artist of the Year is set for an exciting new chapter, as broadcaster, author and podcaster Fearne Cotton joins Stephen Mangan as co-host of the upcoming series.

Fearne Cotton is one of the UK’s most recognisable broadcasters, having hosted some of the nation’s biggest and best-loved shows including Top of the Pops, Celebrity Juice, The X Factor spin-off The Xtra Factor, and her hugely popular BBC Radio 1 show, The Fearne Cotton Show.

Fearne is also a leading voice in the wellbeing space. She is the creator and host of the award-winning podcast Happy Place. She has authored several bestselling books on wellbeing and self-development, further cementing her role as a powerful advocate for creativity and positive living.

Fearne Cotton said: “I am thrilled to be joining Landscape Artist of the Year as part of the presenting team at Sky Arts. Art is such an important, emotive and expressive medium for me and I know that the audience is just going to be absolutely blown away by the level of enthusiasm and passion that we see from the artists taking part in the show. I can’t wait to be part of that journey and to help them tell their stories.”

Phil Edgar-Jones OBE, Executive Director, Unscripted, Sky, said: “We are so chuffed to have fellow art enthusiast Fearne Cotton on our presenting team for Landscape Artist of the Year alongside Stephen Mangan and our judges. As an accomplished painter herself, we know she will bring passion and expertise to this most wonderful of arty events.”

The format of Landscape Artist of the Year has also been refreshed. Series 12 will see viewers follow 10 artists throughout the competition as they embark on an eight-week journey across the UK to capture extraordinary landscapes and impress judges Eva Langret and Tai Shan Schierenberg. They’ll compete for the coveted title, and a prestigious £10,000 commission for the Natural History Museum.

Every episode will take place in a location championed by a celebrity with a personal connection to it, challenging the contestants to capture not just the landscape but the emotion and memory it holds. After hearing the celebrity’s story, the artists reveal their approach with an initial sketch that sets out their composition, materials and creative instinct. Meanwhile, up to 100 wildcard artists gather at every location, and whilst they’re not competing, Stephen, Fearne and the celebrity guest explore their work and reasons for entering.

At the end of each episode, the celebrity champion chooses the artwork that speaks to them most, taking home a painting that captures their connection to the landscape. Then comes the judges’ toughest decision: one artist must leave the competition.

Each episode will see a contestant eliminated until the grand finale, where the three remaining artists battle it out for the title of Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year and the £10,000 commission.

Landscape Artist of the Year forms part of a bold line-up of Sky Originals and Exclusives coming to Sky and NOW screens in 2026 and beyond. From gripping dramas and films to big entertainment and compelling documentaries, Sky continues to champion distinctive storytelling alongside world-class talent - delivering the must-watch moments set to define the year ahead.