Brendan Coyle and Lesley Sharp star in Sky 1 HD’s new comedy drama from Steve Edge and Matt King, beginning Sunday 13 May at 8pm

On Sunday 13 May at 8pm, Sky 1 HD will introduce the STARLINGS. Written by and starring Matt King (Peep Show) and Steve Edge (Star Stories), comedy drama STARLINGS will also star BAFTA® nominees Brendan Coyle (Downton Abbey) and Lesley Sharp (Scott & Bailey).

STARLINGS will follow the lives of the Starlings family, a typical working class brood living in a detached house in Matlock, Derbyshire. Grandad (Alan Williams, Luther) has recently moved in, following a rabble rousing incident at the old folks’ home. Rather than see him unhappy, his son Terry (Coyle) and wife Jan (Sharp), decide to put him up in their already crammed family home.  Making room for him is Charlie (Finn Atkins, EastEnders), their 16 year old football crazy tomboy daughter; work–shy, reptile enthusiast, Gravy (John Dagleish, Beaver Falls) and beautiful Bell (Rebecca Night, Larkrise to Candleford)  and her brand new baby, Zac, who arrives bang on time for the first episode.

Then there’s Bell’s ex-boyfriend, Reuben (Ukweli Roach, Eternal Law) desperate to get back together with her.  Uncle Loz (King), Grandad’s long lost son, is the artist of the family.  Last but not least, Jan’s nephew, Fergie (Edge) who offers to bivouac in the garden, after being made homeless when his long suffering partner chucks him out.

Matt King commented: “Steve Edge and I set out to write a comedy drama that was completely lacking in anything bleak, anything cynical... We just wanted to write something really uplifting, funny and warm, and about a family: a real family.”

Brendan Coyle added: “This is something very, very different... It’s rooted in a source of truth: it’s a family, we’re playing it for real. We all get on, we all like each other – there’s a familiarity and an ease between us, which is really going to play on screen.”

STARLINGS 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 content such as entertainment hits Got To Dance and A League of Their Own, dramas Mad Dogs and Thorne, and the BAFTA-winning documentary Flying Monsters 3D.

STARLINGS will air on Sky 1 HD and Sky 1 from Sunday 13 May at 8pm. Following the addition of Sky 1 HD to Sky Go, customers will also be able to watch STARLINGS on the move on iPad, selected smartphones and laptops at no extra cost.

Notes to editor

About Sky

Sky entertains and excites more than 10.4 million homes through the most comprehensive multichannel, multi-platform television service in the UK and Ireland. Sky continues to break new ground with its own portfolio of channels: Sky 1 combines its commitment to UK production with the best of the US; Sky Living pushes ahead with fresh and innovative entertainment formats; Sky Arts is the UK's only dedicated arts channel brand; Sky Atlantic is the home to HBO and other iconic drama and comedy, Sky Sports is still raising the bar in sports broadcasting; Sky News remains a pioneer in television news; and Sky Movies is leading the way in High Definition and on-demand.

Sky also works with dozens of other broadcasters on the satellite platform, as well as online and on mobile through the ground-breaking Sky Go service.  Sky has also led the UK into the age of high definition television, launched Europe's first 3DTV channel, Sky 3D, and offers customer even more flexibility and choice through Sky Anytime+, its internet-delivered video on demand service.   Since launching Sky Broadband and Sky Talk in 2006, the company has also been the UK's fastest-growing home communications provider.

Sky believes in making a wider contribution to the communities in which it operates, not least by increasing participation in, and access to, the arts, supporting grassroots sports, and taking positive action on the environment.

About Sky 1 HD:

Sky 1 HD is the most watched non-terrestrial channel in Sky homes, attracting more than 20m unique viewers every month and, according to the latest tracker results (October – December, 2011), was the third highest valued channel amongst all Sky subscribers behind only BBC1 and ITV1.

Sky 1 HD distinguishes itself from rival networks with original drama and comedy, talked about entertainment formats, distinctive factual programming and award-winning exclusive US drama.

About Baby Cow Productions:

Established in 1999 by award winning comedy creators Steve Coogan and Henry Normal, Baby Cow Productions Ltd has gained an enviable reputation for nurturing new British comedy talent, whilst teaming up with the best of the UK's established writers, directors and producers.

Baby Cow has produced award winning and highly acclaimed TV programmes for the BBC, ITV, UK digital channels, world sales, iTunes and DVD sales.

Specialising in cutting edge comedy Baby Cow are working with some of the hottest names in this field both in front and behind camera over a wide range of bold and innovative programmes for both national and international television.

Baby Cow’s productions include award winning Gavin and Stacey, The Mighty Boosh, Nighty Night, Mid Morning Matters, The Trip, Ideal, Chekhov: Comedy Shorts, Saxondale and Sensitive Skin resulting in an array of nominations and awards for Bafta, British Comedy, RTS, Broadcast, Televisual, NTS, Rose d’Or and the Southbank Awards.