James R | On 18, Mar 2018

Sky’s new original series, Patrick Melrose, will be simulcast in the UK and US on 13th May, with each episode available to watch online from the wee small hours of the morning.

Based on the semi-autobiographical novels by Edward St Aubyn, the drama follows the harrowing yet hilarious life of Melrose, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, in a saga that sweeps through the South of France in the 60s, New York in the 80s and Britain in the early 2000s.

From Sky Atlantic and SHOWTIME, each episode of the drama is devoted to one of the five Patrick Melrose novels, and skewers the upper class as it tracks its protagonist’s outrageous journey, from a deeply traumatic childhood through to adult substance abuse and, ultimately, towards recovery.

The star-studded cast also includes Hugo Weaving (The Matrix trilogy), Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight), Anna Madeley (The Crown), Blythe Danner (Meet the Fockers), Allison Williams (Girls), Pip Torrens (The Crown), Jessica Raine (Call the Midwife), Prasanna Puwanarajah (Doctor Foster), Holliday Grainger (Strike), Indira Varma (Game of Thrones) and Celia Imrie (Bridget Jones’s Baby).

All five parts are written by BAFTA nominee David Nicholls (Far from the Madding Crowd, One Day), with director Edward Berger (Deutschland 83) at the helm.

The first episode will be available on-demand from Sunday 13th May and broadcast later that evening at 9pm exclusively on Sky Atlantic. It will also simulcast with SHOWTIME at 2am that morning. Don’t have Sky? You can also stream it live and on-demand on NOW, as part of a £7.99 monthly subscription, with no contract and a 7-day free trial. The service includes access to a number of premium pay-TV channels, including Sky Atlantic (Westworld, Billions, Save Me), Sky 1 (Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow), Sky Living (Nashville) and FOX UK (The Walking Dead, Legion).

Here’s the latest trailer for the show:

 

 

Trailer: Introducing Benedict Cumberbatch as Patrick Melrose

5th January 2018

Meet your new favourite troubled aristocrat, Patrick Melrose – the star of Sky and Showtime’s new dark comedy.

A true saga that sweeps through the South of France in the 60s, New York in the 80s and Britain in the early 2000s, the harrowing yet hilarious series is based on the acclaimed semi-autobiographical novels by Edward St Aubyn. The new five-part show from Sky Atlantic and SHOWTIME skewers the upper class, as it tracks its protagonist’s outrageous journey, from a deeply traumatic childhood through to adult substance abuse and, ultimately, towards recovery.

Each episode is devoted to one of the five Patrick Melrose novels. From abuse to addiction, Episode 1 opens as the 20-something Patrick flies to New York to collect his father’s ashes, and goes on to spend a drug-crazed 24 hours. Episode 2, set in the South of France in the 60s, takes place in the family’s chateau where the sadistic and terrifying David Melrose (Hugo Weaving) dominates the lives of his son Patrick and his rich and unhappy American mother (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Episode 3 offers a sober and clean Patrick the possibility of recovery, and Episode 4 shows Patrick as a father, struggling with child rearing and adultery. Finally, in Episode 5, Patrick tries to solve the puzzle of his parents.

The star-studded cast also includes Anna Madeley (The Crown), Blythe Danner (Meet the Fockers), Allison Williams (Girls), Pip Torrens (The Crown), Jessica Raine (Call the Midwife), Prasanna Puwanarajah (Doctor Foster), Holliday Grainger (Strike), Indira Varma (Game of Thrones) and Celia Imrie (Bridget Jones’s Baby).

The show is penned by David Nicholls (Far from the Madding Crowd, One Day) and directed by Edward Berger (Deutschland 83). It will be available in the UK and Ireland on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW later this year.

Here’s the entertaining first trailer:

 

Jennifer Jason Leigh, Hugo Weaving and Anna Madeley join Benedict Cumberbatch in Sky’s Patrick Melrose

11th July 2017

Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight), Hugo Weaving (The Matrix trilogy) and Anna Madeley (The Crown) have joined the cast of Patrick Melrose, Sky’s new original series.

The show, a co-production between the UK broadcaster and Showtime, stars and is exec-produced by the Sherlock actor.

Based on the acclaimed series of semi-autobiographical novels by Edward St Aubyn, the show skewers the upper class, as it tracks its protagonist’s harrowing journey from a deeply traumatic childhood through adult substance abuse and, ultimately, towards recovery.

With each episode devoted to one of the series’ five novels, the show will lay bare the drama of Melrose’s life, from his abusive youth at the hands of his father and the mother who tacitly condones the behaviour, to the outrageous playboy he becomes and the struggles he endures to defy the damage of his own past. The series will be a true television saga, both gripping and humorous, with Nicholls’ adaptation sweeping through the South of France in the 1960s, New York in the 1980s and Britain in the early 2000s.

The programme was first announced last year, with One Day’s David Nicholls penning the adaptation. Combined with Cumberbatch in front of the camera, the series was already off to an impressive start. Now, it’s adding more star wattage to its ensemble: Jason Leigh and Weaving will play the parents of Patrick Melrose, while Anna Madeley will play his wife. Deutschland 83’s Edward Berger will direct.

Patrick Melrose will begin shooting in London and the South of France in August.

 

Benedict Cumberbatch to star in and exec produce Sky series Melrose

28th February 2017

Sky Atlantic and Showtime again joining forces to make Melrose, a five-part series executive produced by and starring Benedict Cumberbatch.

Based on the acclaimed Patrick Melrose series of semi-autobiographical novels written by Edward St. Aubyn, Melrose skewers the upper class as it tracks the protagonist’s journey from a deeply traumatic childhood through adult substance abuse, and ultimately, towards recovery.

Cumberbatch will play Melrose, an aristocratic and outrageously funny playboy, who struggles to overcome the damage inflicted by an abusive father and a mother who tacitly condoned the behaviour. Asked in 2013 if he could play any literary character ever, Cumberbatch shared in a Reddit Q&A that it would be Patrick Melrose.

Behind the camera looks just as impressive, with One Day’s David Nicholls writing all five parts of the adaptation, taking us from the South of France in the 1960s via New York in the 1980s to Britain in the early 2000s. Melrose will devote an hour to each of the five novels, with each episode set over the course of a few intense days in the life of the protagonist.

Commissioned by Sky’s director of programmes Zai Bennett and head of drama Anne Mensah, the series will be co-produced by Sky Atlantic and Showtime, with Benedict Cumberbatch and Adam Ackland executive producing for SunnyMarch Productions. Michael Jackson, a former Channel Four executive, and Moneyball producer Rachael Horovitz also serve as executive producers through their recently formed Two Cities Television.

Cumberbatch and Ackland say: “We are delighted to be part of this incredible series. We have been huge fans of these books for many years and David Nicholls’ adaptations are extraordinary.”

Nicholls adds: “I’ve been a huge admirer of Edward St Aubyn’s novels for years, and can’t wait to bring these dark, witty, brilliant books to the screen. Benedict is the perfect Patrick Melrose.”

Shooting will begin in July.

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