Sky1 announces new home-grown comedy line-up
Sky1 has announced a new selection of commissions which will feature comedy stars including Ruth Jones, Stephen Fry, Sally Linsday and Bill Bailey. However, many of the shows are still at least a year from broadcast.
Amongst the programmes announced include Mount Pleasant starring Daniel Ryan (The Street) and Sally Linsday (Coronation Street). This new comedy drama, created by Shameless writer Sarah Hooper, will be about the life of an imperfect 30-something Mancunian. It's scheduled to launch in autumn 2011.
Ruth Jones, star of Gavin & Stacey and BBC Four's new comedy The Great Outdoors, is to star, co-write and executive producer Stella, a ten-part comedy drama about a working-class 40-something Welsh mum. The series is scheduled to start in 2012.
The network has also commissioned a full series of This is Jinsy (pictured), a surreal sitcom set on an odd island, which has been created by Chris Bran and Justin Chubb. A pilot of This is Jinsy was shown on BBC Three in March, but the show will transfer to Sky1 for the eight new episodes next summer.
Also, Sky1 has announced it will broadcast a special Christmas programme called Little Crackers, featuring autobiographical comic shorts from various different comedians. Amongst those taking part include Bill Bailey, Kathy Burke, Dawn French, Stephen Fry, Catherine Tate and Victoria Wood.
Since the move of BBC executives Lucy Lumsden and Stuart Murphy to Sky, the commercial broadcaster has been looking to boost its comic output. Recent comedies shown by the channel include sport-based panel show A League of Their Own (pictured), and the live-action adaptations of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels, the most recent of which was Going Postal. Sky is promising more comedies over the coming months as channel boss Stuart Murphy tries to continue his reputation for commissioning comedy with commercial potential. When in charge of BBC Three, Murphy's commissions included The Mighty Boosh, Gavin & Stacey and Little Britain.
Lucy Lumsden, who was previously the BBC's Comedy Commissioner but is now Sky's Head of Comedy, says: "It's been an exciting time spreading the good news about Sky's investment in comedy and I'm delighted that we've been able to attract a wealth of comedy talent. We're providing a home for on and off-screen talent to flex their creative muscle."