18th May 2022

Announced at the Up Next 2022 event at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane today, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, Sky will launch over 200 Sky Original shows across all genres this year – a 60% increase from 2021 and testament to Sky’s investment in the UK creative economy.

The showcase set out Sky’s promise to bring audiences the best TV shows from the UK, the US and Europe, featuring world-class talent including Kenneth Branagh, Suranne Jones, Katherine Ryan, Romesh Ranganathan, Keeley Hawes, Sheridan Smith, Billie Piper, Colin Farrell, Liam Hemsworth, Russell Crowe, Jodie Turner-Smith and Letitia Wright.

Amongst the new titles announced are a major adaptation of Heather Morris’ bestselling novel The Tattooist of Auschwitz, a life affirming and heartrending story of bravery and love in the darkest of places. And the return of the critically acclaimed dramas I Hate Suzie Too starring Billie Piper and COBRA: Rebellion starring Robert Carlyle.

Also announced were three new original comedies featuring some of the UK’s favourite talent, with Sheridan Smith in Rosie Molloy Gives Up Everything, Rosie Molloy (Sheridan Smith) is addicted to everything. Smoking, alcohol, Terry’s Chocolate Oranges, Xanax, Adderall, caffeine… the list goes on. After an embarrassing incident at her brother Joey’s wedding, she wakes up in hospital and decides to change her life by ‘giving up everything’. But as Rosie juggles her father’s ill health and the possibility of losing her job, she has the dawning realisation that her addictions are destroying everything – her friendships, her family and her work life. Harder still is the realisation that perhaps it isn’t the addictions that are the problem. If Rosie really does give up everything, will she still be Rosie?

Adding to the line-up are a range of new Sky Original films; Letitia Wright stars in the tender and moving drama Aisha, Colin Farrell dazzles in the beguiling sci-fi drama After Yang, while Brian Cox, Jodie Turner-Smith, John Cena and Ann Dowd star in the political thriller, The Independent, and Russell Crowe directs and stars alongside Liam Hemsworth in the thriller Poker Face.

Sky also announced that one of the first projects to be filmed at Sky Studios Elstree will be Universal Pictures highly anticipated film adaptations of the hit musical Wicked, the untold story of the Witches of Oz. Wicked is based on the bestselling novel by Gregory Maguire and will be directed by filmmaker Jon M. Chu and produced by Marc Platt.

These newly announced shows join a raft of previously announced Sky Original TV series which are due to air on Sky in 2022, including This England starring Kenneth Branagh, The Midwich Cuckoos starring Keeley Hawes, Gangs of London Series 2 starring Sope Dirisu, Funny Woman staring Gemma Arterton, Brassic Series 4 staring Joe Gilgun and Michelle Keegan, alongside Sky Original films including The Amazing Maurice staring Gemma Arterton, Emilia Clarke and Hugh Laurie, and Borderland staring Colin Morgan, Aml Ameen, Felicity Jones and Mark Strong.

Meanwhile, key acquired shows for 2022 on Sky include Stephen Moffat’s serialised adaptation of The Time Traveler’s Wife, the returning hit The Flight Attendant Season 2 and the highly anticipated House of the Dragon.

Romantic Getaway, Allison (Katherine Ryan) and Deacon (Romesh Ranganathan) are desperate for a baby, but they’ve run out of money to fund any more IVF treatment. So they decide to ‘borrow’ the £50k they need from their filthy rich boss Alfie, who they discover is illegally creaming off money from the company. And it works! Except that, on a whim, Deacon secretly adds an extra nought to the transfer, and actually steals half a million quid. Also, Allison is secretly starting to doubt whether she wants a baby after all. Their web of lies kicks off a downward spiral into the criminal underworld of suburban Britain, and pushes them, and their plans for their future together, to the limit.

Romantic Getaway is a six-part, modern Bonnie and Clyde story mixing classic romantic comedy moments with high octane, thrilling set-pieces and stars two of Britain’s most loved comedy talents, Romesh Ranganathan and Katherine Ryan.

Produced by Ranga Bee and Sky Studios. Written by Romesh Ranganathan and Ben Green, directed by Shaun Wilson and produced by Caroline Norris.

Christmas Carole, a yuletide story of our times, with apologies to Charles Dickens. BAFTA Award-winning Suranne Jones stars in this seasonal new Sky Original. Carole Mackay (Jones) is an unashamedly outspoken and wealthy entrepreneur. Her online business selling all things festive has earned her a fortune, as well as the nickname ‘Christmas Carole’.

But her success hasn’t made her a better human being. In fact, it’s made her worse. The truth is that Carole is a monumentally mean person. Positively Scrooge-like. And, just like Ebeneezer, she doesn’t love Christmas at all. But this Christmas Eve, Carole’s past, present and future are about to collide. Will some rather familiar Christmas spirits help her discover the true spirit of Christmas?

Poker Face – A group of childhood friends get together every year for a poker night hosted by tech billionaire Jake Foley (Russell Crowe) in his palatial residence. Only this time, they all have a hidden agenda for their host and his money. But little do they know Jake also has an ace or two up his sleeve. Murder and mayhem don’t even come close to describing the night that is in store for them. Jake will need to bluff, double bluff, and double-cross to have even the slightest chance of getting himself and his family through this hellish night. Directed by and starring Russell Crowe, alongside Liam Hemsworth .