MELVYN Bragg is bringing his South Bank Show back to Sky with a year's worth of TV including interviews with Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe and John Lloyd — the man behind shows including Spitting Image and Blackadder.

The broadcaster will present six new shows, including a special episode on King Lear with contributions from actor Simon Russell Beale and director Sam Mendes.

There will also be 30 updated episodes from the archives of the long-running show, which counts names including Francis Bacon, Iggy Pop, Luciano Pavarotti and Paul McCartney among its guests.

Bragg said: "I'm delighted. It's like holding a royal flush. The South Bank Show continues to profile the best artists of the day."

The show was dropped in 2009 when ITV decided not to continue with the series after more than 30 years.