Flippin’ heck! Sky returns up North for a second series of Brassic

Sky original Brassic, the edgy new comedy drama co-created by Joseph Gilgun and BAFTA-winning writer Danny Brocklehurst, has been commissioned for a second series ahead of the premier of the first series, with all episodes available today on Sky One and on streaming service NOW TV.

The first series of Brassic has already gained widespread acclaim; The Observer declared that it is “A winner!” and “One of the year’s best new comedies.”, The Sun described it as “a clever mix of comedy and pathos” and The Telegraph as “Confident and hilarious.” Heat Magazine’s five-star review said it “Is a love letter to the working class” and Virgin Radio Breakfast show host, Chris Evans, declared “It’s the funniest thing I’ve ever seen.”  The new second series of the comedy drama will see all members of Vinnie’s (Gilgun) gang of friends reunited for even bigger and bolder misadventures around the fictious rural Lancashire town of Hawley.

Joining Gilgun, the returning cast will include motivated single mum Erin (Michelle Keegan), Vinnie’s best mate Dylan (Damien Molony), champion kebab eater Cardi (Tom Hanson), Ash (Aaron Heffernan), the son of a family of fighting Travellers, the sexually liberated Tommo (Ryan Sampson), and garage owner JJ (Parth Thakerar).

Series two will see new faces join the cast including John Thomson (Cold Feet) and Bill Paterson (Fleabag) as well as the return of Dominic West as Vinnie’s blundering GP. It will pick up with the friends a few months after the events that took place in the finale of series one.

Jon Mountague, Director of Comedy, Sky Studios, said: “I know when our viewers binge on the first series of Brassic, they too will fall in love with the world and the characters that Joe Gilgun and Danny Brocklehurst have created. You can laugh and empathise with every single one of them and you will want to be part of Vinnie’s gang. The show leaves you wanting more, so that’s why we had to order a second series of Brassic before it’s started!”

Joseph Gilgun, co-creator of Brassic said: “We all feel truly blessed to have a second series. I wouldn’t know how to thank Sky for having our back like they have. There’s definitely no second album syndrome and I’m confident series two is going to be even better than series one.”

Danny Brocklehurst, co-creator & writer, said: “It's a rare privilege to be gifted a second series before the first has aired. This recommission shows the amazing love and support Sky have given Brassic. We are all thrilled to be continuing the journey of Vinnie, Erin and the gang... and the plans we have for the second series are bigger, bolder and even more outrageous.”

The second series of Brassic was commissioned by Zai Bennett, Managing Director of Content, Sky UK and Ireland, and Jon Mountague, Director of Comedy, Sky Studios.

The Sky original is produced by Calamity Films. It is executive produced by David Livingstone for Calamity Films and Jon Mountague for Sky. Joseph Gilgun and Danny Brocklehurst are also executive producers with Mike Noble as series producer. Saul Metzstein (Block 1) and Jon Wright (Block 2) are directing. The second series of Brassic starts production in Manchester’s Sharp Project and on location in the North of England this September.

Brassic is the latest in a string of recent commissions as Sky continues to invest in original productions. Sky has recently committed to more than double its investment in original, drama, comedy and documentary through Sky Studios, the commissioning and production arm of Sky. Sky Studios brings to screen unique stories from the very best talent in Europe and is the creative home of Sky’s award-winning and much-loved Sky originals.

Forthcoming Sky originals include Temple starring Mark Strong, Catherine The Great starring Helen Mirren, Code 404 with Stephen Graham and Daniel Mays, Hit Men, Mel and Sue’s first scripted comedy series and a second series of Idris Elba’s comedy In The Long Run. 2019 has been a record year for Sky originals with 19-time Emmy-nominated Chernobyl becoming the most watched original ever with over 4million viewers. And away from the screen, Sky secured a record BAFTA haul with seven awards.

Brassic is distributed internationally by ITV Studios Global Entertainment.

For more information please contact:

Dominic Collett, Sky Comedy and Entertainment Publicist: Dominic.Collett@sky.uk

Notes to Editors

Brassic Series 1
All episodes of the Sky original comedy Brassic will be available on Thursday 22nd August on Sky One and on streaming service NOW TV

Critical acclaim Series 1

Heat ***** TV Times *****  Daily Star Sunday ****  Mail On Sunday ****   Metro.co.uk ****

“It’s the funniest thing I’ve ever seen” Chris Evans Virgin Radio

 “Confident and hilarious… …. uproarious comedy drama” The Telegraph

“One of the years best new comedies… …a winner” The Observer

“Sky’s new comedy bursts out of the gate like Trainspotting” Daily Mail Weekend

“Friendship, love, hope, fear, ambition, humour, guilt and chaos tumble in warm and human fashion out of Brassic, a worthy successor to TV series Shameless and film Trainspotting.” Metro

“Some serious laugh-out-loud comedy” Sunday Express S Magazine

"Sky's Brassic looks set to be the funniest comedy we've seen in ages" Cosmopolitan

 “A clever mix of comedy and pathos” The Sun

“It’s proper!” Scroobius Pip – Distraction Pieces Podcast

“There’s nothing else like it on TV” TV Times

  “If you like your comedy at 100mph then this is right up your street.” Total TV Guide

About Sky

With 24 million customers across seven countries, Sky is Europe’s leading media and entertainment company and is proud to be part of the Comcast group. Our 31,000 employees help connect our customers with the very best of Sports, News, the arts and to our own local, original content. Following the success of Sky originals like Chernobyl, Patrick Melrose, Das Boot and Gommorah we launched Sky Studios and now plan to more than double our investment in original drama and comedy over the next five years.

Our technology allows customers to watch what they want, when they want, how they want, and as we connect millions of families to content they love, it is our responsibility to do it safely – that’s why we offer services like Sky Broadband Buddy and the Sky Kids app. And our online streaming service, NOW TV, brings viewers all the enjoyment of Sky with the flexibility of a contract-free service.

We also believe that a company of our scale has a responsibility that goes beyond our business, and into the community. Our Sky Ocean Rescue campaign has reached millions across Europe, we’re on track to be free of single-use plastic by 2020, we’re investing £25million over five years in ocean-saving tech and we’re a proud employer – recognised by The Times and Stonewall for our approach to inclusivity.

About Calamity Films

Calamity Films is an independent film and television production company set up by David Livingstone. Their first feature was PRIDE (2014) directed by Matthew Warchus and written by Stephen Beresford. The film received 7 BIFA nominations, three BAFTA nominations and a Golden Globe Nomination for Best Film. David won a BAFTA for Outstanding Debut by a British Producer alongside writer Stephen Beresford. Calamity has recently produced JUDY starring Renée Zellweger as Judy Garland, written by Tom Edge and directed by Rupert Goold, which is set to release in October 2019 in the UK. They have also produced LAST CHRISTMAS, a festive feature for Universal Pictures written by Emma Thompson & Bryony Kimmings and directed by Paul Feig for release in November 2019. The film stars Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh and Emma Thompson.