Sky Atlantic continues to strengthen its comedy offering
Alan Partridge arrives on the channel in June
As part of Sky’s continuing investment in innovative programming, Sky Atlantic HD is today (18th May) delighted to announce an output deal with Baby Cow Productions, the production company co-owned by Steve Coogan and Henry Normal. The deal will bring a number of new Alan Partridge commissions and acquisitions, alongside other Baby Cow projects, to Sky Atlantic.
Building on Sky Atlantic’s comedy ambition, Steve Coogan joins a raft of comedy icons working with the channel on original new content including Julia Davis’ Hunderby, Kathy Burke’s Walking and Talking and Don’t Sit in the Front Row with Jack Dee. Sky customers can exclusively catch up with their favourite local radio DJ from June with a brand new one hour special, ALAN PARTRIDGE: WELCOME TO THE PLACES OF MY LIFE. It will be shortly followed by another new commission, ALAN PARTRIDGE ON OPEN BOOKS WITH MARTIN BRYCE. A specially re-edited version of the series ALAN PARTRIDGE MID MORNING MATTERS: SPECIAL EDITION will also be shown on Sky Atlantic HD from late June.
In addition, Sky Atlantic HD will hold the world television premieres of UNCLE WORMSLEY’S CHRISTMAS - an animation narrated by Steve Coogan and voiced by Julia Davis, Julian Barratt and John Thompson - and a two part series, STEVE COOGAN’S STAND UP DOWN UNDER, following Steve Coogan behind the scenes on his Australian live tour.
Steve Coogan says “I’m very excited about continuing our fruitful working relationship with Lucy Lumsden and Stuart Murphy with a host of exciting new shows for Sky Atlantic including several new incarnations of Alan Partridge. Alan has been off the TV for too long but he is even more excited than me about his chance to have a second bite of the cherry. Alan feels the second decade of the millennium is the right time."
Acting Channel Director of Sky Atlantic HD, Naomi Gibney comments: “I am delighted that we are bringing the formidable talents of Steve Coogan to Sky customers. Joining some of the most iconic comedy names including Russell Brand, Kathy Burke, Julia Davis, Armando Iannucci and Jack Dee will firmly establish Sky Atlantic’s comedy credentials and indicates the scale of our ambition. As we continue to actively build our slate of originated and acquired comedy, securing Steve Coogan ensures Sky Atlantic will become synonymous with the cream of comedy.”
Lucy Lumsden, Head of Comedy for Sky, says “Sky Atlantic is providing our best writer performers the space to feel creatively free. Who better to kick off our new season of comedies than the phenomenally talented Steve Coogan. We cannot wait.”
Henry Normal, CEO, Baby Cow, says “Sky Atlantic looks like being at a party everyone wants to go to. I feel really fortunate that Baby Cow can be at the beginning of this great adventure.”
ALAN PARTRIDGE: WELCOME TO THE PLACES OF MY LIFE is a 1 x 60’ where Alan tours his beloved Norfolk, showing us the places that have shaped the man he is today. It is written by Neil Gibbons and Rob Gibbons and produced and directed by David Lambert. The associate producer is Anna Stockton with Armando Iannucci, Steve Coogan and Henry Normal as executive producers.
ALAN PARTRIDGE ON OPEN BOOKS WITH MARTIN BRYCE is a 1 x 60’ which turns the tables on Alan Partridge as he’s interviewed by author Chris Beal (Robert Popper). In front of a local book club, Alan gives a unique insight into his passion for books and his tips on being a writer. The show is written by Neil Gibbons and Rob Gibbons and directed by Declan Lowney. The producer is David Lambert and executive producers are Steve Coogan, Armando Iannucci and Henry Normal for Baby Cow Productions and Lucy Lumsden for Sky Atlantic.
ALAN PARTRIDGE MID MORNING MATTERS: SPECIAL EDITION follows Alan Partridge as he returns to the day job with a slot on the fictional digital radio station, North Norfolk Digital, joined by Side-Kick Simon (Tim Key). The series is written by Steve Coogan, Neil Gibbons, Rob Gibbons and Armando Iannucci and produced by Baby Cow Productions. This special edition series will take the format of 6 x 30’ episodes. A second series of MID MORNING MATTERS will follow in 2013.
STEVE COOGAN’S STAND UP DOWN UNDER is a 2 x 60’ which charts the highs and lows of Steve's 2009 tour across Australia and New Zealand. Featuring exclusive footage from his performances and unrestricted back stage access, it's a funny, intimate and honest portrait of one of Britain’s best loved character comedians. It is produced and directed by David Lambert and executive produced by Steve Coogan and Henry Normal. The tour manager was Anna Stockton.
UNCLE WORMSLEY’S CHRISTMAS is a 1 x 30’ animated children's cautionary tale with a dark heart. Uncle Wormsley is a grey, decaying old man, who dedicates his life to the care of his only friend, a monstrous crab called Crabsley who lives in a dungeon under his house. Across town lives Johnnie Goodington, a rich boy who has everything money could buy except one thing – a giant monstrous crab. One Christmas, Johnnie's father strikes a deal with the mysterious and shadowy Crab Catchers. Johnnie shall have his Giant crab, but dark forces have been unleashed, and who can tell where this will end? The Baby Cow animation is narrated by Steve Coogan, voiced by Julian Barrett, Julia Davis, John Thomson and Ben Baker. It is written by Joel Veitch and Tim Gallagher and directed by Joel Veitch. The producer is Tim Searle.
Further information:
Sarah Aspinall
Senior Publicist, Sky Atlantic HD
Sarah.aspinall@bskyb.com / 020 7032 1488
Follow us on twitter @skyatlantic
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.
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For further information please contact
Sarah Aspinall - Senior Publicist, Sky
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E: Sarah.Aspinall@bskyb.com
