Sky announce new line up of comedy, entertainment, factual and drama programming
Sky have revealed highlights from their autumn 2012 schedules which includes some favourites returning as well as a host of new programming for the network.
Director Entertainment Channels, Stuart Murphy, says “Our focus is on delivering shows that our customers feel really, really close to and can utterly fall in love with. With today’s announcements and our best autumn season yet, we’re sure to not only keep our customers happy, but to give everyone else a reason to think about getting Sky.”
In drama Sky have commissioned The Smoke. The eight hour-long episodes have been written and created by Skins’ Lucy Kirkwood. The story follows the adrenaline fuelled and gut-wrenchingly emotional stories of the White Watch crew of a London fire station. At the heart of the story is a family of firemen and women who, no matter what, always have each other to fall back on. Moonfleet is a minseries adaptation of the classic John Meade Falkner story. The two part special will air in 2013 with the script written by Ashley Pharoah of Life On Mars and Ashes to Ashes fame.
In comedy there is the second season of Moone Boy for 2013. The first series is yet to air, it will hit Sky this autumn. Set in a small town in Ireland in 1989 it follows the antics of the youngest member of the Moone family, 11 year old Martin Moone (David Rawle). Martin has a unique perspective on life aided by an imaginary friend, Sean Murphy (Chris O’Dowd). Martin’s imagination comes into play both in his childish drawings, which come alive through animation, and in the ridiculous schemes he comes up with, against Sean’s better judgement.
There is also A Touch of Cloth as DCI Jack Cloth comes to the screens with cases to solve in Charlie Brooker’s crime comedy. The first in the trilogy is set to launch this August and the second two part series has commenced filming and is scheduled to be broadcast next year with a further feature-length film to follow. Sky describe it as an all-encompassing parody of every police procedural ever written.
Series two of Starlings will see eight new hour long episodes written and starring Matt King and Steve Edge. The series follows the lives of the Starling family, a typical working-class brood living in a detached house in Matlock, Derbyshire. The second series will air on Sky 1 HD in 2013.
Popular feature Little Crackers will air for a third series this Christmas and this time each short film will be complemented by 15 minute behind-the-scenes featurettes. Confirmed names include Katy Brand, Paul O’Grady, Jason Manford, Alison Steadman and Joanna Lumley.
In entertainment Sky bring viewers Ducks Quacks Don’t Echo. A one-off hour long special sees amazing facts put to the test by a panel of celebrity guests. Four contestants will compete against each other to present their best known fact and prove it’s true using any means possible either in the studio or with a pre-recorded video feature. Their fellow panellists will give them marks out of 10 and the winner will be the person with the highest score at the end of the night.
Help Me I’m Human is another one-off special, which could be turned a series if popular with viewers. The show is described as a smart and candid comedy chat show dedicated to helping us navigate our way through the minefield that is modern life – the mixed signals, indecision, awkwardness and guilt. How do you know if the lady who’s boarded your train is pregnant or just fat? What would you do if your boss requests to be your friend on Facebook? What do you say to that friend who is always fishing for compliments?
While Winners is a six part series that celebrates the UK’s unsung champions in new factual entertainment strand. Winners will be shining the spotlight on perfectionists across the country who take their hobbies to the limit in the pursuit of excellence. From hairdressers and cake decorators to cheerleaders, show-jumpers and brass bands, these compelling documentaries reveal the lengths regular people go to in order to become champions.
The latest announcements follow yesterdays news of more documentary production with Ross Kemp and a series looking at an RAF Base.
They should have kept Noel’s Christmas Presents.