Following on from BSkyB announing their drama slate for 2013, and as part of the company’s stated desire to be spending £600 million per year on home-grown programming by 2014, Sky Living has revealed deatils of its original programming slate for 2013. These new commissions, which includes the previously announced Reckless strand, are underpinned by new channel director Antonia Hurford Jone’s desire to reflect the diverse, ever-evolving tastes of its customers. Part of that is said to be commissioning programs men will want to watch, rather than programming exclusively for a female demographic, which had been the channel’s previous strategy.
Speaking of the channel’s slate of orginal programming for 2013, Antonia Hurford-Jones, Director of Sky Living, said: “Today marks an exciting time for Sky Living as we reveal an incredibly strong line-up of talent, who I am thrilled to be welcoming to the channel. Each of our new commissions has great storytelling, great characters and engaging relationships at their heart. These are key themes which will run throughout our programming. There’s also big terrestrial talent arriving on the channel, both on and off screen.“
Doll & Em
A new six episode semi-improvised comedy series created by and starring Emily Mortimer (The Newsroom), Doll & Em which looks at what happens when your best friend becomes a Hollywood star and you find yourself employed as their personal assistant. The series follows Em (Emily Mortimer), a successful actress starring in a Hollywood movie, who invites Doll (Dolly Wells) to Los Angeles to become her personal assistant after breaking up with her boyfriend, as a way for Doll to find the financial and emotional independence she is in need of. But soon after arriving, the line between life and work becomes increasingly blurred, until each one is no longer sure of the other’s motivation. The comedy series will be produced by King Bee Productions with Lucy Lumsden serving as executive producer. The director and co-writer is Azazel Jacobs.
Trying Again
Created by Simon Blackwell and Chris Addison, Trying Again is an 8 episode comedy series which tell the story of what happens after an extra-marrital affair. Set in The Lake District, Matt and Meg are meant to be together, they’re pretty sure of that. And they really are trying to put her indiscretion with her boss behind them. But it’s not easy when you live in a small town where everyone knows everyone’s business and you have bills to pay. Avalon Television is producing with Saskis Schuster, Rob Aslett, Jon Thoday and Richard Allen-Turner serving as executive producers.
Life Stages
Life Stages is Sky Living’s first foray into longform programming and is a strand which comprises three new factual series: Becoming Mum & Dad, Newluweds and She’s Having A Baby. The three series will will chart the varying stages throughout our lives.
