Ben Batt joins Max Beesley, Sophie Rundle and Jason Flemyng as filming begins on series three of hit Sky One drama Jamestown
Ben Batt joins Max Beesley, Sophie Rundle and Jason Flemyng as filming begins on series three of hit Sky One drama Jamestown
Ben Batt (In the Dark, Shameless) takes on colonial Virginia as he joins the stellar cast in the third series of Sky original production Jamestown.
Produced by the multi-award-winning producers of Downton Abbey, Carnival Films, an NBCUniversal International Studios company, filming of the third series is underway near Budapest, and sees the arrival of a new character: enigmatic trader Willmus Crabtree, played by Ben Batt. He joins the series’ ensemble cast, which includes Max Beesley (Henry), Sophie Rundle (Alice), Naomi Battrick (Jocelyn), Jason Flemyng (Yeardley) and Niamh Walsh (Verity) as they return for more adventures in 17th-century Virginia.
The third series, again written by Bill Gallagher (Lark Rise to Candleford), who is also executive producer, continues to chart the early days of the first British settlers in America and the birth of the nation. With trade booming and the tobacco farms established, the settlers’ pioneering aspiration soon clashes with reality as they begin to strive for more than new lives – now they crave control and power.
The flourishing community creates new tensions between the English and the Pamunkey, and with politics rife in the air, the idealism of the New World is tested. As Yeardley’s thirst for power grows, can he handle the consequences? And how far will Opechancanough go to protect his native land?
Ben Batt commented: “I am delighted to have joined the Jamestown cast; it’s such an incredible show. I am excited to see how my character, Willmus Crabtree, shakes up the dynamic among the settlers, and I am really enjoying working with such a talented cast and crew.”
Jamestown is one of Sky One’s top returning commissioned dramas, with each episode of series two drawing in an average cumulative audience of 1.1 million. The eight-part third series, which is currently filming in Budapest, Hungary, is scheduled to air in 2019 exclusively on Sky One and TV streaming service NOW TV in the UK and Ireland.
Cameron Roach, executive producer for Sky, commented: “We’re thrilled to be returning to Jamestown for a third series; this is a show Sky One viewers value highly and it’s built a passionate following among our customers. Bill Gallagher’s incredible vision for the series goes from strength to strength, and it’s a privilege to watch the saga unfold.”
Richard Fell, executive producer for Carnival Films, commented: “The settlement has come a long way since the first group of women landed on the shores of Virginia in series one and we're so excited to continue to tell their tales. Ben Batt has been a tremendous addition to an extremely talented cast this year with a brilliant portrayal of the mischievous Willmus Crabtree."
Series three was commissioned for Sky by head of drama Anne Mensah and commissioning editor and executive producer for Sky Cameron Roach. Gareth Neame, Nigel Marchant and Richard Fell will executive produce for Carnival Films and the producer is Lis Steele. The series will be internationally distributed by NBCUniversal International Distribution.
For further information please contact:
Hannah Harris-Turner
Hannah.harris-turner@premiercomms.com
0207 292 8348
SJ Peyton
07808 640 175
Callum Clark
Notes to editors
About Sky
Sky is Europe's leading entertainment company, serving 23 million customers across seven countries - UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. The company had annual reported revenues of £12.9 billion in 2016/17, and is Europe’s leading investor in television content with an annual programming spend of around £7 billion.
From exclusive partnerships with HBO, Showtime and Warner Bros. to Sky Original Productions, Sky offers the best and broadest range of content along with the best viewing experience to suit each and every customer. Whether that’s through the multi-award winning next generation box, Sky Q, or Sky’s contract-free online streaming service, NOW TV, customers have access to the latest movies, drama, sports and kids entertainment wherever and whenever they like. This is all supported by Sky’s best in class customer service.
Sky’s success is not just based on what the company does but how it does it. Three new major commitments have been launched for Sky’s corporate campaign Sky Ocean Rescue; the reduction of our own single-use plastics by 2020; an investment fund of £25 million over five years in technology solutions; and support of marine protected areas across our markets.
Sky has over 31,000 employees and is listed as one of The Times Top 50 employers for women, as well as being recognised in the Stonewall list of Top 50 LGBT-inclusive employers. Sky is listed on the London Stock Exchange (SKY).
About NOW TV
NOW TV is a pick and mix TV streaming service that lets you choose from a range of passes contract free.
Available anytime, anywhere in the UK, you can watch through a NOW TV Box or NOW TV Smart Stick, or on the web. The NOW TV app is also available on over 60 devices.
Whether you’re into big dramas, blockbuster movies, live sports or even just some extra TV for the kids, NOW TV offers four passes which include the latest and best TV and movies: Entertainment, Sky Cinema, Kids and Sky Sports.
This includes Sky Atlantic, over 300 Box Sets on demand, all 10 Sky Sports channels and over 1,000 movies – all available with no contract.
For more information:
- Visit nowtv.com
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- Visit us at Youtube.com/nowtvofficial
About Carnival Films
Carnival Films is a division of NBCUniversal International Studios and one of the UK’s leading drama specialists. The company is responsible for the global television phenomenon Downton Abbey and current primetime series such as The Last Kingdom for Netflix, and Jamestown and Stan Lee’s Lucky Man for Sky 1. Other shows produced over Carnival’s history include Poirot, Hotel Babylon, Whitechapel and Dracula, as well as award-winning mini-series such as Traffik, Any Human Heart, The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies and The Hollow Crown anthology. Carnival has received a host of national and international awards including Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes and BAFTAs, and has been recognised as the UK’s best production company at both the Bulldog Awards and Broadcast Awards.
About NBCUniversal International Studios
NBCUniversal International Studios delivers award-winning international content to millions across the globe. Based in London, the business’ in-house production labels include: Carnival Films, creator of worldwide phenomenon Downton Abbey and Sky 1’s most-watched drama, Stan Lee’s Lucky Man; Monkey, producer of BAFTA-winning Made in Chelsea and reality ITVBe hit, The Real Housewives of Cheshire; and Australian-based Matchbox Pictures, SPA’s Media Super Production Business of the Year and maker of critically-acclaimed drama series The Nowhere Boys, Glitch, The Slap and Seven Types of Ambiguity. International Studios has also produced crime drama, Gone, in partnership with RTL and TF1, and is currently in production on a television remake of Hanna for Amazon Studios.
Additionally, NBCUniversal International Studios operates a joint production venture with Working Title Television (London Spy and Birdsong) and Heyday Television (The InBetween and The Long Song), owns an equity stake in LARK Productions Canada (First Responders and Motive), and has a first-look deal with Hardy Son & Baker. It also operates a prolific International Formats business, which licenses and produces content in over 70 territories worldwide, with key brands including World of Dance, Top Chef, Suits and House.
Complementing its content, in 2017, International Studios extended the legacy of award-winning title, Downton Abbey, by launching Downton Abbey: The Exhibition in New York.
