Netflix has used the Edinburgh TV Festival to unveil its widest-ranging batch of new UK commissions yet, with a hefty slate covering drama, comedy, live sport and creator-led reality. There are two new series from the world of its acclaimed London crime drama, a star-led revenge thriller, fresh comedy from Lisa McGee and Robert Popper, plus a live darts special which gives amateurs the chance to take on Luke Littler for £501,000.
Anne Mensah, Vice President, UK Content at Netflix, said: “In the amazingly competitive UK landscape, it’s not good enough to be just ok. You need to swing for exceptional. Across drama, comedy, entertainment, live and factual programming, our slate underscores the risks we are happy to take and the extraordinary UK creativity we are proud to champion. Bring on 2027, we can’t wait”.
Two New ‘Top Boy’ Stories
Netflix is returning to the world of ‘Top Boy’ with not one, but two new series.
First up is ‘Jonny Boy‘, a five-episode prequel which sees Barry Keoghan (Banshees of Inisherin, Saltburn, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man) reprise his role as Jonny McGee. Ronan Bennett, creator of ‘Top Boy’, writes and creates the new drama, with Ali Abbasi directing. The series will begin filming in 2027 and comes from Cowboy Films, alongside Wolfcub Productions and the other returning ‘Top Boy’ producing partners.
Alongside that is ‘Jaq‘, currently a working title, which brings back Jasmine Jobson (Top Boy, MobLand, In The Shadows) as Jaq. The six-part series is created and written by Ryan Calais Cameron, with Jobson also serving as an executive producer. Filming is also due to begin in 2027.
‘The Unheard’ From ‘Adolescence’s Jack Thorne
‘The Unheard‘ is a five-episode limited series starring Kate Winslet (The Reader, Mare of Easttown) and Maxine Peake (Say Nothing, First Day On Earth) as two sisters forced to go on the run after an act of vengeance goes wrong.
As they are pursued, the drama will dig into what pushed the sisters to such a reckless act and whether they ever genuinely intended to escape. Jack Thorne writes and creates the series, with Mounia Akl directing. Warp Films, Matriarch Productions and Plan B produce, while Winslet also serves as an executive producer. Filming is set to begin in 2027.
A Bigger Cast For ‘How To Kill Your Family’
Netflix has also expanded the cast of ‘How To Kill Your Family‘, its eight-part adaptation of Bella Mackie’s bestselling novel.
Anya Taylor-Joy stars as Grace Bernard, the daughter of billionaire Simon Artemis, who turns her anger at her estranged family into a rather murderous plan for revenge and inheritance. Joining her are Clive Owen, Orlando Norman and David Shields. Netflix has not yet revealed their roles.
Emma Moran is series creator and lead writer, with Josephine Bornebusch and Tom Kingsley directing. Filming is due to begin this autumn.
‘Derry Girls’ Creator Lisa McGee Heads Into Competitive Irish Dancing
‘Jig‘ is a six-part mockumentary from Lisa McGee, creator of ‘Derry Girls’, set in the high-stakes world of competitive Irish dancing.
The story follows best friends Cara and Fletcher from the struggling Sweeney School of Dance in Derry as they take on their sworn rivals in Florida, a slick, sponsored and seemingly unbeatable operation. Both teams are heading towards the World Championships, with the little matter of actually lifting the trophy at stake.
The Orchid Pictures comedy will shoot in Northern Ireland in 2027.
Robert Popper Is Losing His ‘Marbles’
‘Marbles‘ is a new six-part multi-generational family comedy from Robert Popper (‘Look Around You’, ‘Friday Night Dinner’), following a couple stuck in the middle between ridiculously lively young children and ridiculously difficult ageing parents.
Sam and Samantha are trying to survive children who hide keys in bowls of milk and sleep in cardboard boxes, while also attempting to persuade a 75-year-old father to move out of their house. In other words, family life is going extremely well.
The cast includes Robert Webb (Peep Show), Timothy Spall (The Sixth Commandment, Mr Turner), Alexandra Roach (Utopia), Denise Welch (Tip Toe) and Louise Brealey (Such Brave Girls). Filming begins this autumn, with Netflix planning to launch the series in 2027.
Roald Dahl’s Adult Stories Get A Twisted New Series
‘Untitled Dahl Stories For Adults’ is a six-part drama written by Danny Brocklehurst, who is taking a break from adapting Harlan Coben novels to bring a collection of Roald Dahl’s short stories for adults to television!
The story follows a young couple marooned in a faded seaside town, where they encounter conmen, adulterers, murderous mothers and snake charmers as they attempt to escape before their own fate is sealed.
The rather impressive cast features Naomi Scott (Smile 2, Aladdin), Josh Finan (Say Nothing, Waiting For the Out), Imelda Staunton (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, The Crown), Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton, The Magic Faraway Tree), Toby Jones (Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, MobLand), Carmen Ejogo (The Penguin, True Detective), Dominic West (The Wire, The Crown), Christine Tremarco (Adolescence, The Responder), Michael Socha (The Cage, Showtrial) and Clarke Peters (The Boroughs, The Wire).
Production is already underway in Manchester and across the North West of England, with Runyararo Mapfumo directing the first block and Ben Gregor the second.
Fancy £501,000 For Beating Luke Littler?
‘Beat Luke Littler’ takes Netflix into live darts with a one-off special hosted by Gary Lineker and featuring Richard Osman as expert analyst.
Twenty amateur competitors will step up to the oche with one very simple, and rather difficult, task: beat world number one Luke Littler in a leg of 501 and walk away with £501,000. Regional heats are being held in Manchester and London in September to find the final players, with the live event airing in October.
The special is produced by Workerbee in partnership with the PDC.
The Sidemen Head ‘Outside’
Finally, the Sidemen are taking their reality format out of the house with ‘Outside’, a spin-off from ‘Inside’.
A new group of content creators will be dropped into a forest to compete for a prize pot of up to £1 million. Every comfort eats into the cash, while challenges and assorted Sidemen mischief will make hanging onto the money even harder.
Filming has already been completed on the eight-episode series, which Netflix says will arrive in 2026.
‘Beat Luke Littler’ premieres Friday, 30th October 2026 on Netflix.
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