Sky Releases Trailer For ‘Dreamland’, Alongside Other New/Returning Original Comedies In 2023
Sky has released the first trailer for ‘Dreamland‘, starring Lily Allen and Freema Agyeman, alongside announcing some updates on other new and returning Original comedies coming to the broadcaster in 2023 such as ‘Brassic‘ Season 5, Danny Dyer’s comedy debut in ‘Mr Bigstuff‘, an ‘Intelligence‘ special, and more.
The UK broadcaster confirms ‘Brassic’ has begun filming season five to air later in 2023, and also that David Schwimmer and Nick Nick Mohammed will return for a special episode of ‘Intelligence’ later this year. Joining the returning show will be four new commissions – ‘Smothered’ (w/t), ‘Mr Bigstuff’, ‘Dreamland’ and ‘Joy To The World’ (w/t). Here is more about what is to come.
‘Dreamland’ – Sky Atlantic & NOW – 2023
Based on Sky’s 2018 BAFTA-winning short of the same name, which was written by Sharon Horgan and produced by Merman, ‘Dreamland’ is a comedy-drama about secrets, lies, loves and aspirations within a family of four sisters. Set in the sun-drenched British seaside town of Margate, it is a dark comedic exploration of multi-generational female relationships, and their (somewhat dysfunctional) family dynamics.
Eldest sister Trish (Freema Agyeman) is pregnant for the third time with her partner Spence (Kiell Smith-Bynoe). And this time, she’s decided: it’s going to be a girl. Her two sisters Clare (Gabby Best) and Leila (Aimee-Ffion Edwards) rally around her with their mum (Frances Barber) and their Margate- legend nan (Sheila Reid), “manifesting” a little girl at Trish’s “mani-festival” But when their other sister, Mel (Lily Allen), makes an unexpected reappearance back into their lives, her return threatens to destabilise the entire family. A knock on their door and their “Dreamland” is no more…
The series also features a guest star appearance from Samantha Bond as Orla.
‘Intelligence’, Special Episode – Sky Comedy & NOW – April 2023:
They’ve countered the Russians, they’ve foiled a plot to disrupt the NHS and they’ve prevented a nuclear disaster… But in this one-off special, the latest threat to our gang at the Government Communications Headquarters is personal. With the future of CySec at stake, the team have to go rogue to save their reputations and their jobs.
From Expectation for Sky, starring David Schwimmer (Jerry), Nick Mohammed (Joseph), Jane Stanness (Mary), Sylvestra Le Touzel (Christine), Gana Bayarsaikhan (Tuva) and joining the cast as Joanna Telfer-Fotheringham is Jennifer Saunders.
‘Brassic’, Season 5 – Sky Max and NOW – 2023
Reeling from the dramatic events of the series 4 finale, Vinnie and the gang face big repercussions from their entanglements with the dangerous McDonagh brothers and powerful drug buyer Manolito. With both criminal big-wigs now on his case, Vinnie needs to negotiate his exit strategy – and fast. But there’s a lot on his mind, especially as he’s still trying to figure out what the hell is going on between him and Erin. Can they ever actually be together, and does she really want to share this unhinged and dangerous life with him?
Smothered (w/t) – Sky Comedy & NOW – 2023
Will they? Won’t they? Should they? Shouldn’t they? Created by Monica Heisey (Workin’ Moms, Schitt’s Creek), and produced by the multi-award-winning Roughcut TV, ‘Smothered‘, is a not-so-typical rom-com. Starring Danielle Vitalis and Jon Pointing in a tale of two worlds colliding, where romance blossoms but the pressures of modern dating linger.
Sammy (Vitalis) is a fiercely independent young woman who is done with dating apps, sick of immature men, and here for a good time. Tom (Pointing) has never been inclined to swipe left or right; he’s a settled man with a warm heart but carries his fair share of baggage. On a night out, the two strangers meet, and end up singing out their drunken souls in a karaoke booth. Then the inevitable happens… They hook up.
What seems like a great idea at the time, the strangers agree to have a no strings attached affair for three weeks – but on the condition that they never speak again. Sounds simple, right?? However, what was supposed to be a few weeks of great sex, pasta in bed and first names only, the sparks flying around them cannot be ignored. But Sammy soon makes a shocking discovery that there is another woman in Tom’s life… his six-year-old daughter Ellie.
Also featuring, Aisling Bea (This Way Up), Mercury Prize nominee Rebecca Lucy Taylor, also known as Self Esteem, Blair Underwood (Sex and the City, LA Law), Rizzlekick’s Jordan Stephens and Lisa Hammond (Eastenders).
Mr Bigstuff – Sky Comedy & NOW – 2023
From Ryan Sampson (‘Brassic’, ‘Plebs’), ‘Mr Bigstuff’ is a six-part comedy, co-produced by Sky Studios and Water & Power Productions. The series explores broken families, fragile masculinity and carpet sales. It tells the story of two estranged brothers; Glen (Sampson) a nervy perfectionist striving to live the suburban ideal and Lee (Danny Dyer) an alpha male with a prescription drug addiction and a biscuit tin full of his Dad’s ashes.
Glen and his fiancée share a perfect, perfectly mundane life together. Sure, Glen’s got crippling erectile dysfunction and Kirsty has a secret shoplifting habit, but they’re happy. That is until Lee comes crashing into their lives, whilst on the run from a past that’s quickly catching up with him. The trio are forced together: a perfectionist, a fantasist and an anarchist all living under the same roof in an Essex cul-de-sac. It’s not long before their ‘perfect’ lives start to unravel faster than a cheap carpet.
Executive Producers are Anil Gupta and Jon Mountague for Sky Studios, Tom Miller and Sam Myer for Water & Power Productions, with Hayley Sterling from Sky Studios producing.
Joy To The World (w/t) – Sky Max & NOW – Christmas 2023:
Twelve-year-old Mikey Collins, who’s dirt-poor and hates Christmas, finds two Santa Clauses in the woods. One has just robbed a bank (James Nesbitt) and is on the run with the cash. The other Santa (Timothy Spall) claims to have fallen out of his sleigh…
Mikey has no time for this second guy – he’s well past believing any of the Jingle Bells, spirit-of-the-season rubbish, even if his little brother Sean insists on treating the old man like a superstar. Instead, Mikey’s determined to get his hands on the bank robber’s cash, convinced that this is the answer to giving his family the Christmas they all crave. But as Mikey risks everything for the loot, he comes to realise that maybe the spirit of Christmas is alive after all…
The festive special is from SHUK and Calico Pictures for Sky.
None of these series have exact premiere dates yet, but will air on Sky in the UK in 2023. If you want to keep track of this or any other show, you can add it via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date.
