The International Emmy Awards nominated Urban Myths has been greenlit for a third series on Sky Arts. The next episode of the anthology series to be announced sees students from the National Film and Television School (NFTS) taking over the creative reigns. The series three instalment, Bleak House Guest, stars Stephen Mangan as Charles Dickens and will air in spring 2019.

The NFTS have been commissioned to make the episode as part of the school’s Bridges to Industry scheme. A first glimpse can be seen in Sky’s upcoming highlights promo which will air over the Christmas period.

Morwenna Gordon, commissioning editor for Sky said: “We’re incredibly proud of Bleak House Guest and thoroughly enjoyed the process of working with SLAM and the NFTS on this project. With Stephen Mangan, Ian Hart and Monica Dolan in front of the camera, and a talented crew of NFTS alumni, It will make a world class addition to our next series of Urban Myths.”

Jon Wardle, NFTS director said: “We are extremely grateful to Sky Arts for giving our graduates and students this opportunity to create an episode for such a high-profile series. Our Bridges to Industry scheme is such an important aspect of what we do at NFTS, and we couldn’t give our students and graduates this career enhancing experience without the continued support of our industry champions like Sky.”

Louise Delamere, producer for Slam Films said: “SLAM is delighted to have worked together with Sky and the NFTS on the Bridges to Industry initiative. This unique endeavour resulted in an Urban Myth which SLAM are incredibly proud of – not just for the quality of the programme itself but for the opportunities we were able to offer young, emerging talent.”

Bleak House Guest will join the already announced Mick and Margaret, which charts Princess Margaret’s 30-year friendship with Mick Jagger. Further details of series 3 will be announced in the new year. Previous episodes of Urban Myths have starred Gemma Arterton as Marilyn Monroe, Noel Clarke as Muhammad Ali, Anna Maxwell Martin as Agatha Christie, David Suchet as Salvador Dali and Noel Fielding as Alice Cooper.

Urban Myths will be distributed internationally by Sky Vision.

Production Credits

Bleak House Guest is written by NFTS Screenwriting MA alumna Jess Jackson and produced by Producing MA alumni Laura Jackson, Rob Darnell and James Jose Walker. The crew includes a substantial number of NFTS students and graduates in key creative roles including producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, designer, composer and sound designer (see editor’s notes for full list). The episode is directed by Robert Delamere and made in collaboration with Slam Films. It stars Stephen Mangan as Charles Dickens, Ian Hart as Hans Christian Andersen and Monica Dolan as Charles Dickens’ long-suffering wife, Catherine.

For further information, please contact:

Claire.scott@sky.uk

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About the National Film and Television School

Recipient of the 2018 Outstanding Contribution to British Cinema BAFTA, the NFTS is one of the world's leading film, games and television schools. It has been cited by some media as one of the top five film schools globally and by one as the No.1 international film school. In 1967, the government recommended the creation of a national film school for the UK and in 1971 the National Film School opened its doors for the first time focussing on postgraduate education. In the 1980s, the school officially changed its name to the National Film and Television School to incorporate the demand for courses in television production and has since added games to its remit.

NFTS prides itself on producing world-class, award-winning industry leaders. It has more Student Academy Awards (Foreign Category) than any other film school. NFTS students and graduates also regularly win BAFTAs and have won the short animation category for the last five years. Other prestigious accolades include multiple Grierson Award for Best Student Documentary, as well as numerous Royal Television Society student awards and Annecy Animation Awards. NFTS graduates have gone on to win ten Oscars and 137 BAFTAs with alumni including cinematographer, Roger Deakins (Oscar winner and 13 times Oscar nominee); BAFTA winning director, David Yates, (best known for directing the Harry Potter films); Oscar winning animator Nick Park (creator of Wallace & Gromit), Oscar winning composer Dario Marianelli and BAFTA winning director, Lynne Ramsay among others. The NFTS is a registered charity (313429). For more information see www.nfts.co.uk