David Farnor | On 01, Feb 2021

Sky has announced its slate of original TV series for 2021 and 2022, with a new take on The Midwich Cuckoos and Wolfe leading its line-up.

In 2021 Sky and NOW are debuting more than 125 new Sky Originals, its biggest ever line-up of TV and films (you can see the line-up of Sky Original films here). Sky Documentaries, Sky Crime and Sky Nature will release new series including an exploration of how Liverpool became the epicentre of a drugs boom that was to change Britain forever (Liverpool Narcos), a revealing look at newly discovered footage from the Chernobyl disaster (Chernobyl 86), a look back at Britain’s 40-year struggle with HIV/AIDS (Positive) and a forensic examination of the case of Jeremy Bamber and the White House Farm Murders (The Bambers: Murder at the Farm), executive produced by Louis Theroux and Aaron Fellows.

These new series join the already announced drama Landscapers starring Olivia Colman, new prison break thriller Intergalactic and returning favourites including Britannia, Cobra and Temple. Other returning comedy shows include Breeders (Martin Freeman, Daisy Haggard), Code 404 (Stephen Graham, Daniel Mays) Intelligence (David Schwimmer, Nick Mohammed) and Brassic (Joe Gilgun, Michelle Keegan), as well as panel show A League of their Own (Jamie Redknapp, Freddie Flintoff, Romesh) and stand-up series The Russell Howard Hour.

After clinching the BAFTA for best mini-series for the last two years (Chernobyl and Patrick Melrose), there are four new limited series on their way, from acclaimed TV writers Paul Abbott (Shameless, No Offence) with Wolfe, David Farr (The Night Manager) with The Midwich Cuckoos, and Joe Barton (Giri/Haji, The Batman) with Extinction, plus Michael Winterbottom (Welcome to Sarajevo, Wonderland and 24 Hour Party People) with This Sceptred Isle.

Sky also remains the place you can watch some of the best of US TV, with exclusive rights to shows from HBO and Showtime.

The new Sky Original TV shows and films announced are:

Wolfe

Babou Ceesay (Guerilla, Rogue One) stars as a lauded forensic pathologist in this new drama written by Paul Abbott (Shameless, No Offence, Clocking Off). Coming Autumn 2021

The Midwich Cuckoos

John Wyndham’s classic science fiction novel is given a modern adaptation for the screen by David Farr (The Night Manager). Coming in 2022.

Extinction

A propulsive action thriller about a man who joins an organisation that can turn back time in order to save the planet from catastrophic events. Written by Joe Barton (Giri/Haji) and starring Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You), Tom Burke (Strike), Anjli Mohindra (Bodyguard) and Caroline Quentin (Men Behaving Badly). Coming in 2022.

This Sceptred Isle

BAFTA and Emmy award-winning actor Kenneth Branagh will play U.K. Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. The five-part drama will chart the events surrounding the U.K. Prime Minister, the government, and the country in the face of the first wave of the global pandemic. Coming in Autumn 2022.

Liverpool Narcos

In the 1980s, Liverpool became the epicentre of a drugs boom that was to change Britain forever. With unprecedented access to some of the biggest players, this is the story of how drugs went mainstream and dealing became a multi-billion pound business. Coming in Spring 2021

The Bambers: Murder at the Farm

Using first-hand testimony and unseen archive footage to re-examine the shocking events at White House Farm, this documentary explores evidence that has emerged since the original trial of Jeremy Bamber. From Executive Producers Louis Theroux and Arron Fellows. Coming in 2021

Positive

Positive marks Britain’s 40-year struggle with HIV/AIDS, through interviews with some of the earliest HIV patients and real-life heroes. Coming in Winter 2021

Gangs of Macaque Island

A light-hearted animal docu-soap, following the daily lives of rival black-crested macaque troops in the remote forests of Sulawesi’s Tangkoko National Park in Indonesia. Coming in Winter 2021

Chernobyl 86

Chernobyl ’86 tells the story of Chernobyl through newly discovered archive footage and original interviews with those who were there. Directed by Emmy Award winner James Jones. Coming in 2022
These five new Sky Original documentaries join a raft of factual programming already coming to Sky Documentaries, Sky Crime and Sky Nature in 2021, including Murder at the Cottage, Bruno v Tyson, and Shark with Steve Backshall.

Safe Space

A psychotherapist in a small market town dispenses advice to his clients to suit his own desperate need to control them. Starring, written and created by BAFTA-winning comedian Greg Davies. Coming in 2022.

Russell Howard’s Back To The Future Stand Up Show
Russell Howard will be travelling around New Zealand and Australia in this new travelogue punctuated by stand-up comedy. Coming Summer 2021.

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