David Farnor | On 14, Oct 2021

Sky has renewed comedy series Upright for a second season.

Tim Minchin and Milly Alcock to reprise their roles as Lucky and Meg

The series, starring Tim Minchin and Milly Alcock (soon to be seen in Game of Thrones prequel series House of Dragons), follows two misfits thrown together by chance in the middle of the Australian desert, who forge the unlikeliest of bonds in their quest to get a precious piano from one side of the country to the other.

Lucky Flynn, played by Minchin, hasn’t spoken to his family in years. He’s broke, distant and damaged. He’s also a gifted pianist, whose talent for music is matched only by his talent for self-destruction. When he learns that his mother has only days left to live, Lucky sets off in a hire car to drive the 4,000km from Sydney to Perth to say goodbye, taking with him his only cherished possession in the world: a battered and scarred upright piano.

What should have been a straightforward drive across the outback soon becomes a test of Lucky’s emotional fitness when he quite literally runs into Meg, played by Alcock, who has plenty of scars and secrets of her own.

Season 1 premiered on Sky Atlantic back in 2019 and now, Sky, FOXTEL, Screen Australia and Lingo Pictures have announced that the show will return for a second movement, with Minchin and Alcock reprising their roles.

Season 2 will see Lucky and Meg trade the desert for the steamy tropics of Far North Queensland as they hit the road – and the river – on a mission.

Minchin said: “The experience of making Upright was such a joy, and audience reactions from all over the world were so incredibly positive and moving, we knew we had to send Meg and Lucky on another adventure. There’s a lot of story still to tell, and such a fantastic team of people lined up to tell it.”

Writers on the series include Niki Aken (The Hunting), Ian Meadows (Seachange) and Natesha Somasundaram (The Unlisted), with Minchin also writing and executive producing the eight-part series. Filming will commence in Queensland in 2022.

 

Tim Minchin’s Upright crashes onto Sky this November

10th October 2019

On 28th November 2019, Sky Atlantic and NOW will take audiences on a wild road trip across the Australian outback with new comedy drama Upright.

Written by and starring critically acclaimed musician, comedian, actor, writer and director Tim Minchin, Upright, follows two misfits thrown together by chance in the middle of the Australian desert, who forge the unlikeliest of bonds in their quest to get a precious piano from one side of the country to the other.

Lucky Flynn, played by Minchin, hasn’t spoken to his family in years. He’s broke, distant and damaged. He’s also a gifted pianist, whose talent for music is matched only by his talent for self-destruction. When he learns that his mother has only days left to live, Lucky sets off in a hire car to drive the 4,000km from Sydney to Perth to say goodbye, taking with him his only cherished possession in the world: a battered and scarred upright piano.

What should have been a straightforward drive across the outback soon becomes a test of Lucky’s emotional fitness when he quite literally runs into Meg, played Milly Alcock, who we soon discover has plenty of scars and secrets of her own.

All eight episodes of Upright will be available to viewers as a box set from 28th November on Sky Atlantic and NOW.

 

Tim Minchin to move a piano across Australia for Sky’s Uptight

24th July 2018

How do you move a piano across Australia? ‪Tim Minchin‬ will be answering that very question in Upright, a new Sky original production.

When your most cherished possession is a battered upright piano, you only have one option if you need to travel across Australia: take it with you. And so‪ Minchin will embark‬ on a 4,000km road trip from Sydney to Perth with a piano in tow for a new comedy-drama.

Sky has commissioned the eight-part series, which is co-produced by Foxtel, Screen Australia and Lingo Pictures.

Minchin will be joined by newcomer Milly Alcock, as the duo play two misfits, thrown together by chance in the middle of the Australian desert, who forge the unlikeliest of bonds in their quest to get a precious piano from one side of the country to the other.

Lucky Flynn, played by Minchin, hasn’t spoken to his family in years. He’s broke, distant and damaged. He’s also a gifted pianist, whose talent for music is matched only by his talent for self-destruction. When he learns that his mother has only days left to live, Lucky sets off in a hire car to drive the 4,000km from Sydney to Perth to say goodbye, taking with him his only cherished possession in the world.

But what should have been a straightforward drive across the outback soon becomes a test of Lucky’s emotional fitness, when he quite literally runs into tough-as-nails teenager Meg, who has plenty of scars and secrets of her own.

‪Minchin says: “From the moment I heard about the idea for Upright, I knew it was the show I’d been waiting to make. I like stories that make me laugh and think and cry, I adore the landscapes of outback Australia, and I love music, and homecomings, and characters full of flaws. It’s awesome to be writing with this extraordinary team, and I’m looking forward to acting alongside Milly Alcock, who I think is a really special talent.”‬

‪Morwenna Gordon, Commissioning Editor Sky Comedy, adds: “Sky Comedy is always striving to work with the best talent and on the most surprising, unique and beautifully crafted shows, so we’re delighted to be collaborating with the world class Tim Minchin on Upright. Alongside Milly Alcock (and a battered piano), we’re sure this is a road trip Sky customers will never forget.”‬

‪Upright is created by Chris Taylor, with Taylor and Minchin writing the series together with writer-actors Kate Mulvany and Leon Ford. It will be directed by Matthew Saville with Minchin writing the music. The series will begin filming in Australia in October and air on Sky in 2019.‬

Add to Watchlist