ABC Productions behind new titles

More details on the new ABC shows announced this week, many of them produced internally at ABC.

The Assembly
Leigh Sales is at the helm of a groundbreaking new factual series, The Assembly (6 x 1hr), focusing on a group of autistic student journalists as they prepare for and eventually interview Australia’s best-known personalities, including the Prime Minister. Sales will closely mentor and prepare the students for their encounter with each guest, as they learn how to get underneath spin and soundbites to get to the real person behind a public persona. With the students all undertaking a specifically designed journalism course delivered by Macquarie University, which is the first of its kind in Australia, The Assembly is being made with full support in place for the student journalists in partnership with: Aspect – Australia’s largest service for people on the autism spectrum, and Bus Stop Films – Australia’s leading social enterprise supporting people with disabilities in filmmaking.
Production Credit: A HELIUM Pictures production for the ABC with production funding from Screen NSW, from a format created by Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache, originally produced by KIOSCO.TV & QUAD+TEN, and distributed by CAN’T STOP Media. ABC Commissioning Editor Julie Hanna, ABC Head of Factual Susie Jones.

Headliners
Almost 20% of Australians live with a disability – our largest minority group – but that community make up only 7% of practicing musicians. A celebration of music and inclusion, this raw and unflinching series seeks to uncover extraordinary talent that has, until now, mostly been excluded from Australia’s mainstream music landscape. A musician and fervent campaigner for inclusion, access and equality, Elly-May Barnes, with support and inspiration from her dad, Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes, wants to challenge stereotypes and exclusion. Along with some other Australian music royalty they will find and assemble two bands made up entirely of musicians living with disability and transform them from a group of strangers to must see acts on the main stage at a sellout iconic live music event in just 7 weeks.
Production Credit: Headliners is an original series from Endemol Shine Australia (A Banijay company). Developed and produced in association with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Screen Australia and Screen NSW.

Muster Dogs: Where are they now
Presented by Lisa Millar, “Muster Dogs: Where Are They Now?’ will revisit the human and canine stars of series 1 & series 2 to check in on the dogs’ progress since the final milestone challenge. Along the way discover what our ten graziers and their dogs are up to, what is happening in their communities, and how Muster Dogs has changed their lives.
Production Credit: Produced by Ambience Entertainment; Series Director Monica O’Brien, Director Justin Schneider, Producers Sally Browning, Michael Boughen and Monica O’Brien, Co producer John Unwin, Executive Producer Matthew Street. ABC Commissioning Editor Jo Chichester, ABC Executive Producer Rachel Robinson, ABC Head of Factual Susie Jones. Supported by Screen Territory

Secret Science
A new smart and entertaining series exploring a range of topics. Learn how men can improve their sperm count, how we can all improve our capacity to learn – as well as ways we can exploit our emotions. Hosts for the series include Myf Warhust, Matt Okine and Sammy J.

Episode One Production details: An ABC Production. Producer / Director: Nicholas Searle, Associate Producer: Dominique Pile, Series Producer: Elle Gibbons, Executive Producer: Penny Palmer, Head of Factual: Susie Jones

Episode Two and Three Production details: An ABC Production. Producer / Director: Robert Greig, Associate Producer: Alice Stevens, Series Producer: Elle Gibbons, Executive Producer: Penny Palmer, Head of Factual: Susie Jones

Episode Four and Five Production details: An ABC Production. Producer / Director: Bruce Permezel, Associate Producer: Adam Finney, Series Producer: Elle Gibbons, Executive Producer: Penny Palmer, Head of Factual: Susie Jones

Episode Six and Seven Production details: An ABC Production. Producer / Director: Bev Shroot, Associate Producer: Rachel Littley, Series Producer: Elle Gibbons, Executive Producer: Penny Palmmoner, Head of Factual: Susie Jones

Megafauna: What Killed Australia’s Giants?
Australia was once home to a group of extraordinary animals known as Megafauna. These giants lived here for millions of years, but in a blink of time, they disappeared. What became of them has been debated for over a century, but now a team of experts are re-opening this paleolithic cold case. This two part series is narrated by Hugh Jackman.
Production Credit: An ABC Production. Produced, Directed and Filmed by Jeff Siberry, Producers Oliver Graham, Kirsty Walsh, Series Producer: Elle Gibbons, ABC Executive Producer Penny Palmer, ABC Head of Factual Susie Jones.

Monday’s Experts
Hosted by Tony Armstrong with Catherine Murphy, Monday’s Experts is a new sports entertainment show covering all that happens both on and off the field each week. With a panel of sports journalists and comedians, they will cover the biggest stories and the funniest and most awe-inspiring moments of the week from here and around the globe.
Production Credit: A CJZ and ABC co-production. Executive Producer: Damian Davis. Head of Entertainment Rachel Millar

Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee
During this fast-paced, entertaining and hilarious new comedy panel show, host Guy Montgomery and his loyal assistant Aaron Chen challenge four comedians, comprising of both established names and up-and-coming comics, as they attempt to spell a myriad of words as best they can, all to be crowned that week’s best speller.
Production credit: A Kevin & Co and ABC co-production. Producers: Bronwynn Bakker, Cam Bakker. Executive Producer: Cam Bakker, Bronwynn Bakker, Greg Sitch, Guy Montgomery. ABC Executive Producer Mark Sutton. ABC Head of Entertainment Rachel Millar.

ABC NYE 2024
ABC is set to kick off the celebrations for triple j’s 50th year by threading popular songs from triple j’s Hottest 100 through the iconic NYE concert celebrating its annual music poll, the Hottest 100. The most watched live concert broadcast in Australia will again include an impressive lineup of hosts, artists and guests to ring in the new year. Presented from the Northern Boardwalk of the Sydney Opera House and in collaboration with the City of Sydney, the sky above will illuminate with a world-class fireworks display, ushering in the new year with a bang.
Production Credit: An ABC production. Executive Producer Nikita Agzarian, Manager Events and Content Partnerships Cathie Scott, Head of Arts, Music & Events Kath Earl

Hard Quiz Kids
Gold-Logie-winning comedian Tom Gleeson is bringing an all-new series of his hit show Hard Quiz to the kids! On Hard Quiz Kids, everything you know and love about Hard Quiz will be let loose on a younger generation. With his trademark grumpiness and wicked humour, Tom will interrogate ordinary, but brainy contestants – the only difference is, they’re all aged between 10 and 13. Auditions for this series of Hard Quiz Kids have closed. Production Credit: A Thinkative TV production. Producers: Kevin Whyte, Charlie Pickering, Tom Gleeson. Co-Executive Producer: John Tabbagh. Executive Producer: Chris Walker. ABC Executive Producers: Mark Sutton (Entertainment) and Mary-Ellen Mullane (Children’s).

The Art Of
The Art Of is a refreshing new arts and culture show with an epic mission: to answer life’s big questions through art. Each episode we ask a burning question: Why does sex make us uncomfortable? Is rage a blessing or a curse? How can we learn to embrace our imperfections? Join the ever-curious Namila Benson as she speaks to artists from across the vast creative landscape here and abroad to find answers. Coming along the ride are guests hosts including iconic Australian Drag Queen Courtney Act exploring The Art of Masculinity and food lover Matt Preston delving into The Art of Food. Each episode also features TikTok’s art historian extraordinaire Mary McGillivray. The Art Of is a wild dive into the challenges of life, borrowing the wisdom, humour and bravery of the most intriguing artists.
Production Credit: An ABC original series. Executive Producer: Zoë Norton Lodge, Series Producer Emma Watts, Head of Arts, Music & Events Kath Earl

Spicks and Specks
Join Adam Hills, Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough for a brand new series of your favourite music quiz show, Spicks and Specks. Appearing alongside the team will be some of Australia’s brightest music stars including Anthony Callea, Marlon Williams, Elly-May Barnes, Nooky, Montaigne, Dan Sultan, Mark Seymour, Oli from Lime Cordiale, alongside some of the funniest folk around including Hamish Blake, Tommy Little, Steph Tisdell, Abbie Chatfield, Shane Jacobson and Jenny Tian. Special performances from Adrian Eagle, Gut Health and Lime Cordiale. There’ll be brand new segments, the return of the secret song, fantastic live music, as well as all your old favourite games. Spicks and Specks, there is no substitute (except of course, there will be Substitute)
Production Credit: Executive Producers: Anthony Watt, Michiko Smith, and Rowdie Walden. ABC Head of Entertainment: Rachel Millar.

Austin 
When much-loved children’s author Julian Hartswood (Ben Miller) inadvertently causes a social media storm, his career and that of his illustrator wife Ingrid (Sally Phillips) appears to be over. That is until Austin (Michael Theo), the neurodivergent son that Julian never knew existed, turns up out of the blue. Could embracing this modern nuclear family be Julian’s route back from cancellation? Will Ingrid forgive him for being such a pompous shit? One thing is for certain: if Julian thinks Austin is going to be a push over, he’s in for a rude awakening.
Production Credit: A Northern Pictures production with Lincoln Pictures for the ABC. Major Production investment from the ABC in association with Screen Australia, the ACT Government and Screen Canberra. Post Produced with the assistance of the NSW Government in association with ITV Studios.

Bluey Minisodes premieres Sunday 16th June at 8am on ABC Kids and ABC iview
The Bluey Minisodes are a collection of 1 – 3 minute funny and sweet moments featuring Bluey & Bingo. Introducing some new characters alongside fan favourites including Unicorse, Nana and Bob Heeler, Dad getting a ‘tattoo’ and we go behind the scenes at Bluey and Bingo’s dreamhouse. The first five Bluey Minisodes will premiere on June 16th with more to come throughout the year.
Production credit: These true-blue Australian minisodes are created by creator/showrunner Joe Brumm, Emmy® awarding-winning executive producers Charlie Aspinwall and Daley Pearson, producer Sam Moor and supervising director Richard Jeffery. The minisodes are executive produced by Libbie Doherty, ABC Head of Children and Family, and Henrietta Hurford-Jones, Director of Children’s Content for BBC Studios. Bluey is a Ludo Studio production for ABC Kids. Principal production investment from BBC Studios, in association with the ABC and Screen Australia. Post-Production, Digital and Visual Effects work undertaken in Queensland, Australia with funding from The Queensland Government through Screen Queensland and the Australian Government.

Classic 100 in Concert
Hosted by ABC’s Megan Burslem and Jeremy Fernandez, the Classic 100 in Concert will give music lovers nationwide the chance to celebrate the ultimate feel-good playlist, performed by some of the country’s best-known classical stars. All will be brought to life by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Principal Conductor in Residence and the Concert’s Creative Director, Benjamin Northey, at Hamer Hall. Stay tuned for the full program and artists to be announced soon.
Production credits: An ABC Production. Head Arts, Music & Events, Kath Earle. Manager Events & Content Partnerships, Cathie Scott. Manager ABC Classic & ABC Jazz, Kat McGuffie.

Bay Of Fires
ABC, Archipelago Productions and Fremantle are excited to announce that season two of the hit drama Bay Of Fires has started filming in Tasmania. Reprising their roles are Marta Dusseldorp (Janet King), Toby Leonard Moore (The Unusual Suspects), Pamela Rabe (Wentworth) and more.
Production Credit: Screen Australia, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Screen Tasmania present, in association with VicScreen, an Archipelago and Fremantle production. Distributed by Fremantle. Producers: Marta Dusseldorp and Fiona McConaghy. Executive Producers: Brett Popplewell, Greg Sitch and Andrew Knight. ABC Executive Producers: Rachel Okine, Louise Smith and Brett Sleigh.

Spooky Files in production for Season 2
Cameras are rolling on the second season of popular ABC and BBC kids comedy adventure, Spooky Files. After sending all the Spookies home and closing the portal to a spooky dimension in season one, the Spooky Crew thought their Spooky hunting days were over. But when an old Spooky friend turns up, and then a bunch of other Spookies start appearing, the Crew has their work cut out for them. Not only do they have to defend Sunny Valley from Spooky mayhem – they need to figure out how to keep the Spookies safe, and why they are refusing to go home.
Production Credits: Tony Ayres Productions (TAP) and Megaboom Pictures production co-commissioned for ABC ME and CBBC(UK). Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with the ABC. Financed with support from VicScreen and BBC. NBCUniversal Global Distribution will manage international sales. TAP is part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group.