Coinciding with the biggest and most ambitious drama season ever, and building on its commitment to original British drama productions, Sky announces four brand new dramas to be filmed in the coming months.

The new programmes include a high-octane medical drama Critical, two new films for the Playhouse Presents strand, and a psychological thriller Penny Dreadful. All four feature some of the most highly respected drama talent working in television today, both on and off screen, including Josh Hartnett, Ben Whishaw, Billie Piper, Eva Green, Ashley Walters and Rory Kinnear.

Running across Sky’s portfolio of entertainment channels, and complemented by popular returning series, the new dramas reflect Sky’s drive to bring more high-quality, exclusive programming to customers. The new commissions are part of Sky’s commitment to invest £600 million a year in home-grown programming by 2014, an increase of 50% over three years.

The new dramas are, which unfolds in real time

Critical (Sky 1): a 13-part, high-octane medical drama from Jed Mercurio

Two brand new films for the Playhouse Presents strand on Sky Arts:

Nightshift: Ashley Walters and Daniel Mays star as two coppers, on duty overnight in South East London, discussing life, the universe and everything.

Foxtrot: Billie Piper, Ben Whishaw and Lindsay Duncan star in this tale of a gang heist gone wrong, penned by Polly Stenham in her first project for TV

Penny Dreadful (Sky Atlantic): a frightening psychological period horror, created by John Logan and starring Eva Green, Josh Hartnett, Timothy Dalton, Rory Kinnear and Billie Piper

Stuart Murphy, Director of Sky Entertainment, commented:

“We're so happy with the dramas we’ve made so far, and I hope our new programmes will underline how much we put a premium on creative endeavour at Sky. We really believe that our philosophy of backing world class creative talent and pushing them to make their best work is the way to go.”

Cameron Roach, Head of Drama, added:

“We love making these programmes and we hope that everyone who watches them feels like they’ve discovered something new, exciting and very special.”

The new commissions follow a host of original Sky productions which will be on screen in the coming months including

·         Drama Matters (Sky Living): a season of five original dramas from some of Britain’s most renowned and critically-acclaimed female screenwriters, including Sally Wainwright, Gwyneth Hughes and Annie Griffin. Drama Matters features an all-star cast including Suranne Jones, Anna Friel, Russell Tovey, Sophie Rundle and Freema Agyeman

·         The Tunnel (Sky Atlantic): Ben Richards (Spooks, Party Animals) heads up the writing team   based on the format of The Bridge andset against the backdrop of Europe in crisis and starring Stephen Dillane and Clémence Poésy.

·         Strike Back (Sky 1): starring Philip Winchester and Sullivan Stapleton, this returns for a fourth series this October.

·         Dracula (Sky Living): based on a script from Cole Haddon,the series stars Jonathan Rhys Myers and will launch this Autumn.

·         Moonfleet (Sky 1): a two-part family drama adaptation by Ashley Pharaoh (Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes) of the classic John Meade Falkner story, starring Ray Winstone and Aneurin Barnard.

·         Mad Dogs: The Finale (Sky 1): a two-partconclusion to the BAFTA-nominated dramastarring Max Beesley, Philip Glenister, John Simmand Marc Warren

·         Fleming (Sky Atlantic): starring Dominic Cooper in the lead role in a series based on the life of Bond creator Ian Fleming

·         The return of A Young Doctor’s Notebook & Other Stories (Sky Arts) starring Daniel Radcliffe and Jon Hamm.

·         The Smoke (Sky 1): created by Lucy Kirkwood(Skins), this follows the adrenaline fuelled and gut-wrenchingly emotional stories of the White Watch crew of a London fire station and stars Jamie Bamber and Jodie Whittaker.

Customers can view highlights from Sky’s new drama presentation at www.sky.com/skyoriginalproductions

Ends.

Notes to editor

For more information please contact:

Luke Morrison
T: 020 7032 1479
M: 07584 580026
luke.morrison@bskyb.com

 

NOTES TO EDITORS:

SKY DRAMA: SYNOPSES

CRITICAL (13 x 60 Hat Trick Productions). Written and created by Jed Mercurio (Cardiac Arrest, Bodies  and Line Of Duty), CRITICAL is a high octane medical drama which unfolds in real time. This 13 part series promises to deliver an action packed show, which sees the ensemble cast dealing with the minute by minute pressures, tensions and joys, as they battle to save lives. Never cutting away from the heart stopping action, this promises to be a medical series like no other – real, truthful and emotional, with humour pumping through it - all in the true spirit of a high pressure, Major Trauma Centre.  CRITICAL will be executive produced by Mark Redhead for Hat Trick Productions and Cameron Roach for Sky.

 

PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS… NIGHTSHIFT (1 x 30’, Cajun Pictures and World Productions) Written by Jimmy Gardner, and starring Daniel Mays, Ashley Walters and Scarlett Alice Johnson, Nightshift follows two coppers as they cruise the streets of South East London in the small hours discussing life, the universe and everything else amidst the surreal world of the night.  NIGHTSHIFT is produced by Cajun Pictures and World Productions.

 

PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS…FOXTROT (1x30’, Sprout Pictures) stars Billie Piper, Ben Wishaw, Lindsay Duncan and Alice Sanders star in, written and directed by Polly Stenham. In her first television drama, the critically-lauded playwright brings her unique voice and vision to a contemporary ill-fated girl gang heist. FOXTROT is produced by Adrian Bate, creative producer is Pip Broughton, and Gina Carter and Zoe Rocha will be executive producers.

 

PENNY DREADFUL (8x60”) features some of literature’s most famously terrifying characters – including Doctor Frankenstein and his creature, Dorian Gray, and iconic figures from the novel Dracula – become embroiled in Victorian London.  The series weaves together these classic horror origin stories as the characters grapple with their monstrous alienation. A frightening psychological period drama created, written and executive produced by three-time Oscar® nominee John Logan and executive produced by Oscar winner Sam Mendes and Pippa Harris.  Produced for Sky Atlantic and Showtime by Neal Street Productions and Desert Wolf Productions, the series stars Eva Green, Josh Hartnett, Timothy Dalton, Rory Kinnear and Billie Piper

 

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 £2.3 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 23,000 people, has annual revenues of £6.8 billion and is estimated to support a £5.4 billion contribution to UK GDP.  Sky is listed on the London Stock Exchange (BSY).  www.sky.com/corporate