Sky Atlantic HD today (Thursday 6 December, 2012) announces the eagerly anticipated names of the guest stars who will make appearances across the second series of critically acclaimed comedy THIS IS JINSY when it returns to the channel in Summer 2013.

The brainchild of Chris Bran and Justin Chubb, THIS IS JINSY is a truly original comedy about the eccentric residents of the fictional island Jinsy. Combining a host of hilarious stories with surreal sketches and inspired musical interludes, the show garnered much critical acclaim and received a nomination at the British Comedy Awards 2011.

The second series will head back to the island to find Maven (Chubb) and Sporall (Bran) with a host of new characters, some returning favourites and plenty of songs in the finest Jinsy tradition.   

Episode One will see a guest spot from Stephen Fry as Dr. Bevelspepp. Bevelspepp is a tweedy professor with a floppy quiff, who uses his encyclopaedic knowledge of Jinsy to help save the island from an invasion of rampaging hair.

Also making their debut in the first episode will be Greg Davies as Jennitta Bishard, a delightfully sinister figure who delivers punishments to residents across the island from the safety of her TV studio.

In a later episode, Katy Brand will be guest starring as Madame Astralina, a flamboyant psychic who obtains her readings from a pen of rats.  

Ben Miller will play the Chief Accountant of Jinsy, as well as the role of his daughter Berpetta, a drunk, hefty, buck-toothed accountant. 

Dame Eileen Atkins will guest as Miss Penny,  a school-mistress with a massive dome of pinned hair who teaches Extreme Etiquette for Girls. 

Sir Derek Jacobi is starring as Robunce Barnatty, the eldest resident of Jinsy island, at 98 cycles old.

Mr Lovely, the owner of Mr Lovely’s Lovely Jumper Shop with a penchant for all-in-one knitted bodysuits, will be played by Stephen Mangan.

Phil Davis will star as ex-Arbiter Roley Jenkins who lives in a large Manor House with his wife Joan, who will be played by Olivia Colman. Both of them are very elderly with very questionable hygiene.

Rob Brydon will play Jinsy singing sensation, Rex Camalbeeter, who likes dressing up as a female badger and singing about it. KT Tunstall will appear in the same episode as Meb Twaheely, the singer of Jinsy's third most famous folk band, Twaheely Transfix, who are best known for their ode to the gloved hand, entitled ‘Mittens’. 

The guest stars join returning series regulars Alice Lowe as Soosan Noop, Janine Duvitski as Mrs Goadion and Geoff McGivern as Trince.

THIS IS JINSY is created and written by Chris Bran and Justin Chubb and will be directed by Matt Lipsey.  It is a Welded Tandem Picture Company and Tiger Aspect production for Sky Atlantic HD and will be produced by James Dean for Welded Tandem Picture Company and Margot Gavan Duffy for Tiger Aspect. The series was commissioned by Lucy Lumsden, Head of Comedy for Sky, and will be executive produced by Jon Mountague, Commissioning Editor, Sky Comedy. 

The series 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. Our commitment to this home grown content will include an increased spend across comedy, drama, factual and the arts.

THIS IS JINSY will return to Sky Atlantic HD and Sky Atlantic +1 in 2013.

Notes to editor

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