• Series co-created by Emmy© award-nominated and Oscar© nominated writer Simon Blackwell and actor and comedian Chris Addison
• 8 x 30 series exclusive to Sky Living HD
• Production to begin summer 2013
London, 7th June 2013:
Sky Living HD today announces that actress Jo Joyner (Eastenders, No Angels), will take a leading role as Meg in Simon Blackwell’s “Trying Again”, an original British comedy about a couple struggling with life after an affair.
Also announced is Chris Addison (The Thick Of it, In The Loop, Mock The Week) who will play Matt, Charles Edwards (Holy Flying Circus, Downton Abbey) as Ian, Matt’s love rival, and Alun Cochrane (The Frank Skinner Absolute Radio Show, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow) as Sam, Matt’s best friend. Chris Addison has also co-created “Trying Again”, alongside his “The Thick of It” partner Simon Blackwell.
Made for Sky Living HD by Avalon Television, “Trying Again” is a warm, funny sitcom about trying to mend a relationship after an affair. Set in The Lake District, Meg (Jo Joyner) and Matt (Chris Addison) are meant to be together, they’re pretty sure of that. And they really are trying to put her indiscretion with her boss Iain 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.
Highlighting friendships and love and all the problems those things bring, “Trying Again” is a warm, charming comedy that focuses on a real relationship between real people who make mistakes but live in the hope that love will conquer all.
Jo Joyner said: “I am thrilled to be part of such an exciting project with such a wonderful team of not just actors, but writers and creatives. As an actor it is very exciting to be part of a project like this right from the beginning and have a true creative input.” _
Chris Addison said: _”We’ve been dying to make this show for years so it’s really exciting to be getting it off the ground with such a great cast.”
Collaborating with Simon and Chris is co-writer Tony Roche (The Thick of It, Fresh Meat, Veep, In The Loop), and Jesse Armstrong (The Thick of It, Veep, Peep Show, Fresh Meat), who will script-edit. Fresh from directing Sky 1’s smash-hit comedy Moone Boy, Ian Fitzgibbon will direct and Caroline Norris (Horrible Histories) is the producer.
With a writing team of the highest calibre, great storytelling, smart characters and relationships at its heart “Trying Again” (8 x 30) embodies the new phase Sky Living is entering under the directorship of Antonia Hurford-Jones.
“Trying Again” has been commissioned by Lucy Lumsden, Head of Comedy for Sky. Commissioning editor Saskia Schuster is the executive producer.
The series will join an already growing raft of original comedy commissions on the channel which includes; “Mount Pleasant” starring Sally Lindsay, Samantha Womak and Nigel Harmon, upcoming sitcom “Give Out Girls” with Diana Vickers. Kerry Howard and Tracy-Ann Oberman, and “Doll & Em”, co-created and starring real life best friends, Emily Mortimer and Dolly Wells.
This latest commission is part of Sky’s commitment to increase its investment in original British content by 50% over the next three years. By 2014, Sky expects to invest £600 million a year in British programmes across its portfolio of channels. This commitment follows the success of home-grown comedies such as MOUNT PLEASANT, THE SPA, TROLLIED, SPY and STELLA, entertainment hits THE LOVE MACHINE, SINGDATE, GOT TO DANCE and A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, dramas such as STRIKE BACK, BEDLAM and MAD DOGS, and factual shows including ROSS KEMP EXTREME WORLD, AN IDIOT ABROAD and the BAFTA-winning documentary FLYING MONSTERS 3D.
“Trying Again” will shoot on location and commence production in summer 2013.
Ends.
For more information please contact:
Jakki Lewis, PR Manager, Sky Living HD
[email protected]
0207 032 1494
07710 579911
Rowan Adams, Senior Publicist, Sky Living HD
[email protected]
0207 032 3078
Dan Lloyd at Avalon
[email protected]
020 7598 7222
07779026714
ABOUT SKY LIVING
Sky Living is a female skewing channel, with shows that cover a broad range of subjects which are relevant and interesting to our customers. But it’s not just for women; it’s a place which men can enjoy too. The channel embodies engaging storytelling, key characters and intricate relationships in the broader sense of the word. Sky Living offers a place for grown up escapism and is the number one pay channel among women in pay homes.
Following Sky’s recent commitment to investing £600million a year in home-grown programming by 2014 Sky Living recently announced a raft of new original commissions which will see names including; Lorraine Pascale, Naomi Campbell, Emily Mortimer, Dolly Wells and Simon Blackwell join the channel.
Sky Living also remains a proven home for high quality US dramas with shows including; Hannibal, Elementary, Chicago Fire, Bones, Criminal Minds and Grey’s Anatomy and is committed to continually bringing its customers the best of the US. Elementary is the channel’s most successful series to date regularly attracting consolidated audiences of over 1 million.
With its rich mix of US quality drama and original scripted content, Sky Living works with some of the best and brightest talent both on and off screen, bringing its customers the best possible entertainment offering.
Sky Living HD is available on channel 107 cementing its place in Sky’s entertainment portfolio where it sits alongside Sky 1, Sky Atlantic and Sky Arts.
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ABOUT AVALON TELEVISION
Avalon Television is currently producing shows in the UK, US and Australia which include: Workaholics the most successful non-animated scripted comedy series in Comedy Central (US) history and picked up for a fourth and fifth season in early 2013; John Oliver’s New York Stand-Up Show (Comedy Central US); Russell Howard’s Good News (BBC Three), the channel’s highest rating entertainment show; Not Going Out (BBC One), currently the BBC’s longest running sitcom; and Rove:LA for FOX8 Australia.
