Term starts on Sky 1 HD this September with HARROW: A VERY BRITISH SCHOOL

Tuesday 20 August 2013

This eight part observational-documentary starts on 4th September at 8pm on Sky 1 HD and is available On Demand from 29th August

Sky 1 HD takes an inside look at Harrow, one of the country’s most prestigious schools, where past pupils include Winston Churchill and Benedict Cumberbatch.

Going beyond the school gates, into the classrooms and the dormitories HARROW: A VERY BRITISH SCHOOL will give an exclusive look into one of Britain’s most recognisable schools. For the first time ever Harrow gave access to cameras to film over the course of the 2012/2013 school year, in West Acre – one of the twelve school houses. The series will deliver an in-depth look at life at the hallowed all-boys institution, the extraordinary world of traditions and what it is like to be a modern boy in a British institution that boasts nearly 450 years’ worth of history.

The series opens as the peace of West Acre boarding house is shattered by the arrival of its 66 inhabitants. Veteran House Master, Martin Smith, is welcoming 14 new boys (or, as they're known at Harrow, Shells), from as far afield as Malawi. It's a big day for the new arrivals who are used to living at home with their families. Wearing their Bluers (blazer), Greyers (trousers) and not forgetting the famous Harrow boater, the Shells attend a welcome speech from the Head Master in the historic 450 year old Fourth Form Room. Will seeing the names of hundreds of old boys, including Byron, Sheridan and Winston Churchill, carved into the walls be an inspiration to the Shells or a daunting reminder of what they have to live up to?

Over the course of eight weeks a variety of staff and pupils from West Acre will feature from Matron Cate Bain, the new Shells and the competitive sixth-formers.

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, AN IDIOT ABROAD and A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, dramas such as STRIKE BACK and MAD DOGS, comedies such as TROLLIED, THE CAFE and SPY, for which its star Darren Boyd received both a BAFTA® Award and British Comedy Award, and factual shows such as ROSS KEMP EXTREME WORLD and the BAFTA-winning documentary FLYING MONSTERS 3D.

HARROW: A VERY BRITISH SCHOOL will air on 4th September at 8pm on Sky 1 HD and is available On Demand from 29th August

ENDS

 

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For further information please contact:

Annabel Rudden

Publicist, Sky 1 and Sky Arts
T: +44 (0)20 7032 6845

M: +44 (0)7901 008 196
annabel.rudden@bskyb.com

Notes to editor

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