0/5

SBS 2015: highlights: Poh, Go Back, Food and Drama.

Plus Shaun Micallef, Paul McDermott, Who Do You Think You Are? football & cycling.

A new local drama The Principal with Alex Dimitriades and Aden Young, food from Poh Ling Yeow, and Go Back to Where You Came From bound for Syria and Baghdad -it’s all coming to SBS in 2015.

Presented under the banner “Diversity Matters” the public broadcaster highlighted drama, documentary, food and sport amongst its new and returning titles.

Who Do You Think You Are? will feature Geoffrey Rush, David Wenham and Luke Nguyen (more to be announced). Shaun Micallef heads to India to explore the Hindu religion in Shaun Micallef’s Stairway to Heaven and Paul McDermott hosts new comedy chat show Room 101.

RocKwiz returns to Saturday nights, and the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras to SBS ONE. Inmates of a Darwin prison share their experiences through song in Prison Songs and there is Angry Mile, a doco series exploring the great Aussie kebab shop.

New overseas dramas The Legacy and Mammon join Vikings, Fargo and Masters of Sex while SBS 2 returns cult comedy Danger 5.

SBS personalities joined Managing Director Michael Ebeid, Director of Television Tony Iffland and Director Advertising Sales Andrew Cook at Luxe Studios in Darlinghurst to showcase the upcoming slate. Following a presentation of titles, guests were treated to a marketplace of street food with wines, buskers and ice cream.

SBS Managing Director Michael Ebeid said: “I am proud that 40 years on after our beginnings as a two station radio network, SBS today is delivering Australian audiences the most innovative, ground-breaking, award-winning programs, across all platforms. We are an irreplaceable part of today’s multicultural Australia, the network perfectly positioned to reflect our diversity and we are looking forward to a strong, dynamic 2015.”

SBS Director of Television Tony Iffland, said: “Programs that explore and celebrate diversity shape the 2015 schedule, with some exciting commissions you simply wouldn’t see on any other network and the best, boldest and premium programs from across the world that attract a global following. We will engage the nation with event television, provoke debate and discussion with documentaries, explore different cultures through the beauty of food, bring depth to our news and current affairs, and passion to our movies and entertainment.”

2014-11-14_1617

FOOD HIGHLIGHTS
SBS’s popular Thursday night food programming is set to get bigger and better with more series from some of Australia’s leading chefs of diverse and colourful backgrounds.

– Made in Italy with Silvia Colloca – (10x30min). Actress, opera singer and author of hit cookbook Silvia’s Cucina, Silvia Colloca takes a journey back to her homeland to introduce her family and share her love of healthy, hearty Italian fare in an Italy rarely seen by tourists.

– Poh and Co. – (6x30min) Poh and Co. opens up the warm, sometimes chaotic, but always delicious embrace of acclaimed cook, artist and lover of life, Poh Ling Yeow, and her extended network of family and friends. Much more than just a food program, Poh and Co is a ground-breaking series that sets out to explore the moments that, when strung together, combine to make up a busy, complex, but rewarding life.

– Gourmet Farmer Afloat – (6x60min) The trio from Gourmet Farmer; Matthew Evans, Nick Haddow and Ross O’Meara, embark on an epic sailing adventure to circumnavigate Tasmania in a wooden yacht, following in the wake of the first Europeans to chart this fascinating island.

– Luke Nguyen’s United Kingdom – (10x30min). In this exciting brand new food journey Luke travels and cooks his way across the length and breadth of the United Kingdom, discovering the wonderful food delicacies of the island.

– Destination Flavour Scandinavia – (6x30min) Scandinavia is the hottest place in the food world right now and the must-visit destination for food lovers. This six episode series will sample the culinary delights of Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Host Adam Liaw will cook classic Scandinavian dishes, learn traditional cooking methods and also provide his own spin on the central themes found throughout Scandinavian food.

– Shane Delia’s Moorish Journeys – (10x30min) Shane Delia is the authority in Australia on Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food and this season will follow him as he travels through Morocco and Southern Spain, tracing the origins of Moorish food. His mission is to seek out the best tips, techniques and ingredients, before returning to his Test Kitchen and developing a travel inspired menu. Once cooked, meals will be served to diners in his restaurant.

– Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen Notebook: Cosmopolitan Cook – (10x30min) Rachel Khoo uncovers a world of culinary inspiration on her travels to Europe and beyond. Immersing herself in different cultures and cuisines she records her findings in her notebook and uses these gems of inspiration back in her London kitchen – cooking up a host of delicious new dishes for friends.

- Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen Notebook: London – (10x30min) Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen Notebook: London finds the acclaimed cook and food writer living back in the city where she was born and bred, getting re-acquainted with one of the world’s most exciting capitals and its fantastic food.

– Raymond Blanc How to Cook Well – (6x30min) Raymond Blanc believes becoming a good cook is all about mastering the basic techniques. In this new series Raymond teaches food lovers to become good cooks by mastering the basics with a range of recipes, from simple to ambitious.

2014-11-14_1625

DOCUMENTARIES
SBS will build on its 35 year pedigree in documentary and once again be the home for landmark documentary series in 2015, with a host of ground-breaking commissions that will push boundaries and stir debate.

New
– Shaun Micallef’s Stairway to Heaven – (1x60min) Shaun Micallef heads to India to immerse himself in the
Hindu world of Gods, Gurus and the Ganges, on his quest for the meaning of life.

– After the Wave – (1x60min) Ten years after the Boxing Day Tsunami this is the untold story of Australia’s extraordinary role in what became the world’s greatest forensic detective operation, which saw the eventual identification and return of 4000 loved ones to their families in 40 different countries over five years – a remarkable scientific and humanitarian achievement.

– The Great Australian Race Riot – (3 x 60min) Best-selling author, columnist, and raconteur Peter FitzSimons explores the secret history of Australian race riots and reveals how violent mobs of every colour and culture have shaped the nation. In this landmark three-part series he demonstrates how mobs of every ethnicity have regularly transformed our nation – for better as well as worse.

– Prison Songs – (1x60min) In an Australian first the inmates of a Darwin prison are shown in a unique and new light, sharing their feelings, faults and experiences in the most extraordinary way – through song.

– Angry Mile – (3x60min) Angry Mile is an innovative three-part series about a hidden multicultural institution, the Kebab shop, on the frontline of Australians behaving badly. From behind the spits and skewers of meat, these workers have a unique front row seat on multicultural Australian life.

– Struggle Street – (3x60min) This three-part observational documentary about a Western Sydney housing commission community gives viewers an unprecedented window into a world and community that is ignored at best, and at worst demonised by the media. It has real issues, heart and humour.

– Richard Hammond’s Wildest Weather – (3x60min) Richard Hammond’s Wildest Weather is a ground breaking new three-part series that will see Richard explore weather in a way that’s never been done before. Setting up enormous experiments and using a whole barrage of innovative technology, he will reveal the hidden world of weather in stunning detail.

2014-11-14_1622

Returning
– Go Back To Where You Came From – (3x60min) Three years after the second series of Go Back to Where you Came From, the government, policies, public opinion and issues have all changed. Yet how we treat refugees and asylum seekers is still a hot button topic. Host Dr David Corlett returns to guide the six participants as they visit new countries, including Syria and Iraq.

- Who Do You Think You Are? – (8x60min) The celebrated genealogy series returns to SBS in 2015 for its seventh Australian season. Celebrity participants such as Geoffrey Rush, David Wenham, and Luke Nguyen take a journey into their family history in this fascinating chronicle of the evolution of Australia’s national identity.

DRAMA
New
– The Principal – (4x60min) Alex Dimitriades and Aden Young lead a compelling multicultural cast in SBS’s new four-part drama series from the producers of Rake and Jack Irish and the writers of EAST WEST 101. Murder mystery collides with powerful human drama as Alex Dimitriades, The Principal, tries to save one of Australia’s most challenging multicultural schools from extinction.

– The Legacy – , The Legacy is modern family portrait which tells the story of four siblings trying to cope with their mother’s death, which has turned all of their lives upside down.

– Mammon – This new six-part Norwegian thriller follows Peter Verås, an uncompromising journalist for one of Norway’s most respected newspapers, who is drawn into a tangled web of lies and betrayal when he uncovers evidence of a financial fraud involving the country’s elite.
Returning
– Rectify – From the creators of Breaking Bad hails the second season of one of the most explosive, edgy drama series to come out of the United States. Starring acclaimed Australian actors Aden Young (I, Frankenstein) and Adelaide Clemens (The Great Gatsby).

Fargo – Critically acclaimed drama series Fargo will return for a second season of dark humour and intrigue. Season 2 will go back in time to focus on the experiences of a young Lou Solverson (the father of Molly, from Season 1), a state police officer. Series creator Noah Hawley has confirmed that the new season will continue to draw inspiration from original Fargo masterminds, the Coen Brothers.

– Masters of Sex – Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan return to SBS in 2015 as real-life pioneers of human sexuality, William Masters and Virginia Johnson, in the third season of Masters of Sex.

ENTERTAINMENT
New
– Room 101 – (10x30min) Hosted by Paul McDermott, this new 10-part comedy entertainment series will present a refreshing approach to the celebrity interview, inviting guests including Ray Martin, Julia Zemiro, HG Nelson, Julia Morris, Dave Hughes, Noni Hazelhurst, Matt Preston, Nazeem Hussain, Poh Ling Yeow, and Vince Colossimo to offload their pet hates and consign them to oblivion in Room 101.

Returning
– Eurovision – Eurovision has become one of the most popular television events in Australia. Next year is the 60th anniversary of Eurovision and with the official theme ‘Building Bridges’ already announced by host country Austria, SBS can reveal we have our Eurovision engineers Julia Zemiro and Sam Pang already working on how we can build a bridge to Vienna and join the Eurovision Song Contest in 2015.

- Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras – SBS’s focus for 2015 will be event television that really gets the nation talking. This year, for the first time in 12 years, the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras returned to free to air television, and next year it will move from SBS 2 to SBS ONE. A global beacon of pride and inclusion, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is one of the world’s largest and most-loved LGBTQI celebrations, providing an opportunity to commemorate a universal message of diversity and equal rights.

– RocKwiz Salutes The Decades – (6x60min) Julia Zemiro, Brian Nankervis and the RocKwiz Orkestra return in 2015 with RocKwiz Salutes the Decades. These shows will honour and explore the local and international music scene from the decades including the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and more. Each episode will feature iconic performers, and trivia representing each decade.

– Brooklyn Nine-Nine – Golden Globe winning comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine is armed and ready to fire for a second season on SBS ONE in 2015. Man-child detective Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) and his misfit band of law enforcers at the 99th Precinct of the New York City Police Department are back to solve crime and wreak general havoc, at the dismay of their no-nonsense Captain Ray Holt (Andre Braugher).

2014-11-14_1621

SPORT

– Football – In 2015, SBS will bring audiences the best football from home and abroad. SBS’s 2015 football line up will include the 2014/15 Hyundai A-League finals plus the launch of the new season, the 2014/15 UEFA Champions League final, the 2014/15 Europa League finals plus all of the Matilda’s games at the 2015 Women’s FIFA World Cup. SBS’s The World Game website will also continue being the online football hub in Australia, giving football fans news and highlights that are available anytime, anywhere.

– Cycling – SBS is home to the 2015 Cycling season, with all the action from Europe’s Grand Tours: the 2015 Vuelta a Espana, the 2015 Giro d’Italia and the 2015 Tour de France. SBS will broadcast every stage of the Tour de France live and exclusive on TV, streamed online and via the award-winning Tour Tracker app, as well as for the first time a next-day afternoon replay of each stage from the night before. The 2015 race route has been announced, with the grand depart from Utrecht, Netherlands. With the inclusion of cobblestones, a race changer in the 2014 Tour, as well as the return of the legendary Alpe d’Huez, and an historic passing through the World War One battlefields of the Somme in tribute to the ANZACs, the 2015 Tour will be one not to miss.

2014-11-14_1620

SBS 2
SBS 2 will continue to entertain younger Australians with edgy, provocative and comedic programs, combining a unique Australian perspective in new commissioned series and diverse cult classics from across the world.

Danger 5 – (7x30min) Allied super-team, Danger 5 reunite on SBS 2 on Sunday January 4, 2015 at 9:30pm, after years of far-flung obscurity, to stop Hitler’s ultimate quest for world domination in a 1980’s excess soaked universe of neon, ninjas, discos, dinosaurs, pizza and prom-queens.

– The Feed – After a successful 2014 adding a fresh perspective on the latest local and international headlines, with incredible insights into the latest pop-culture trends and technology news, host Marc Fennell and presenters Jeannette Francis, Andy Park and Patrick Abboud will return in 2015 to dish up a new serving of the stories that only they could find, and only SBS 2 could broadcast.

– Tropfest – This year the team behind The Feed will produce the SBS coverage of Tropfest, Marc Fennell and Adam Spencer return to the helm, with Jeannette Francis joining them for hosting duties of the broadcast of the world’s largest short film festival.

- Unplanned America – (6x30min) SBS 2’s own hipster documentary makers are back for a second series in Unplanned America. Three Aussie mates, Gonzo, Nick and Parv, throw out travel guides and maps for another road trip around the land of the free and home of the brave, seeking lesser seen subcultures off the beaten track.

– International Drama – SBS 2 in 2015 will bring younger audiences the best in international drama, fast-tracking the third season of acclaimed drama Orphan Black, launching new Belgian thriller Cordon, and continuing to deliver a strong serving of sci-fi and zombies with new seasons of Lost Girl, and The Walking Dead.

– Comedy – SBS 2 seeks to bring audiences the best local and international comedies and 2015 will be no exception, with the third season of Drunk History, and Season 19 of award-winning series South Park.

Documentaries – SBS 2 will continue telling real life stories like you’ve never seen them before, with an impressive documentary slate in 2015. SBS 2 will premiere new series Reality Trip, the 4th and 5th season of Don’t Tell My Mother as well as several other powerful documentaries in their weekly Slice documentary slot.

NITV
NITV reaches around 2 million Australians per month and is a channel all Australians can be proud of, offering all Australians the chance to share and celebrate Indigenous heritage, culture and stories. In its third year free to air since it joined SBS, NITV will continue to tell unique Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories.

– The Marngrook Footy Show – Unique, good humoured and popular Footy show Marngrook, will return for a new season in 2015.

– Kriol Kitchen – (10x30min) Ali and Mitch Torres will return next year for a second helping of Kriol Kitchen exploring the food, culture and history of Asian influences on local Broome cuisine.

– Express Yourself – (2x60min) hosted by our King of stand-up comedy Sean Choolburra, NITV presents some of the best of Indigenous comedians Australia has to offer in this new two-part comedy series.

– Fusion – (10x30min) Now in its second season, music show Fusion, hosted by singer Casey Donovan, is back with a fresh new look and a heap of Indigenous music.

Beyond 2015
SBS Director of Television, Tony Iffland, also revealed in a sneak peak for 2016, that in a major coup for the network, SBS has secured the rights to a four-part documentary series “Inside Heston’s World” following Heston Blumenthal as he moves his restaurant The Fat Duck from Berkshire to Melbourne. Cameras will follow the culinary whizz for a year as he moves his entire staff of 50 from the UK to Australia in one of the biggest business stories of the decade.

20 Responses

  1. Yay for Orphan Black, Danger 5, Fargo, and Vikings. The Principal sounds like it could be good, as does Mammon…

    A bit nitpicky but I believe Made in Italy starts in two weeks. Unless they’ve shifted it to 2015?

  2. Yeah, some very good content there. Really happy that Rectify, Fargo, and Masters of Sex are returning. I notice that Vikings is not listed under “Drama” (or anywhere) but I presume that we’ll get to see S3 at some point.

    Have enjoyed all that we’ve had from Sweden and Denmark so I’m looking fwd to completing the Scandinavian trifecta with Mammon from Norway.

  3. Quite a few shows and events I am looking forward to in 2015.

    Am looking forward to “Who do you Think you Are”. So far, it has great Aussie stars on it. The previous seasons have been greatly produced.

    I am looking to some new shows too. I will tune into The Principal (premise and cast looks great) and Room 101. Its good to have Paul McDermott back on our screens.

    good to see Fusion back on NITV.
    am also glad to see Orphan Black being fast-tracked. It’s a great show.

  4. Yep, a lot to like here.
    Yay ! They’re finally featuring David Wenham on Who Do You Think You Are?
    About time !
    Especially looking forward to The Principal – Alex D is a very fine actor, Stairway To Heaven, After The Wave, Gourmet Farmer Afloat and the second season of Fargo.

    The decade thing on Rockwiz should be good as well.

  5. Fargo and Vikings were easily amongst the top ten dramas this year. Fargo has prettying become the new Breaking Bad and Vikings is giving Game of Thrones a run for its money.

  6. I, personally, would like to know when SBS are going to show series 3 of Doc Martin/France….it got lost in the ‘New’ SBS2 thing…
    In fact, after all this time….would be nice if they showed series 1 & 2 again…even during the day would be fine.
    No good ringing them…tried that..just get the brush off.

  7. How refreshing. Excellent drama offerings, and have been waiting patiently for The Legacy. They should have access to Broen season 3 towards the end of 2015, but will probably wait for 2016.

Leave a Reply