As promised, Sky1 has unveiled an autumn schedule with a strong comedic feel to it. Headline titles include Trollied, a supermarket sitcom starring Jane Horrocks, Meet the Pranksters, a hidden camera show from Ant and Dec production company Gallowgate, and Last Act Standing, a talent show from Magnum Media, in which entertainers can be ejected from the stage via trap doors, bungees and noisy explosions, depending on how the studio audience votes.

Still on the comedy front, Sky1 has also commissioned Feelgood Fiction’;s Gates, which is based around drop off and pick up from the school gates, and Baby Cow’;s Starlings, which depicts the lives of a working class family in Derbyshire.

Commenting on the line-up, Sky1 chief Stuart Murphy said: “Two years ago we promised customers we’;d bring them the best in British comedy and here it is. We’;ve worked really hard with British talent across all genres to make sure customers feel Sky1 HD is a premium channel.”

Outside comedy, Sky1 is continuing to invest heavily in big-budget drama. Sky1 titles for the autumn include its new adaptation of Treasure Island starring Eddie Izzard as Long John Silver. There is also a second series of action drama Strike Back, co-produced with HBO/Cinemax.