James R | On 30, Dec 2015

Agent Carter. The Knick. January sees the return of some of last year’s best TV series to UK screens – as long as you have Sky or, if you don’t want to be tied to a contract, a £6.99 monthly Entertainment Membership subscription to NOW. But there are equally big shows arriving for the first time on UK shores this month, from the Limitless series based on the Bradley Cooper movie to James Nesbitt’s Lucky man, created by none other than Stan Lee.

Subscribers to Sky Movies – or NOW’s NOW Cinema Membership (£9.99 a month) – also have some of the last year’s big hits to look forward to, from the amusing Kingsman to the violent John Wick.

Here’s what’s coming soon to Sky and NOW in January 2016:

TV

Agent Carter: Season 2 – 28th January, 9pm (FOX UK)

After the marvellous first run, Marvel’s female-led spin-off from Captain America returns for a longer second outing, arriving on UK TV screens a week after its US TV broadcast. One year on from the events of Season 1, Hayley Atwell’s Peggy is still dedicated to the fight against new atomic age threats. Now, she must journey from New York City to Los Angeles for her most dangerous assignment yet…

Stan Lee’s Lucky Man – 22nd January (Sky 1)

James Nesbitt stars in this TV series from comic book legend Stan Lee, which follows a cop from Central London’s notorious Murder Squad, who is given a charm that seems to give the wearer the ability to control luck.

Limitless – Date TBC (Sky Living)

The CBS spin-off from the excellent 2011 movie, which starred Bradley Cooper, features Jake McDorman (American Sniper) as Brian, a down-on-his-luck musician who struggles to hold down a long-term job. His life, however, is changed when he discovers the brain-boosting power of the mysterious drug NZT. The FBI finds out about Brian and uses his extraordinary cognitive abilities to solve complex cases for them. Soon, a powerful partnership forms with himself and Agent Rebecca Harris (Dexter’s Jennifer Carpenter). But unbeknownst to the FBI, he also has a secret relationship with Senator Edward Morra (a guest appearance by Cooper, also an Exec Producer on the show), regular NZT user and someone with plans of his own…

The Knick: Season 2 – 12th January, 9pm (Sky Atlantic)

Clive Owen reprises his Emmy-nominated role as Dr. Thackery in Steven Soderbergh’s superb medical drama. Dr. Edwards (Andre Holland) is now looking to take over from Thackery at The Knick, while the latter is in rehab, but what will the future hold for the hospital? (Season 1 is already available to stream.)

Stella: Season 5 – 11th January, 9pm (Sky 1)

Ruth Jones returns for another season of the comedy set in Pontyberry, which follows the eponymous single mother of three. (Seasons 1 to 4 are available to catch up with as a box set.)

Ex on the Beach: Season 4 – 19th January, 10pm (MTV UK)

More implausibly attractive singletons face their pasts in Season 4 of MTV’s series. (Seasons 1 to 3 available from the start of January as a box set.)

A League of Their Own – 7th January, 9pm (Sky 1)

James Corden returns from the US for a 10th season of Sky’s sports comedy panel show and is joined once again by Jamie Redknapp, Freddie Flintoff and Jack Whitehall.

NCIS: Season 13 – 8th January, 9pm (FOX UK)

Gibbs fights for his life, while DiNozzo and Joanna Teague travel to Shanghai to try and take down The Calling. Will the team get a handle and take down these terrorists? The popular thriller following the investigations of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service returns.

Bob’s Burgers: Season 4 – 8th January, 10pm (Comedy Central)

Hot on the heels of Season 3, the US sitcom created by Loren Bouchard returns for a fourth season, continuing to follow everyone’s favourite hamburger restaurant owners.

American Horror Story: Season 5, Part 2 – 12th January, 10pm (FOX UK)

More tales of freaky hotel guests from the twisted brain of Ryan Murphy, starring Lady Gaga, Matt Bomer, Kathy Bates and Chloe Sevigny.

Bones: Season 11 – 18th January, 9pm (Sky Living)

Could this be the last season for Fox’s long-running series? David Boreanaz returns one more time as FBI Special Agent Booth for more crime-solving.

Penny Dreadful: Season 2 – Date TBC (Box Set)

Penny Dreadful returns for a third season at an unconfirmed date later this year, but now’s your chance to catch up with both Season 1 and Season 2 as a box set on-demand. Mashing together classic figures from literary horror – Dorian Gray, Frankenstein and Dracula – John Logan’s show is as unpredictable as it is scary.

Boardwalk Empire: Seasons 1 to 5 – Date TBC (Box Set)

Another chance to follow the rise to power of Steve Buscemi’s Nucky Thompson in this Prohibition-era drama that just might be one of the best TV series of the last decade.

The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst – Date TBC (Box Set)

Andrew Jarecki’s six-part documentary is about as close to Serial as TV gets. The true crime series examines the life of real estate tycoon Robert Durst, the key suspect in a series of unsolved crimes. Accused of three murders over the past 30 years, Durst has never been convicted, nor spoken publicly about the accusations against him – until now. Read our spoiler-free review of Episodes 1 to 3.

Movies

Kingsman: The Secret Service – New Year’s Day

Taron Egerton and an impeccably-dressed Colin Firth stars in Matthew Vaughn’s comedy spy thriller, which sees a young tearaway recruited to Britain’s secret secret service, just as a tech genius (Samuel L Jackson) plans to take over the world.

Home – New Year’s Day

When Earth is colonised by aliens and humankind is relocated to Australia, one young girl (voiced by Rihanna) forms an unlikely friendship with a young male ET (Jim Parsons). This by-the-numbers DreamWorks animation was a box office hit in cinemas for much of 2015.

Top Five – New Year’s Day

Chris Rock writes, directs and stars in this smart comedy about an actor trying make a movie about slavery in Haiti.

Get Hard – Friday 8th January

Will Ferrell plays a millionaire who hires a local carwash owner (Kevin Hart) to prepare him for an upcoming 10-year prison sentence.

Woman in Gold – Friday 8th January

Ryan Reynolds stars as a well-meaning lawyer recruited by a Jewish refugee (Helen Mirren) to recover the titular work of art seized by the Nazis in World War II.

Run All Night – Friday 8th January

Liam Neeson continues his run of action movies about old men who find themselves with a lot of bad guys to shoot to save one of his children.

Selma – Friday 15th January

David Oyelowo is unrecognisable as Martin Luther King in this stirring, powerful drama following his historic march for voting rights in Alabama in 1965.

The Face of an Angel – Friday 15th January

Michael Winterbottom’s Italian-set mystery is inspired by the real life case of Amanda Knox and Meredith Kercher. Daniel Brühl and Kate Beckinsale star.

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel – Friday 22nd January

Bill Night, Judi Dench and Maggie Smith reprise their roles for this sequel about British expats in India, joined by the also-returning Dev Patel and new silver fox Richard Gere.

John Wick – Friday 29th January

Keanu Reeves is back – and seriously bad-ass – in this intense action thriller about a former hitman who comes out of retirement to dish out some thrillingly brutal revenge. Directed by veteran stunt choreographers, you feel every punch.

Just Before I Go – Friday 29th January

Seann William Scott, Olivia Thirlby and David Arquette star in this black comedy about a pet store manager who returns to his home town, which marks the directorial debut of Courteney Cox.

 

Other movies coming soon to Sky Cinema / NOW in January 2016:

New Year’s Day
Unfinished Business
The Planet of the Apes
E.T.
Mamma Mia

Friday 8th January
Girl House

Friday 15th January
The Legend of Longwood
Seventh Son

Friday 22nd January
Into the Grizzly Maze
Sword of Vengeance
The Boy Next Door

Friday 29th January
Mountain Men
Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2

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