Sky has unveiled a packed year of Original drama, comedy, entertainment, arts and factual at the Edinburgh TV Festival’s ‘Spotlight’ session, with senior execs reaffirming a focus on talent-led shows and headline-grabbing stories across scripted and unscripted.
Caroline Cooper (COO, Sky Entertainment Group), Meghan Lyvers (Executive Director of Scripted, Sky) and Phil Edgar-Jones (Executive Director of Unscripted, Sky) outlined the vision following a week of announcements.
Caroline Cooper said: “It’s been a record-breaking year for Sky Originals, and our strategy remains clear: to deliver for our customers. Our upcoming slate reflects the strength of our creative partnerships, our investment in British talent, and our ability to bring extraordinary stories to viewers here and around the world.”
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“That’s why we’re excited to add The Good Daughter – the adaptation of Karin Slaughter’s hit novel starring Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy – to our line-up in 2026, a perfect example of how we bring together the very best shows from around the world.”
Scripted highlights
Meghan Lyvers said: “Our scripted strategy is about delivering bold, distinctive stories with unforgettable characters that audiences can fall in love with – and keep coming back to.
“We’re delighted to announce the return of fan favourites, Mr Bigstuff for its third series and Gangs of London for its fourth. These series perfectly exemplify the rich, character-driven British stories that our customers love. Additionally, we are excited to reveal new projects including WAR, a two-season legal thriller by George Kay starring Dominic West. We also eagerly anticipate audiences experiencing The Iris Affair, which we shared a first look tease of earlier this week.”
NEW — Drama & Comedy
- WAR (TX: TBA)
Scandal-soaked legal thriller set in elite London law. From creator George Kay and director Ben Taylor, produced by New Pictures in association with Sky and HBO. Stars Dominic West as tech titan Morgan Henderson and Sienna Miller as his estranged wife, film star Carla Duval. Greenlit for two series from the outset, opening with a high-stakes divorce that ignites a rivalry between firms Cathcarts and Taylor & Byrne. - The Good Daughter (TX: 2026)
Adaptation of Karin Slaughter’s bestseller. A suspenseful, emotional thriller about sisters Charlotte (Meghann Fahy) and Samantha (Rose Byrne) Quinn, whose lives were shattered by violence and are thrown back into turmoil when a new attack hits their small town.
Returning
- Gangs of London, Series 4 (TX: TBA)
BAFTA-winning Sky Original from creators Gareth Evans and Matt Flannery returns with more high-stakes action, produced by Pulse Films (Vice Studios Group). - Mr Bigstuff, Series 3 (TX: TBA)
Danny Dyer, creator-star Ryan Sampson and Harriet Webb return for the Essex-set comedy, produced by Sky Studios and Water & Power Productions.
Unscripted and Entertainment
Phil Edgar-Jones said: “After the huge success of our entertainment series – especially A League of Their Own after 20 incredible seasons – the time feels right for creative renewal.
“We’re proud of what we’ve built and excited to focus on two distinctive opportunities: talent-led series and scaled formats, with shows like Danny Dyer’s Caravan Park and Gemma Collins: Four Weddings and a Baby leading the charge.”
NEW — Entertainment
- Gemma Collins: Four Weddings and a Baby (w/t) (TX: 2026)
An eight-part, year-in-the-life series from Navybee, following Gemma as she plans her wedding and pursues motherhood via IVF.
Gemma Collins said: “This really is the most important year of my life, and for the first time people will get to see the Gemma behind the GC… I feel truly blessed and excited for everyone to come with me on this new chapter of my life.”
Documentaries
Edgar-Jones added: “Sky Documentaries delivers unmissable, thought-provoking stories – whether it’s crime and scandal-fuelled binges like The Essex Murders, investigative thrillers like 7/7: Homegrown Terror, or personality-led hits such as Boyzone: No Matter What, our biggest Original Documentary to date.
“I’m also thrilled to announce Alien Autopsy from BAFTA-winner John Dower – a gripping investigation into the infamous 1995 Roswell footage, supposedly showing an alien autopsy. The doc will explore its origins, and the blurred lines between fact and fiction.”
NEW — Documentaries
- Alien Autopsy (w/t) (TX: TBA)
A Mindhouse series directed by John Dower, exploring the notorious tape, its creators and the wider world of ufology, from Roswell to the Calvine sighting.
Arts
“And finally,” said Edgar-Jones, “Sky Arts is all about celebrating creativity in all its forms, from the return of the Sky Arts Awards with Bill Bailey at the helm, to Voices of the Valleys, and Tea with Judi Dench which perfectly showcase our partnerships with brilliant regional and smaller indies across the UK.”
NEW — Sky Arts
- Voices of the Valleys (TX: coming later this year)
Yeti Films follows three Welsh Male Voice Choirs as they prepare for major performances. - Drinks with Dame Judi (w/t) (TX: coming later this year)
A one-off Mindhouse special with Dame Judi Dench in conversation at home with Sir Kenneth Branagh. - Sky Arts Awards (TX: 16 September)
The awards return to London’s Roundhouse, celebrating excellence across classical music, comedy, dance, film, literature, poetry, opera, popular music, television, theatre and visual arts.
Attendees at the session also saw in-the-room-only first-look clips from upcoming titles including The Death of Bunny Munro, Danny Dyer’s Caravan Park, and The Essex Murders: Who Killed Goldfinger?
