Sky has announced a slate of three new Sky Original documentaries launching across Sky Documentaries, Sky Nature and Sky Crime this year.

The newly commissioned documentaries include blue-chip natural history series Predators, which marks Sky’s first co-production with Netflix, will follow six apex predators as they face the ultimate survival test in ever-changing landscapes. The landmark six-part series will premiere on Sky Nature in the UK, Germany and Italy in Winter 2022.

Produced by True to Nature and Sky Studios, in association with Netflix. The Sky Original series is commissioned by Zai Bennett, Sky’s managing director of content and Poppy Dixon, director of documentaries and factual. Predators is directed by Dan Smith and executive produced by Wendy Darke. The show runner for the series is Vanessa Coates

Sky Documentaries original film, Gabon (w/t) will explore the extraordinary story of a scientist from Manchester, who became the Environment Minister of Central African country Gabon after forming an unlikely friendship with President Ali Bongo. The country, also known as the ‘Earth’s second lung’, is at the heart of the global fight against environmental destruction and climate change. The feature length film will premiere on Sky Documentaries later this year.

Produced by Keo Films in association with Sky Studios. The Sky Original film is commissioned by Zai Bennett, Sky’s managing director of content, Poppy Dixon, director of documentaries and factual and Hayley Reynolds, commissioning editor. Distribution is managed by NBCUniversal Global Distribution on behalf of Sky Studios. Gabon (w/t) is directed by Gavin Searle, executive produced by Will Anderson and Adrian Pennick and produced by Jacky Sloane.

On Sky Crime, Death on The Beach will examine the tragic roll call of numerous young travellers who have died under mysterious circumstances on the popular, remote backpacking Thai island, Koh Tao. The documentary will highlight the story of Chrissie Annesley, who travelled to the island in 2015 on a trip of a lifetime but was found dead in her beach hut two weeks later.  Death on the Beach will be available on Sky Crime in March 2022.

Produced by Blast! Films and Sky Studios. The three-part Sky Original series is commissioned by Zai Bennett, Sky’s managing director of content and Poppy Dixon, director of documentaries and factual. Distribution is managed by NBCUniversal Global Distribution on behalf of Sky Studios. The series is directed by Jack Warrender, executive produced by Edmund Coulthard and Lindsay Shapero and produced by Ellen Arnold.

Poppy Dixon, director of documentaries and factual commissioning at Sky, said: “We are committed to bringing innovative and original factual programming to our customers and this year is no different. Across Sky Documentaries, Sky Nature and Sky Crime, our audiences will travel the globe, witnessing epic scenes as apex predators protect their position at the top of the food chain, meeting an environmental odd couple in a race to protect Gabon’s natural resources and searching for the truth behind mysterious deaths on a paradise island in Southeast Asia.”

Picture: © Sky UK/ George Bradford

Jon Creamer

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