Sky has announced plans for over 50 original series to be screened during 2018.
The broadcaster has promised another eight new commissions following group chief executive Jeremy Darroch’s pledge to increase the amount of original productions by 25%.
Managing Director, Content Gary Davey said: “There’s never been a more competitive time to be in the content business and I’m incredibly excited by the scale, quality and authenticity of the UK TV industry right now. Next year will see over 50 Sky Original Productions on air and over 20 of these will be returners – a testament to the popularity of our shows – and it doesn’t stop there, with our increased investment, the focus for 2018 remains getting even better on screen.”
Among those returning is Sky’s best-performing original series to date, Riviera, with Julia Stiles reprising the role of Georgina Clios. Jack Whitehall’s comedy thriller Bounty Hunters will also return, while the new Gangs of London is described as a fresh and original gangland thriller.
Sky has also managed to attract some of the best in British talent, including Idris Elba (In the Long Run), Benedict Cumberbatch (Patrick Melrose), Lennie James (Save Me), Suranne Jones (Save Me) and David Morrissey (Britannia), who have already been confirmed for 2018 productions. The additional content adds Noel Fielding, David Suchet, Paul Kaye, Ade Edmondson, Paterson Joseph and Abdul Salis to the list.
Sky is looking to balance British talent against the needs of its international audiences in the German and Italian markets and the presence of Netflix.
Other new productions include the Urban Myths series that features an encounter between a young David Bowie and fellow glam rocker Mark Bolan; Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood visits some of the UK’s most iconic cultural institutions and Loot gives residents of a small English town the chance to track down buried treasure, unless the professional detectives find it first.
