‘Downton Abbey’ makers’ New World drama ‘Jamestown’ is a ratings hit

Sky1’s new period drama Jamestown has become one of the highest performing original dramas on Sky 1 to date.

The series is written and created by Bill Gallagher (Lark Rise to Candleford, The Paradise) and made by the multi-award-winning production company Carnival Films, the team behind Downton Abbey.

Set in 17th century America, Jamestown attracted an average audience of 1.3 million viewers across its first season.

Former Downton Abbey executive producer Gareth Neame commented: “Everyone involved in the making of Jamestown is thrilled that it has performed so well on Sky 1 and clearly resonated with audiences.

“Bill Gallagher has brilliantly re-created the brooding atmosphere of Jamestown, a viper’s nest of intrigue and politics inhabited by an intriguing cast of characters. As a British take on the beginning of the new world, this is truly original drama and we are already hard at work on new episodes.”

Season 1’s finale last month saw heroine Jocelyn’s fate sealed as a ship from England brought new women, new laws and a letter from Temperance’s cousin, and a covert deal struck by Redwick divided the settlement in a way that would change Jamestown forever.

Jamestown has been described by UK critics as “a new TV obsession” (The Evening Standard), “impossible to resist” (Broadcast) and a “gripping Western-style adventure” (The Times), while The Radio Times said it “looks gorgeous, like a garden of Eden that venal men are set on ruining… this could run and run.”

A second season of eight episodes is currently filming and will premiere in 2018.

Naomi Battrick as Jocelyn, Sophie Rundle as Alice, Niamh Walsh as Verity, Max Beesley as Henry and Jason Flemying as Yeardley will all be back for more adventures in 17th century America.