Sky Atlantic’s Sweetpea is the show that’s going to be your next TV obsession

Sky Atlantic's Sweetpea is the show that's going to be your next TV obsession

The eight-part series - which will also arrive on NOW TV - is a darkly comic-drama based on the novel of the same name by C. J. Skuse. Rhiannon is your average girl next door, living quietly with her boyfriend and little dog. By day her job as an office manager is demeaning and unsatisfying. By evening she dutifully listens to her friends’ plans for marriage and babies. Rhiannon never complains, smiling through it all with reserves of serenity and a sparkling wit. She has become skilled at keeping it together. Being normal. But behind this mask is a ferocious power lying dormant, and a long-buried secret that Rhiannon wishes she could forget. When a chance encounter with a stranger leads to a shocking act of violence, Rhiannon’s mask slips completely and she is forced to confront the darker side she has long kept hidden. The girl everyone overlooks might just be able to get away with murder. Sweetpea was commissioned by Sky Studios’ Director of Drama, Cameron Roach and Zai Bennett, Sky’s Managing Director of Content. The series is written and executive produced by BAFTA Breakthrough Brit Kirstie Swain. Patrick Walters, Jamie Laurenson, Hakan Kousetta, Iain Canning and Emile Sherman executive produce for See-Saw Films, and Liz Lewin executive produces for Sky Studios. The announcement comes as Sky recently unveiled its  largest ever slate of programming for 2020, alongside the commission of 10 new Sky original programmes in drama, comedy and entertainment, The broadcaster held it's Up Next showcase event at the Tate Modern this week, sharing exclusive previews of brand-new shows due to air this year - with over 25 talent on stage including David Schwimmer, Nick Mohammed, Maisie Williams, Billie Piper, Dynamo, Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan. 80 original series will hit Sky screens in 2020, an increase of 25 per cent year-on-year from 2019, together with a 40 per cent boost in the volume of programming from the US.  This is alongside aggregated content from its partnerships with Netflix, offering customers all the best TV in one seamless service. “2020 is going to be the best year yet for content on Sky – we have over 80 original series and 40% more US shows, we have new channels like Sky Comedy, Sky Nature and Sky Documentaries launching and we are announcing ten new commissions today.  In an increasingly competitive market, we keep pushing to give our customers what they want, all the best TV, all in one place," Group CEO, Sky, Jeremy Darroch, said.