ABC1 2014: Drama, drama, drama.

Drama dominates ABC1’s slate in 2014 with new dramas Anzac Girls, The Code, Old School, The Broken Shore, Parer’s War, Carlotta, The Gods of Wheat Street, Janet King, more Rake, The Time of Our Lives, The Doctor Blake Mysteries and Jack Irish.

ABC announced its 2014 slate last night in Sydney at an event at Simmer on the Bay. In attendance were Mark Scott, Brendan Dahill, Stuart Menzies, plus commissioning editors, producers and loads of ABC talent. The evening was hosted by go-to guy Lawrence Mooney, with the new Spicks and Specks team, host Josh Earl and team captains Ella Hooper and Adam Richard playing three rounds of the show.

Carlotta herself performed while new ABC2 act the Bondi Hipsters showed their irreverence.

Amongst the other titles, the Working Dog team has its new satire Utopia, Chris Lilley returns with Jonah and there’s more Upper Middle Bogan, The Moodys, Mad as Hell,  and new offerings from Adam Zwar (The Agony of Modern Manners) , Judith Lucy (Judith Lucy is All Woman), and a new series from Hannah Gadsby (Hannah Gadsby’s Oz), The Chaser team has a new project,  We’ll Have to Leave it There. 

Interestingly Adam Hills is only named in conjunction with UK series Adam Hills: The Last Leg.

Director of Television Richard Finlayson spoke again about the iview revamp in December, and promised a major commissioned series will be offered in its entirety as an iview binge opportunity.

Stephanie Brantz and Lawrence Mooney will host the iconic New Year’s Eve Fireworks, live from Sydney Harbour with guests including The Chaser team, Richard Roxburgh, The Moodys and Craig McLachlan. The broadcast will include both the 9pm and midnight firework displays, and music performances by Pete Murray, IOTA and Stonefield.

Programming highlights include great new dramas such as Anzac Girls, which tells the story of extraordinary young women who witness the brutality of war; The Code, a tale stretching from Australia’s outback to the cool corridors of power in Canberra; and Old School, starring Bryan Brown and Sam Neill.

Chris Lilley will bring back Jonah Takalua in a new series that sees him in the midst of island life but still experiencing the familiar frustrations of a bored teenage delinquent.

The Working Dog team returns to ABC TV with Utopia, a satirical comedy about the absurdity of government-sponsored schemes; The Chaser team brings us We’ll Have To Leave It There; 

Highlights from our documentary, factual and arts slates for 2014 include Afghanistan: The Australian War; Brilliant Creatures profiles four Aussies who shook the world; The Flying Miners, the story of a unique Australian work lifestyle; and, filmed in front of a live studio audience, Save Your Life Tonight! puts Australia’s health under the spotlight.

ABC iview continues to be the most popular catch-up service in Australia, and in 2014 the platform will be taken to the next level. To reflect our younger audience’s growing hunger for binge viewing, ABC TV will premiere the entire run of a major new Australian series on iview coinciding with the launch of the first episode on television.

For the first time, iview will premiere two programs created especially for the online service: Fresh Blood, a sketch comedy initiative which will uncover Australia’s brightest young talent, and Wastelander Panda, an epic story of loyalty and betrayal in an environment where no-one can survive alone.

In late 2014, viewers who love watching current programs for free on iview will also be able to revisit their favourite ABC programs from the past with a new pay-to-view on-demand service. In collaboration with ABC Commercial, the ABC library will be opened up to allow viewers instant access to recent and archival programs.

PLUS RETURNING ABC1 CONTENT
ABC News Breakfast
Art + Soul 2
Artscape
Asia Pacific Focus
At The Movies
Australian Story
Behind The News
Business Today
Catalyst
Compass
Family Confidential – Series 3
Foreign Correspondent
Four Corners
Gardening Australia
Gruen Planet
Insiders
Jennifer Byrne Presents…
Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery – Series 2
Kitchen Cabinet – Series 5 (Tbc)
Landline
Lateline
The Business
Media Watch
National Press Club
Offsiders
Q&A
Rage
Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell – Series 3
The Book Club
The Checkout – Series 2
Who’s Been Sleeping In My House? – Series 3
7.30

RETURNING ABC1 ACQUIRED CONTENT
Adam Hills: The Last Leg
Call The Midwife – Series 3
Death In Paradise – Series 3
Doc Martin – Series 6
Doctor Who –Season 8
Father Brown – Series 2
Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond
Flying Monsters
Foyle’s War – Series 8
Grand Designs – Series 11
Kevin Mccloud’s Beach Hut
Keys To The Museum With David Attenborough
Last Tango In Halifax – Series 2
Line Of Duty
Midsomer Murders –Season 16
Micromonsters With David Attenborough
Poirot (Final Series)
Qi – Series 12
Rise Of The Animals With David Attenborough
Silent Witness – Series 17
Silk – Series 3
The Accused – Series 2
The Wrong Mans

NB: ABC2, ABC3 and ABC News 24 content will be published separately.