Sky Arts announce a spring schedule ranging from Frank Skinner and Jack Whitehall to Dizzee Rascal and Jeremy Paxman

Sky Arts has something for everyone over the next few months with a wide range of new Sky original productions, the broadcaster has announced.

“Spring has truly sprung on Sky Arts as we continue to offer our viewers an exciting and diverse range of programmes over the next few months. As the UK’s only dedicated arts channel, I am proud that we have something for everyone whatever their passion. Whether it’s getting under the skin of Grime, learning something new from some of the world’s best photographers through to uncovering of some of the world’s great lost paintings.” – Director of Sky Arts, Philip Edgar-Jones

The network will be spanning the worlds of art, music, photography and dance featuring contributions from Dizzee Rascal though to Jeremy Paxman.

In Mystery of the Lost Paintings art lovers will get to explore the stories behind several missing masterpieces which have been stolen or destroyed. The seven-part documentary series will also see these great paintings painstakingly recreated and brought back to life.

Meanwhile celebrity art enthusiasts including Billy Connolly, Helena Bonham Carter and Jeremy Paxman, join art historian Gus Casely-Hayford for a second series of Tate Britain’s Great Art Walks to explore the landscapes and places that inspired of some of the most loved paintings hanging in Tate Britain.

For music lovers there is Generation Grime, a compelling documentary unravelling the history of grime music which features interviews with some the industry’s most inspiring artists, including Dizzee Rascal, Wretch 32 and Tinie Tempah.

Master of Photography, returns for a third series with photographers from across Europe competing in a range of tasks to become the next Sky Arts Master of Photography and there will also be an exclusive TV broadcast of Northern Ballet’s Casanova, choreographed by Kenneth Tindall.

These new shows follow the recently announced Urban Myths series which returns this April with a new season of mischievous comedies about bizarre tales from the worlds of Hollywood, music, arts and literature which are all fictionalised accounts of mostly true events. This latest series will see the four-part run unravel the mysterious disappearance of Agatha Christie in 1926 and the biggest ever manhunt staged in Britain at that time; go behind the scenes on the set of the iconic film ‘Some Like it Hot;’ go backstage at Live Aid and sympathise with Johnny Cash and the carnage wrought by a killer ostrich.

Gemma Arterton, Adam Brody, Adrian Edmondson, Noel Fielding, Sheila Hancock, Bill Paterson, Alex Pettyfer, Frank Skinner, Dougray Scott, David Suchet, Luke Treadaway and Jack Whitehall are just some of the well known names starring in Urban Myths. The series also features members from the National Youth Theatre performing alongside  established actors such as Daniel Mays, Steve Pemberton and Kayvan Novak.

“We are thrilled to be bringing Urban Myths back to Sky Arts in April 2018.  With the first season we knew we’d hit comedy gold, mining the madcap worlds of urban folklore and once again viewers will get to see some of Britain’s most talented actors, writers and directors bring a selection of  terrific tales, mostly true, to life. The episodes will be airing weekly on Sky Arts, but will also all be available on demand, perfect for binge-watching!” – Phil Edgar-Jones, Director of Sky Arts