Must-see new series on Sky / NOW
Highlights this month include a new TV spin-off from acclaimed 2022 film The Batman, The Penguin, as well as new episodes of Sky originals Brassic and Funny Woman
The Penguin
Crime | Drama
Summary:Colin Farrell stars as the titular DC Comics gangster, set in the same universe as Matt Reeves’ 2022 Oscar-nominated film The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson. This spin-off series follows The Penguin's rise to power in Gotham's criminal underworld in the aftermath of the Riddler killings.
Why to watch: Reeves supervised the writing of the drama and the cast hiring process for the series to ensure it was in keeping with his critically acclaimed film, making it definitely one to watch for fans of the DC Extended Universe.
Available on September 20
Brassic
Comedy | Drama | Crime
Summary:Joe Gilgun, Michelle Keegan, Tom Hanson, Aaron Heffernan, and Ryan Sampson star in this comedy about a group of working-class friends in northern suburbia. These lads have dealt, scammed, bribed and conned their way through adolescence, but now, on the brink of adulthood, their dealing and stealing is catching up with them. In series six, the gang face the worrying prospect of ‘growing up’, but the madness continues a little longer yet with man-eating crocodiles, bigamists and a naked cult.
Why to watch: A refreshingly authentic comedy with an excellent cast. Brassic is wickedly funny, while also offering relatable and honest characters.
Available on September 26
Funny Woman
Comedy
Summary:Gemma Arterton stars as a Blackpool beauty queen, Sophie Straw, who finds her voice in the male dominated world of the 1960s comedy, taking London by storm. In series two, Sophie’s career is on the up as she’s asked to move to Hollywood - but can she leave her friends and family behind?
Why to watch: Like Sophie Straw, Arterton is the shining light here. She’s bold, funny, and fearless in her fight against misogyny and boring comedy.
Available on September 6
Black Widow
Documentary
Summary:This three-part docuseries follows the decade-long police investigation into one of Britain’s most dangerous female murderers. Over 20 years, Dena Thompson, also known as ‘The Black Widow’, carried out a sustained campaign of fraud, deception, bigamy and murder. Using Lonely Hearts columns to lure a succession of husbands and dozens of lovers into her life, she was able to coerce them into giving up their life’s savings, their homes, their families and their freedom based on her bizarre but convincing stories.
Why to watch: Thompson’s crimes are truly shocking, and this doc explores them with exclusive access to Thompson’s first husband, Lee Wyatt. Thompson convinced Wyatt that he was wanted by the Mafia, and blamed a burglary of £23k perpetrated by her on him. Unbelievably, Wyatt was one of her luckier victims. This is the story of the woman a judge described as “one of the most fluent liars I have come across”.
Available on September TBC
Mission to Burnley
Documentary
Summary:An epic story about the rebirth of one of England’s most historic clubs, Burnley FC, under the ownership of a charismatic group of American owners and the leadership of Man City legend Vincent Kompany in a season of footballing evolution.
Why to watch: From Welcome to Wrexham to All or Nothing, football documentaries are in vogue right now and Burnley have a story worth an insider series. Since 2020 they’ve been demoted twice from the Premier League, promoted once, and acquired a star footballer for a manager.
Available now
Guy Garvey: From The Vaults
Documentary
Summary:Elbow frontman and broadcaster Guy Garvey lifts the lid on two decades of TV gold – with era-defining musical performances, long lost studio appearances and revealing interviews that have remained on the shelves for decades. The series is centred around shows which were made by ITV companies around the country – from Tony Wilson and Granada TV’s So It Goes to Tyne Tees’ ground-breaking Channel 4 series The Tube and LWT’s The London Weekend Show - chronicling not just changing musical tastes but evolution in the UK’s social and cultural history too.
Why to watch: Guy Garvey offers a real insight into the music industry and its impact on history in this one-of-a-kind documentary, with rare access to studio footage. Series five's focus is music’s most famous and world-changing protest songs, with a special focus on the years 1979, 1983, 1985 and 1988.
Available on September 6
SEAL Team
Action & Adventure | Drama | War & Politics
Summary:Military drama following the professional and personal lives of the most elite unit of Navy SEALs as they train, plan and execute the most dangerous, high stakes missions our country can ask of them. In the seventh series, Jason (David Boreanaz) struggles with his responsibilities as a single father, while his partner Ray (Neil Brown Jr.) ponders his looming retirement from service.
Why to watch: Angel and Bones star Boreanaz is excellent as ever in this series about Navy SEALs, which is approaching its final episodes. After starting with a huge bang in 2017, it's likely to go out with one too.
Available on September TBC
Blue Bloods
Drama | Crime
Summary:A drama about a multi-generational family of cops dedicated to New York City law enforcement. Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck) is the New York Police Commissioner and heads both the police force and the Reagan brood. He runs his department as diplomatically as he runs his family. Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan, Will Estes and Len Cariou also star.
Why to watch: Being a family drama as much as a police procedural drama makes Blue Bloods a breath of fresh air in an oversaturated genre.
Available on September 4
Klitschko: More Than a Fight
Documentary | War
2024 | Kevin Macdonald | 96 mins
Summary:With unprecedented access to Vitali Klitschko and his brother Wladimir, who together dominated the heavyweight boxing world for more than a decade, Klitschko: More than a Fight captures the longest serving Mayor of Kyiv as he holds his city together in the face of constant Russian aggression.
Why to watch: Vitali Klitschko is a fascinating figure, for both his dominant sporting career and political prowess. This documentary combines archive footage and exclusive interviews with Klitschko and family to paint a vibrant portrait of the man himself as he grapples with a critical moment in Ukrainian history.
Available now
The Body Next Door
Documentary | Crime
Summary:In November 2015, a disturbing discovery of a human corpse thrust the quiet Welsh village of Beddau, into the spotlight. The identity of the deceased body remained a mystery, with no matching DNA, fingerprints, or dental records available, turning the case into a haunting dual mystery: who did this, and who was the victim?
Why to watch: The case that became known as the "most shocking murder mystery in Welsh history", is the perfect fodder for a true crime documentary. What started in a small Welsh town evolved into a global investigation, with unprecedented discoveries. It almost has to be seen to be believed.
Available now
