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New comedy The Housemate for iview

A hit Facebook pilot about finding the perfect housemate is getting a full online series.

ABC has announced a new online comedy, The Housemate, for iview, Facebook and YouTube.

Created, written by and starring Alexandra Keddie and Gemma Bird Matheson, the pilot drew attention on Facebook and now extends to an online series “definitely not based on The Bachelor.”

The series sees best mates Alex and Gemma get to know a host of potential housemates over several weeks, eliminating them from the competition one by one until they finally find the new housemate of their dreams. Through heartbreak and heartache, Alex and Gemma learn who is ready to put themselves on the line for an affordable room in inner-east Melbourne, featuring good light and easy access to public transport and shops.

ABC Head of Comedy Rick Kalowski said, “The Housemate was one of our most joyful recent online comedy discoveries, and we’re delighted to be making a full digital series of it with the incredibly talented new creator-writer-performer team of Alex Keddie and Gemma Bird Matheson. Here’s hoping this is but their first collaboration with us at ABC and our partners at Screen Australia.”

Alexandra and Gemma also said, “It’s been a pretty surreal experience to be able to create our own work; especially to have the opportunity to share our silly story with a wider audience. Our mums are really proud.”

Rosie Lourde, Investment Manager of Online Production at Screen Australia said “Gemma and Alex successfully demonstrated their capacity to build an online audience for The Housemate when they racked up 264,000 views for the teaser trailer. This commission is an opportunity we’re very pleased to support.”

The Housemate is a Chips and Gravy production with principal production investment from the ABC and Screen Australia in association with Princess Pictures. It will screen on iview later this year.

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