A+E Networks® UK Commissions Firecracker Films for UFO Investigation Series Fronted by Craig Charles and Sarah Cruddas

A+E Networks® UK has commissioned Firecracker Films for a 10x60’ factual entertainment series to be broadcast on Sky HISTORY in January 2022.

Craig Charles, the BBC 6 Music Radio DJ, star of Red Dwarf and Coronation Street, hosts the show alongside world renowned space journalist, astrophysicist and award-winning author Sarah Cruddas. Craig Charles: UFO Conspiracies follows sci-fi favourite and long-time UFO enthusiast Craig and astrophysicist Sarah as they scrutinise compelling evidence relating to some of the most perplexing UFO encounters of the past and present, revealing never before heard testimony to separate fact from fiction and ask: are the unexplained aerial phenomena prowling our skies extra-terrestrial?

Each episode sees Craig and Sarah tackle one major UFO sighting in the specially created ‘Investigation Hub’, sifting through a range of evidence to determine whether there is an earthly explanation for it or whether it is beyond the reach of conventionally understood science. Acting as a latter-day Mulder and Scully, Charles and Cruddas investigate notorious cases including: the US Defence Department’s leaked footage of unidentified aerial vehicles buzzing around US warships off the coast of California in 2004; the infamous Rendlesham Forest incident of 1980; the spectacular Phoenix Lights phenomenon in Arizona and the notorious Alan Godfrey UFO sighting over Todmorden in Yorkshire in 1980.  Craig and Sarah turn to world-renowned UFO experts, whistle-blowers and eyewitnesses to build their case, compare other ground-breaking UFO sightings, sift through historic documents and reveal shocking government secrets, before finally answering the big question: are we alone in the universe?

Craig Charles said: “The making of this programme was a thrill for me and led us on an extraordinary journey into the unknown.  We were given the opportunity to examine some of the most unbelievable cases from around the globe and heard mind-blowing first-hand witness testimony.  Working with Sarah and using her scientific scrutiny, we examined a mountain of evidence in which we were able to hunt for the truth about what is really going on in our skies. The whole experience was eye-opening and sometimes left us unable to come to an earthly conclusion!”

Sarah Cruddas said: “We are living in an incredible time for space exploration, but we are only just beginning to scratch the surface of what is out there, what it is that we are a part of. This programme has been a unique opportunity to delve into the some of those unknowns. Marrying together Craig’s passion and enthusiasm with my own thirst for evidence and an application of science, we have been able to explore what is going on in our skies like never before. Some of the answers are likely to be stranger than anything you could ever imagine.”

The series has been commissioned by Dan Korn, VP of Programming at A+E Networks UK, and Diana Carter, Commissioning Editor and Head of Talent at A+E Networks UK.

Dan Korn said: “These are fascinating and fun re-investigations of incidents which, in many cases, appear to defy conventional scientific explanation. We are delighted to be working with the multi-talented Craig and Sarah who, between them, combine just the right amount of energy, enthusiasm and healthy scepticism to make sense of some of these baffling episodes.”

The executive producer for Firecracker Films is Sam Emmery, with Jes Wilkins as Chief Creative Officer. Michelle Horton is series producer and Julie Scott is production executive.

Jes Wilkins at Firecracker Films added: “We are delighted to be working with Sky HISTORY and this fantastic on-screen pairing on such a timely series, which comes out at a time when the debate about UFOs in the USA and around the world has never been taken more seriously.”

The new series will premiere in the UK on Sky HISTORY on Tuesday 11^th January at 9pm. Craig Charles: UFO Conspiracies will be part of the returning Mystery Season on Sky HISTORY and will be joined by exclusive UK premieres of The UnXplained with William Shatner, Curse Of Oak Island, Secrets of the Viking Stone with Peter Stormare, Secrets in the Ice and America’s Book of Secrets. Sky HISTORY is on Sky, Virgin Media and streaming service NOW.  Craig Charles: UFO Conspiracies will launch on The HISTORY® Channel in the Nordics and Benelux early 2022.

About Sky HISTORY

Sky HISTORY is the flagship brand of the A+E Networks UK portfolio which is made up of true crime channel Crime + Investigation; entertainment channel Lifetime; Sky HISTORY2 and free to air channel BLAZE. Sky HISTORY will be available in the UK on Sky, Virgin and TalkTalk and will also be available on Sky’s streaming service NOW.

About A+E Networks® UK

A+E Networks® UK, a joint venture between Hearst and Sky, is a leading media network reaching 58 million homes across 100 countries. With our global portfolio of popular, high-performing and creative brands - HISTORY®, Crime+Investigation®, HISTORY2® and UK free to air BLAZE® - we have entertained and inspired audiences for over 20 years; telling the stories that need to be told. Our award-winning factual and entertainment content includes global hit franchises like Forged in Fire and Born this Way, must see dramas Knightfall and Vikings as well as original local commissions including: Al Murray’s Why Does Everyone Hate the English and Murdertown with Katherine Kelly (UK), Married at First Sight (Africa) and The Hunt for Baltic Gold (Poland). We complement our programming with innovative talent-led exclusive digital content and top rated podcasts. We currently partner with over 360 operators broadcasting throughout the Nordics, Benelux, Central Europe, the Middle East and Africa. We have offices in London, Warsaw, and Johannesburg.

About Firecracker Films

Firecracker is responsible for some of the highest rating and most talked about factual television programmes of the last decade. From the BAFTA-nominated international smash hit Big Fat Gypsy Weddings, to the visually arresting Daredevils series, Firecracker has produced some of the most ground-breaking, popular factual programmes on television today. Whatever the platform, Firecracker prides itself on telling authentic human stories and offering new and often never-before-seen perspectives, coupled with its trademark bold and stylish approach to film making, to create talked about content that is loved by audiences around the globe. Firecracker’s unique story-telling has seen the company work with a wide range of broadcasters both in the UK and the US, including the BBC, Channel 4, W, ABC, Discovery, TLC and National Geographic. Other credits include Born in the Wrong Body, Daredevils, Repo Man, Sex Testers, Baby Ballroom and Dr Christian Will See You Now and single documentaries such as Susan Boyle: Unlikely Superstar, Secrets of the Living Dolls, The Man With The Ten Stone Testicles, The Brit Who Tried To Kill Trump and Jamie: Drag Queen At Sixteen – the documentary which inspired the hit West End musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.