Sky Atlantic commissions a second series of Fortitude
Sky Atlantic commissions a second series of Fortitude
Sky Atlantic’s most successful original commission and Sky Vision’s biggest selling show set to return in 2016
Sky today reinforces its commitment to invest in high quality, original content with the re-commission of Fortitude. Described by The Guardian as “part Coen brothers, part Beckett” and by Radio Times as “an Arctic chiller which is as addictive as it is original and unsettling”, Fortitude launched in January 2015 and was the first Sky original programme to premiere simultaneously across all Sky markets: Italy, Germany, Austria, the UK and Ireland.
In the UK the first episode was watched by a cumulative audience of 2.66m and the series so far averages 1.69m, making Fortitude Sky Atlantic’s most successful original commission. Fortitude is the most successful original drama series launch to date in Sky homes, and attracted new viewers to the channel, with over 50% of the audience coming to Sky Atlantic for the first time to watch Fortitude.
Fortitude is also Sky Vision’s most successful show to date, selling to over 100 broadcasters around the world, including ABC Australia, Superchannel Canada, OTE Greece and Canal+ France. Sky Vision will again handle international distribution for the series.
The creative team behind Fortitude will return with Simon Donald writing a brand new 10 part story set again in the unsettling Arctic town. Fifty Fathom’s Patrick Spence and Frith Tiplady will return as Executive Producers. Cast will be announced at a later date.
Zai Bennett, Channel Director, Sky Atlantic, said: “Simon Donald created a unique and unsettling story which, week after week, has captivated our customers. I am absolutely delighted that we will be bringing Fortitude back next year with a story that promises to engage, challenge and enthral us all over again. “
Simon Donald, creator and lead writer adds "It's a privilege to return to Fortitude. It's a place where the real and the feared live side by side, where old dark secrets thaw out into the chill light of the arctic day. I'd never been anywhere like Fortitude before and I can't wait to go back".
Fortitude launched in the US through Participant Media’s television network, Pivot who are confirmed to return to co-produce the second series.
“From the first episode, audiences responded to the incredibly rich world Simon Donald created, where nature and civilization collide with catastrophic results. We’re excited that ‘Fortitude’ will be back for another season of suspense and chaos,” said Kent Rees, General Manager, Pivot.
Fifty Fathoms and Tiger Aspect will produce the 10x60' drama with Sky Atlantic. Executive Producers for Fifty Fathoms/Tiger Aspect are Patrick Spence (Marvellous, Five Minutes of Heaven), Simon Donald (Low Winter Sun) and Frith Tiplady (Ripper Street, Peaky Blinders). For Sky Atlantic, executive producers are Anne Mensah and Lizzie Gray.
Fortitude series 2 is the latest addition to Sky’s ambitious slate of original drama which includes: Sky 1’s Raymond Briggs’ much-loved classic Fungus the Bogeyman; and epic global drama Apocalypse Slough, starring Mathew Baynton; Sky Atlantic’s The Last Panthers, the crime drama written by Jack Thorne and starring Samantha Morton, Tahar Rahim and John Hurt; Sky Living’s The Five, created by number one international best-selling author Harlan Coben,; Enfield Haunting starring Timothy Spall, Matthew MacFadyen and Juliet Stevenson and Sky Arts’ Birthday, written by Joe Penhall.
For further information, please contact;
Tamsyn Zietsman
Head of PR, Sky Atlantic
07872 993431
Luke Morrison
PR Manager, Sky Atlantic
07584 580026
Notes to editors:
New viewers are defined as viewers who have watched 10mins+ of Fortitude in the first 28 days of the series that had not watched 10mins of Atlantic for the 6 weeks prior to launch
Cumulative viewing figures include all viewing within 7 days, both time-shifted and live, including repeat transmissions and on demand viewing.
About Sky
Sky is Europe's leading entertainment company. The group serves 21 million customers across five countries: Italy, Germany, Austria, the UK and Ireland. We offer the best and broadest range of content, deliver market-leading customer service and use innovative new technology to give customers a better TV experience, whenever and wherever they choose.
Sky has annual revenues of over £11 billion and is Europe's leading investor in television content with a combined programming budget of over £4.6 billion. The company employs 31,000 people and is listed on the London Stock Exchange (SKY).
About Sky Vision
Sky Vision is the international distribution arm of Sky, Europe’s leading entertainment company. Sky Vision represents nearly 4000 hours of quality content from Sky channels and third party programming.
The business also comprises Sky Vision Productions, a wholly-owned independent production company, specialising in popular factual and specialist factual programming. The company forms an integral part of Sky’s strategy to grow a broad, international content business spanning broadcasting, production and distribution.
Sky Vision works extensively with independent producers and has established development deals with a number of companies including Znak & Jones Productions and Ugly Brother Studios in the US, and in the UK with Love Productions, back2back productions, Spark Media Partners, ACME Films, Chalkboard TV, Hungry Bear Media, Spring Films and Roughcut TV.
About Fifty Fathoms
The Fifty Fathoms Label was set up by Patrick Spence in 2010.
At Fifty Fathoms, we create an environment in which a writer can deliver their boldest work; and we will do whatever it takes to champion and protect the uniqueness of their vision.
Alongside FORTITUDE, we have also produced MARVELLOUS, Pete Bowker's 90' film for BBC2 which transmitted last year, starring Toby Jones and directed by Julian Farino (Best Writer, RTS; Best Film and Best Actor, BPG Awards; Best Film, Writers Guild Awards and FIPA; nominated Best Writer and Best Director, Best Single Drama, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Bafta).
And this summer we begin production on THE A WORD, also written by Pete Bowker, a new six part series for BBC1.
About Tiger Aspect Productions
Tiger Aspect Productions, an Endemol Company, is internationally recognised as one of the UK’s most successful and prolific independent television producers. The company portfolio includes Children’s/Animation, Comedy, Drama, Entertainment and Factual/Features genres.
We create a wide range of critically acclaimed and award-winning programming for all the UK’s major terrestrial and non-terrestrial broadcasters. In addition our creative output now enjoys high profile internationally through commissions for major foreign networks. Our programmes are shown by a host of broadcasters in hundreds of territories.
Our programming is built on our relationships with the best on offer in UK talent. The company’s belief in nurturing and supporting creativity on every level means that Tiger Aspect consistently attracts the ultimate in on-screen, writing and production talent.
About Simon Donald – Executive Producer and Lead Writer
THE LIFE OF STUFF earned him both the Evening Standard Best Playwright Award and the London Critics Award for Best New Play when it was produced at the Donmar Theatre in 1993.
In 2006, Simon wrote the thriller LOW WINTER SUN, which starred Mark Strong and won the RTS Award for Best Drama Serial, as well as nominations for a host of other awards.
About Patrick Spence – Executive Producer
Patrick was until 2010 Head of Drama, BBC Northern Ireland, where he commissioned and executive produced the Bafta, RTS, WGA, BPG and Prix Europa Award winning serial OCCUPATION (Pete Bowker) and the Bafta, RTS and Sundance Film Award winning single film FIVE MINUTES OF HEAVEN (Guy Hibbert), as well as the Bafta nominated dramas HANCOCK AND JOAN (Rik Cottan), MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (David Nicholls) and MURPHY’S LAW (Russell Lewis).
Patrick set up Fifty Fathoms in 2010, and is the Managing Director of the Label.