MOUNT PLEASANT starts production on series two…
Mount Pleasant airs Sky 1 HD later this year
(London, Friday 2 March, 2012) – Tiger Aspect today started production on a second season of the hit Sky 1 HD comedy-drama MOUNT PLEASANT in Manchester. Following the success the first season, which attracted an average weekly audience of 1.3 million, the second series promises more fun, friendship and flirting as Sally Lindsay and co return for an extended run of nine hour-long episodes and a Christmas special.
Written by Sarah Hooper (Shameless), MOUNT PLEASANT will see Robson Green (Waterloo Road, Being Human) and George Sampson (Street Dance 3D, Britain’s Got Talent) joining the cast. Green will play Lisa (Sally Lindsay, Coronation Street, Phoenix Nights) and Dan’s (Daniel Ryan, Just William) new neighbour Chris, as he develops a ‘friendship’ with hot totty Bianca (Sian Reeves, Cutting It). Sampson plays Bianca’s step son Gary, who comes to stay when his mother travels to Australia without him.
Series two welcomes the return of the distinguished cast led by Lindsay(in the role of Lisa). Lindsay and Ryan will be joined by, comedy veteran Bobby Ball, Pauline Collins (Upstairs Downstairs, Shirley Valentine), Angela Griffin(Waterloo Road, Hustle), Paula Wilcox (Man About The House, A Touch of Frost), Sian Reeves (Cutting It, Emmerdale), Adrian Bower (Teachers), Neil Fitzmaurice (Peepshow, Phoenix Nights), Owen McDonnell (Single Handed) and Ainsley Howard.
Sarah Hooper (writer) said: “I love Robson, he is a fantastic actor and we're all delighted to have someone with his pedigree joining the cast, and with George's talent and rising star status it is going to bring an exciting new edge to our already brilliant ensemble. I can't wait to see the new series come to life.”
George Sampson commented: “I’m thrilled to be joining Mount Pleasant … the cast could not have been more welcoming. The role of Gary is an amazing opportunity for me, on top of the other screen work I've done recently. I can't wait to explore further the comedic side of acting, with this fantastic cast.”
In the first series, Lisa discovered that another woman was making a play for her husband Dan and sexy singleton Jack (McDonnell) arrived in town toying with her emotions. As we rejoin MOUNT PLEASANT, Jack appears a changed man and Lisa and Dan are back to their usual ways. Lisa’s best friends – and workmates - Shelley (Griffin) and Denise (Howard) need her more than ever, as they are struggling to adjust to their new lives with Shelley entering the world of dating as a sexy singleton and Denise adjusting to life as a working single mother. Denise’s relationship with boss and smooth talker Fergus (Fitzmaurice) was turbulent at best, and series two will see Fergus trying to win his way back into their lives.
As part of Sky 1 HD’s MOUNT PLEASANT is part of Sky’s commitment to increase its investment in original British content by 50% over the next three years. By 2014, Sky expects to invest £600 million a year in British programmes across its portfolio of channels.
This commitment follows the success of home-grown content such as entertainment hits GOT TO DANCE, AN IDIOT ABROAD and A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, dramas such as STRIKE BACK and MAD DOGS, comedies such as TROLLIED and THIS IS JINSY, and factual shows such as ROSS KEMP EXTREME WORLD and the BAFTA-winning documentary FLYING MONSTERS 3D. Other forthcoming highlights include SPY starring Darren Boyd and Robert Lindsay; Craig Cash’s THE CAFE; Ruth Jones’ STELLA; Charlie Brooker’s A TOUCH OF CLOTH starring Suranne Jones and John Hannah;; and STARLINGS starring Lesley Sharpe and Brendan Coyle.
When we entered MOUNT PLEASANT Lisa Johnson loved her life, but will she feel the same when she's been through the trials and tribulations in store in season two? Life looks set to be anything but quiet.
MOUNT PLEASANT will be broadcast this August on Sky 1 HD and on the move with Sky Go.
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For further information please contact
Chris Aylott - Head of PR, Sky 1 HD
T: 020 7032 2893
E: chris.aylott@bskyb.com
Annabel Rudden - Junior Publicist, Sky 1 HD
T:
E: annabel.rudden@bskyb.com
Notes to editor
About Sky
Sky entertains and excites more than 10.4 million homes through the most comprehensive multichannel, multi-platform television service in the UK and Ireland. Sky continues to break new ground with its own portfolio of channels: Sky 1 combines its commitment to UK production with the best of the US; Sky Living pushes ahead with fresh and innovative entertainment formats; Sky Arts is the UK's only dedicated arts channel brand; Sky Atlantic is the home to HBO and other iconic drama and comedy, Sky Sports is still raising the bar in sports broadcasting; Sky News remains a pioneer in television news; and Sky Movies is leading the way in High Definition and on-demand.
Sky also works with dozens of other broadcasters on the satellite platform, as well as online and on mobile through the ground-breaking Sky Go service. Sky has also led the UK into the age of high definition television, launched Europe's first 3DTV channel, Sky 3D, and offers customer even more flexibility and choice through Sky Anytime+, its internet-delivered video on demand service. Since launching Sky Broadband and Sky Talk in 2006, the company has also been the UK's fastest-growing home communications provider.
Sky believes in making a wider contribution to the communities in which it operates, not least by increasing participation in, and access to, the arts, supporting grassroots sports, and taking positive action on the environment.
About Sky 1 HD:
Sky 1 HD is the most watched non-terrestrial channel in Sky homes, attracting more than 20m unique viewers every month and, according to the latest tracker results (October – December, 2011), was the third highest valued channel amongst all Sky subscribers behind only BBC1 and ITV1.
Sky 1 HD distinguishes itself from rival networks with original drama and comedy, talked about entertainment formats, distinctive factual programming and award-winning exclusive US drama.
About Tiger Aspect Productions:
Tiger Aspect Productions, an Endemol Company, is internationally recognised as one of the UK's most successful and prolific independent television producers. The company portfolio includes comedy, entertainment, drama, children’s/animation and factual/features genres.
Tiger Aspect creates a wide range of critically acclaimed and award-winning programming for all the UK's major terrestrial and non-terrestrial broadcasters.
Some of the company’s greatest hits include primetime mainstream successes such as Mr Bean, The Vicar of Dibley, Benidorm, The Catherine Tate Show, Murphy’s Law, Robin Hood and Charlie and Lola.
Other more recent successes have included Ross Kemp Extreme World, The Great British Property Scandal, Restoration Man, Grandma’s House, Ladies of Letters Secret Diary of a Call Girl and Abi Morgan’s BAFTA-winning drama White Girl.
Just a few forthcoming comedies from Tiger are Mount Pleasant, Walking and Talking, Grandma’s House 2, Bad Education, Bad Sugar, Harry and Paul.
Tiger Aspect’s programming is built on our relationship with the best on offer in UK talent. The company’s belief in nurturing and supporting creativity on every level means that Tiger Aspect consistently attracts the UK's ultimate in on-screen, writing and production talent.
