Sky Commissions A Feature Documentary To Mark The 10th Anniversary Of The Manchester Arena Bomb
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Carl Roberts 
To mark the tenth anniversary of the horrific and tragic Manchester Arena Bomb, Sky commissions a feature documentary to air in 2027.
The concert by Ariana Grande was meant to be a night of enjoyment. Fans sang and danced, filled with excitement, while children cheered on their pop star idol alongside their parents. However, within moments, the evening took a tragic turn. A bomb blast shattered the Manchester Arena, leading to chaos and fear. The attack claimed the lives of twenty-two people and left 1,017 others injured in an Islamic terrorist suicide bombing. No one will ever forget that horrific night on May 22nd, 2017. Sky has today announced the commission of a feature documentary, The Manchester Arena Bomb (w/t). This will come to Sky Documentaries and NOW in 2027.
THE EVENTS OF MAY 22ND, 2017
On the night of 22 May 2017, thousands of teenagers and their parents packed the Manchester Arena to see Ariana Grande on her Dangerous Woman World Tour. For many, it was a night they had been counting down to. They had practiced lyrics to their favorite songs. But what began as an evening of music and joy became a devastating attack on British soil. A suicide bomb killed 22 people, many of them children and young adults. Hundreds more were injured, making it the deadliest terror attack in the UK since the 7/7 bombings. It also altered countless lives.
In the days that followed, a sea of flowers appeared in St Ann’s Square. Thousands tattooed Manchester’s worker bee onto their skin in a gesture of solidarity that came to symbolize the city’s collective resolve.
Produced by All3Media company RAW (The Body Next Door, The Truth About Jussie Smollett, Undercover Police Scandal: Love and Lies Exposed) and from director Sophie Oliver (Boyzone: No Matter What, Operation Dark Phone), this feature-length Sky Original documentary will unpick the full story of that night. First-person testimony will reflect the experiences of those most affected, honor the memories of those who died, and explore how, almost a decade on, the true and lasting impact of the attack is only now coming into focus.
TOM SHEAHAN AND LIESEL EVANS
Executive Producers for RAW are Tom Sheahan and Liesel Evans, who said:
“This is a film that gives space to the voices of those who were there — what they lived through, how they helped, and how they continue to carry it with them today, nearly 10 years on. The film will follow a chronological arc — beginning with the anticipation, excitement, and euphoria of the concert itself, through the final songs, the explosion, the hysteria, the escape, and the rescue, to the days, weeks, months, and years that followed, and the extraordinary public response that unified not just Manchester, but the nation as a whole.”
HAYLEY REYNOLDS
Hayley Reynolds, Head of Documentary Commissioning, Sky, said:
“Sky Documentaries is proud to be working with RAW and director Sophie Oliver on this film. Their track record for compelling, thoughtful and sensitive storytelling makes them uniquely placed to take on such an important subject. The Manchester Arena bombing was a defining moment in recent British history and, for a generation too young to remember 7/7, their first experience of such a brutal act of domestic terrorism. Ten years on, it remains vital to remember what happened and reflect on its lasting impact”.
BEHIND THE DOCUMENTARY
The Manchester Arena Bomb (w/t) (1×100) is a project commissioned by Phil Edgar-Jones, Executive Director of Unscripted Originals at Sky, for Cécile Frot-Coutaz, Chief Advertising and Content Officer at Sky and CEO of Sky Studios. Hayley Reynolds leads the documentary commissioning team at Sky, while Bruce Fletcher serves as the Commissioning Editor. Filming kicks off this month.
The Manchester Arena Bomb (w/t) will air on Sky in 2027.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
