Sky : 1 returns to Jamestown for a second series of the New World drama

A second series of Sky Original Production Jamestown, from the multi award-winning makers of Downton Abbey, Carnival Films, is coming to Sky 1. The story of the birth of a nation, Jamestown charts the early days of the first British settlers as they embark on new lives in America.

The first series, which will air on Friday 5 May at 9pm on Sky 1 and NOW TV, has been described as 'An epic drama from the makers of Downton Abbey… a gripping Western-style adventure' by TV Times; 'A sparky period saga about the first female colonists in America' by Radio Times; and as being 'packed with talented British actors' by The Telegraph.

The eight-part second series, again written by Bill Gallagher (Lark Rise to Candleford, The Paradise), will see the ensemble cast, led by Naomi Battrick as Jocelyn, Sophie Rundle as Alice and Niamh Walsh as Verity, return for more adventures in 17th-century America. Principal photography will commence in June 2017.

Series two was commissioned for Sky by head of drama, Anne Mensah, commissioning editor, Cameron Roach and director of Sky 1, Adam MacDonald. Carnival's Gareth Neame, Nigel Marchant and Richard Fell will executive produce and the producer is Sue de Beauvoir. Both series will be internationally distributed by NBCUniversal International Distribution.

Anne Mensah, head of drama, Sky, said: 'The first series of Jamestown is unique, beautifully shot and packed with compelling storylines full of adventure and emotion. It demonstrates Sky's commitment to make the highest quality drama and has left us all wanting more. With Bill Gallagher drawing from the real events in this rich period of history for the next instalment of the series, it's a fascinating story that we are thrilled to continue telling, especially that of the extraordinary women at the heart of the show, Alice, Verity and Jocelyn.'

Gareth Neame, MD, Carnival Films adds: 'I am delighted that Sky 1 has shown such confidence in the series and given us the opportunity to work with Bill and our extraordinary cast again. We are looking forward to continuing our journey in the New World with the people who made American history.'

The series is one of a number of new Sky Original Productions currently in production including, among others, Riviera, Tin Star, Britannia, The Tunnel: Vengeance and Save Me.

For further information, please contact:

Sky PR

Dominic Collett

dominic.collett@bskyb.com

020 7032 4892

Premier

SJ Peyton

sarah-jane.peyton@premiercomms.com

0207 292 7377

Premier

Kelly Phelps

Kelly.Phelps@premiercomms.com

0207 292 6455

Notes to Editors

About Sky

Sky is Europe's leading entertainment company, serving 22 million customers across five countries - UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Italy. The company has annual revenues of £12 billion and is Europe's leading investor in television content with annual programming spend of over £5 billion.

From exclusive partnerships with HBO and Showtime, to Sky's own original programming, Sky offers the best and broadest range of content along with the best viewing experience to suit each and every customer. Whether that's through the multi-award winning next generation box, Sky Q, or Sky's contract-free online streaming service, NOW TV, customers have access to the latest movies, drama, sports and kids entertainment wherever and whenever they like. This is all supported by Sky's best in class customer service.

Sky's success is not just based on what the company does but how it does it. Named as one of the Top 10 Green Companies in the World by Newsweek, one of the world's most recognised rankings of business's environmental performance, Sky ensures its responsible business strategy is embedded right across the group.

Sky has over 30,000 employees and is listed as one of The Times Top 50 employers for women. Sky is listed on the London Stock Exchange (SKY) (All figures referenced are as at 30 June 2016 and are approximations).

For more information visit www.sky.com/corporate

About Carnival Films

Carnival Films is a division of NBCUniversal International Studios and one of the UK's leading drama specialists. The company is responsible for the global television phenomenon Downton Abbey and current primetime series such as The Last Kingdom for the BBC and co-produced with Netflix and Sky 1's Jamestown and Stan Lee's Lucky Man. Other shows produced over Carnival's history include Poirot, Hotel Babylon, Whitechapel and Dracula as well as award-winning mini-series such as Traffik, Any Human Heart, The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies and The Hollow Crown anthology. Carnival has received a host of national and international awards including Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes and BAFTAs and has been recognized as the UK's best production company at both the Bulldog Awards and Broadcast Awards.