Sky has unveiled three new titles for Sky Documentaries and a series each for Sky Crime, Sky Nature and Sky HISTORY.
The newly commissioned titles for Sky Documentaries include The Assassination of Olof Palme, a thriller-esque four-part series set in Cold War Sweden about one of Europe’s most high-profile assassinations of a Prime Minister. Italia 90’ will be the definitive story of the World Cup that forever changed football, told by an international roster of iconic interviewees, including Paul Gascoigne, Roger Milla and Lothar Matthäus. The Essex Murders (w/t) chronicles the shooting of the notorious Essex Boys and the major role they played in the ecstasy trade, fuelling Britain’s booming rave scene.
On Sky Crime, three-part series Libby Are You Home Yet? tells the story of Libby Squire, a 21-year-old student, who was abducted and murdered walking home from a club in her university city of Hull in 2019. Libby’s disappearance sparked the largest manhunt in Humberside Police history, which culminated in the arrest of a local man who had been leading a double life.
The Sky Nature series, Arctic From Above with Liz Bonnin, follows the wildlife biologist as she travels to one of Earth’s last great wildernesses to reveal fresh insights about its animals. The series documents a new aerial approach to wildlife research that is helping scientists study the Arctic’s magnificent creatures in new and innovative ways.
In an epic drama-documentary series for Sky History, The Royal Mob recounts the story of the extended royal family that once ruled the whole of Europe. Told through the eyes of Queen Victoria’s granddaughters, the series will combine premium scripted drama with a host of expert historians to tell the tale of one of the most compelling, powerful yet dysfunctional families in history.
Sky’s Director of Documentaries and Factual, Poppy Dixon, said: “We’re incredibly proud to announce new additions to our slate ahead of our UP NEXT event. From uncovering the truth behind mysterious deaths in the UK and Europe, highlighting a sporting event that shaped football as we know it, to dramatic retellings of a history we all think we think we know – the new additions display the extraordinary breadth of content across our factual portfolio.”
The newly announced titles are in production and will air in late 2022 and early 2023.
Libby Are You Home Yet? (3×60’)
Sky Crime and streaming service NOW. A Sky Originals documentary series produced by Candour TV, in association with Sky Studios
TX: October 2022
Three-part series, Libby Are You Home Yet? tells the story of Libby Squire, a 21-year-old student, who was abducted and murdered walking home from a club in her university city of Hull in 2019. Libby’s disappearance sparked the largest manhunt in Humberside Police history, which culminated in the arrest of local man, Pawel Relowicz, who had been leading a sick double life in which he stalked and sexually assaulted young women.
With access to Libby’s family, friends and the Police, this series chronicles her life, the hours that led to her death and the exhaustive investigation that followed. This is not your average true crime story. In a society still prone to victim-blaming – where women seem to be solely responsible for their own personal safety – this series challenges that narrative.
Italia 90’ (3X60’)
Sky Documentaries and streaming service NOW. A Sky Original documentary series produced by Blast! Films and Sky Studios
TX: November 2022
Told by an international roster of iconic interviewees, including Paul Gascoigne, Roger Milla and Lothar Matthäus, this will be the definitive story of the World Cup that forever changed football. Following the journey of five of the most memorable teams, this series will combine edge–of-the-seat drama on the pitch with the momentous social history that was happening beyond it. From the fall of the Berlin Wall to the civil wars of Yugoslavia; English hooliganism of 1980s to the rise of a new culture of football in the 1990s, we will discover how Italia 90 was a tournament played in the crucible of a changing world.
The Royal Mob (4×60’)
Sky HISTORY and streaming service NOW. A Sky Original documentary series produced by Nutopia
TX: November 2022
The Royal Mob tells the saga of the extended royal family that once ruled the whole of Europe, and how their loves, marriages and feuds dragged the continent into the world’s first total war and violent revolution.
Told through the eyes of Queen Victoria’s granddaughters – the Hesse sisters, and their passionate and doomed love affairs across Europe’s Royal courts– – the series lifts the lid on the family tensions which set cousin against cousin and saw millions plunged into the bloodiest war the world had ever known: a world in which the chink of champagne glasses gives way to the blast of bombs, war and murder.
The epic Sky HISTORY original drama-documentary from Nutopia combines premium scripted drama with expert historians to tell the tale of one of the most compelling, powerful yet dysfunctional families in history.
Arctic From Above with Liz Bonnin (3×60’)
Sky Nature and streaming service NOW. A Sky Original series produced by Lion TV, in association with Sky Studios
TX: Early 2023
In Arctic From Above with Liz Bonnin, wildlife biologist, Liz Bonnin, travels to one of Earth’s last great wildernesses to reveal fresh insights about its animals. From polar bears to arctic foxes, and walruses to wolves, a new aerial approach to wildlife research is helping scientists to study the Arctic’s magnificent creatures in innovative ways. Liz joins scientists in helicopters, using drones, satellite trackers and imagery, to make new discoveries about the region’s iconic species.
The series will combine stunning archive with dynamic sequences on water, ice, and snow, across tundra and boreal forest to bring audiences front and centre in the action while Liz interacts with animals from across the entire Arctic.
The Assassination of Olof Palme (4×60’)
Sky Documentaries and streaming service NOW. A Sky Original documentary produced by Raw in association with Discovery
TX: Early 2023
The Assassination of Olof Palme is an endlessly twisting thriller-esque four-part series set in the Scandi Noir world of Cold War Sweden. The 1986 shooting of Swedish prime minister, Olof Palme, on the snowy streets of Stockholm, starts a 36-year search for the killer. It’s a constantly shifting search that has consumed many, including the late best-selling novelist, Stieg Larsson, author of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, whose personal files form the heart of this investigation. This is the shocking true story of Europe’s most high-profile assassination – and the people determined to finally get to the truth.
The Essex Murders (3×60’)
Sky Documentaries and streaming service NOW. A Sky Originals documentary series produced by Expectation TV, in association with Sky Studios
TX: Early 2023
On December 6th 1995, police are called to a country lane in Essex, to find three men shot dead in a Range Rover. The victims are identified as the notorious Essex Boys, major players in the ecstasy trade fuelling Britain’s booming rave scene. The murders come just three weeks after the death of 18-year-old Leah Betts, who died taking a pill bought from one of their clubs. It creates a media storm.
When two men are finally convicted of the murders, the case appears to be closed. But the questions surrounding the case never go away and the two men jailed for life, Jack Whomes and Mick Steele, continue to maintain their innocence. The Essex Murders (w/t) goes behind the headlines of a case that has become part of Essex folklore and the subject of countless films and books. The three-part series will shed new light on the story, taking viewers deep into the heart of the 90s rave scene, the Essex underworld and one of Britain’s most infamous gangs.
Jon Creamer
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