Following two successful seasons of comedy shorts from a selection of rising talent, Sky has announced that a new crop of comedy stars will front a Halloween-themed series of short stories to be broadcast this autumn on demand from Friday 21 October and then on Sky Arts.
The new comedy shorts series will feature eight original stories from some the UK’s best comedians, including Jason Manford and Ross Noble, who also takes on his first film directing role.
Comedic tales of ghosts and ghouls will also be penned by Matt Holness (Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace), Jamie Demetriou (Rovers), Jayde Adams (2016 Edinburgh Comedy Awards nominee), Steen Raskopoulos (Top Coppers), Guz Khan (BBC Asian Network) and Kiri Pritchard-McLean (Elevenish).
Details below:
Jayde Adams’ Horror: Bloody Tracy
Why is it that paranormal phenomena only occur in creepy-looking buildings? Why are ghosts always in conveniently scary places, like at the ends of beds? The top of stairs? If ghosts are real, why don’t they appear in normal places? Like supermarkets. Meet Tracy - or in actual fact ‘Bloody Tracy’ - the supermarket ghost.
Starring: Jayde Adams, Mark Davidson, Joe Davies, Gabby Best, Spencer Jones
Production Company: Guilty Party Pictures.
Jamie Demetriou’s Horror: Oh God
A contemporary, Kaufman-esque take on a classic sci-fi/horror premise – body mutation. Oh God is a surreal, harrowing story set in a mundane blueish-grey world of a normal lad in his mid-to-late 20s who is gradually, but unequivocally, turning into a car.
Starring: Jamie Demetriou, Ben Ashenden, Ellie White, Natasia Demetriou, Arnab Chandra, Liam Williams
Production Company: Guilty Party Pictures.
Matt Holness’ Horror: Smutch
Oswin Thaddeus Tow, an embittered middle-aged writer, is haunted by a 'ghost writer' in this mini-Hammer/Amicus horror film parody.
Starring: Matt Holness, Jim Howick, Clive Merrison
Production Company: Guilty Party Pictures.
Guz Khan’s Horror: Frightbusters
Stoned conspiracy theorists, Bongs (Guz Khan) and Ali (Sunil Patel), appear on a paranormal YouTube show to reveal their encounters with the paranormal and uncover the secret white demonic elite ruling the world.
Starring: Guz Khan, Alex McQueen, Sunil Patel, Tom Palmer
Production Company: Me & You Productions
Jason Manford’s Horror: That’s the Spirit
The tale of two teenagers who play with a Ouija board to contact the dead. But when their parents catch them, the whole family are in for a shock.
Starring: Jason Manford, Rebecca Callard, Imogen Gurney, Brenock O’Connor
Production Company: Geoff Productions.
Ross Noble’s Horror: The Catchment
A couple move into a house to be in the catchment area of a good school for their unborn children. But… there’s a catch.
Starring: Ross Noble, Shauna Macdonald, Cariad Lloyd, Richard Herring, Suki Webster
Production Company: Geoff Productions.
Kiri Pritchard-McLean’s Horror- I’ve Got Your Number
Everyone has accidentally sent a text messages to the wrong person and everyone has received a message that wasn't meant for them. Not everyone has replied to that message, just for a laugh. Kiri has though. Several times a day she chats to a complete stranger. But slowly what started as a bit of fun takes a very sinister turn.
Starring: Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Jordan Brookes, Paul G Raymond
Production Company Tiger Aspect.
Steen Raskopoulos’s Horror: Scare BnB
Babs (Sara Pascoe) and Elliot (Steen Raskopoulos) rent out a Scare BnB haunted house for horror fans looking for thrills. But when a ghost sceptic (John Kearns) turns up determined not to be spooked, threatening their perfect 5 star rating, it’s time to call in the real resident ghosts (Nish Kumar, Susie Youssef) to scare him.
Starring: Steen Raskopoulos, Sara Pascoe, Nish Kumar, Susie Youssef, John Kearns
Production Company: Me & You Productions.
Sky Halloween Comedy Shorts will be available on demand from Friday 21 October.
