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What are Australia’s Best TV formats?

These 18 Aussie-created shows are amongst our most remake-friendly and successful around the world.

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Australian television has devised some brilliantly original television, including an elite class of shows which have seen international adaptations.

TV Tonight has consulted with a number of industry voices to collate a list of some of our finest formats.

While international success is but one consideration there is also the entertainment factor and remake potential. Some successes such as The Wiggles or Wilfred (which ran longer in the US than Australia) are heavily tied to their original cast, meaning they are more challenging to adapt in multiple territories. The list is also dominated by unscripted formats.

In no particular order here they are for your consideration….

Thank God You’re Here
(2006 – 2009 / 2023 – 2024)
Working Dog’s improvisation series is insane fun as celebrities bullshit their way through ludicrous scenes, madly paddling like a duck underwater, usually in elaborate costumes and sets. Hosted initially by Shane Bourne, and more recently seamlessly revived with Celia Pacquola, the series never fails to tickle the funny bone and was previously adapted in 24 countries from the US to Russia, China, Armenia, Estonia and Indonesia.

Gruen
(2008 – 2024)
Who ever thought a show about advertising could work on the ABC? Answer: Andrew Denton, and subsequently CJZ who, with Wil Anderson in the driver’s seat, always manages to entertain and inform. The rapport between Russel Howcroft and Todd Sampson, who both love advertising in different measures, has been lightning in a bottle across 16 seasons and its various spin-offs Gruen Sweat, Gruen Nation, and Gruen Planet. A Rose d’Or winner for Entertainment, a US version was once set to be hosted by Morgan Spurlock but it never eventuated.

You Can’t Ask That
(2016 – 2022)
Is Dwarf throwing ok? How do you swear in sign language? Did you think you were failing as a mother? How could you be so reckless to get HIV? Docker Media’s raw, frank interview series with topics often considered taboo or under-represented in media has enlightened audiences and broken down barriers through its daring questions and brave subjects. Remade in countries including Israel, Netherlands and Canada.

Have You Been Paying Attention?
(2013 – 2024)
When it was launched in 2013 Working Dog declined to do interviews and rejected almost all publicity for a 7pm Sunday slot in November, hoping to allow the show to find its feet. The second season was reportedly made for “free” for 10 enabling the team to perfect their mix of set-up / pay off news jokes, driven by Tom Gleisner, Sam Pang & Ed Kavalee. It has since grown into an unbeatable comedy show, the envy of rival networks, with versions in NZ and Cyprus, of all places.

The Block
(2003 – 2004 / 2010 – 2024)
Cavalier Productions’ reality series was brainstormed in a matter of days by creators Julian Cress & David Barbour and greenlit immediately by Nine. A competition renovation show it has delivered mega-ratings from its auction finale and room reveals, given away $34m and completed 98 homes. It has also delivered 3 months of nightly storylines for Nine underpinning primetime advertising. There have been 7 international adaptations including USA, Israel and Finland.

Hard Quiz
(2016 – 2024)
Loveable losers, a grilling, wise-cracking host and a paltry brass mug. Thinkative Television’s quiz show celebrates the underdog and warmly allows contestants to laugh at themselves, often returning fire to host Tom Gleeson. Even Hard Quiz Kids shows it is possible to gently mock children and get away with it. In 2020 a Dutch version of the show launched called Hard Spel.

It’s a Date
(2013 – 2014)
Peter Helliar’s romantic comedy featured two dating scenarios with a cavalcade of stars including  Deborah Mailman dating Jimeoin, Magda Szubanski wanting a baby from Lachy Hulme and even Ian Smith meeting Ross Noble via Grindr. Winner of the International Format Awards at MIPCOM in Cannes it was optioned by Sarah Jessica Parker’s Pretty Matches for a few years. The Princess Pictures series did spawn How to Stay Married with Helliar and Lisa McCune.

Go Back to Where You Came From
(2011, 2012, 2015, 2018)
CJZ’s compelling immersive series put ordinary Australians, and later famous faces, into the shoes of asylum seekers onto a leaky boat deprived of wallets, phones and passports only to be rescued at sea in brutal simulation scenarios. They visited refugee camps in Africa, and war-torn countries in the Middle East in a bid to better understand the experience of asylum seekers during Australia’s ‘Stop the Boats’ debate. A winner at the Rose D’Or, Banff World Media Festival and International Emmys it led to adaptations in Denmark, Sweden, South Africa, USA and Belgium.

Muster Dogs
(2022, 2024)
Who doesn’t love puppies? Ambience Entertainment cleverly shoehorned the raising of farm dogs into a TV competition, narrated by Lisa Millar. Sure, the Australian experience with kelpies & border collies may be fairly unique but could be adapted wherever working dogs are found. A spin-off Muster Dogs: Where Are They Now? is on the way.

The Project
(2009 – 2024)
Originally titled as The 7pm Project, Roving Enterprises approach to “news delivered differently” has been a long-running Live TV staple for Network 10, variously juggling headlines, social topics, showbiz and comedy. A NZ version ran from 2017 – 2021.

The Summit
(2023 – 2024)
It may be too early to judge Endemol Shine Australia’s reality competition with hiker contestants carrying loot in their backpacks as they scale NZ mountain peaks. The scenery is spectacular, the twists are cruel and the stakes are high. CBS and ITV have both commissioned local versions.

Love on the Spectrum
(2019, 2021)
Amid an onslaught of dating reality shows Northern Pictures boldly showcased the stories of people on the autism spectrum as they navigate the world of dating and relationships. It was instantly heartwarming and educational and discovered new talent Michael Theo who turned to acting for comedy series, Austin. Love on the Spectrum US has since won Creative Emmy Awards.

Hi-5
(1999 – 2011 / 2017)
Pre-school series created by Helena Harris and Posie Graeme-Evans entertained millions of children through music, dance and performance. It spawned live appearances across Australia and into Asia where the ownership was later based. Adaptations were staged in the USA, Philippines, Indonesia, Britain and Latin America.

Prisoner
(1979 – 1986)
Prison dramas are always a hotbed of heightened characters with nothing to lose, where the stakes are high and a power imbalance gives rise to script conflict. Reg Watson’s soap populated by a memorable cast of character actors was an instant hit, generating a cult following in the US and subsequently the UK. It led to a male counterpart, Punishment, a US adaptation Dangerous Women and the long-running, equally gripping, reboot Wentworth, which itself was remade in Netherlands, Belgium, Turkey and Germany.

Review with Myles Barlow
(2008, 2010)
Why just review film and television? Why not life itself? That’s what self-appointed critic Myles Barlow (Phil Lloyd) decided to do for his ABC comedy series. Open heart surgery? 3.5 stars. Bucks Parties, 4 stars. But Killing Kyle Sandilands drew controversy for going too far. A US version with Andy Daly as critic Forrest MacNeil ran for three seasons.

My Kitchen Rules
(2010 -2020 / 2022 – 2024)
An offshoot off the shortlived My Restaurant Rules, Seven Productions cooking contest does bear some similarities to Come Dine With Me in having contestants critique home dining experiences, but has been a money-making machine for Seven. 36 seasons have been produced under format license in 15 countries, as well as screening the Aussie original, making it one of Australia’s most successful television exports.

Stuff the British Stole
(2022, 2024)
Marc Fennell’s podcast-turned-TV series smartly documents the history of museum artifacts which were ‘acquired / ripped’ by colonial Britain as prize showpieces, while they are also the subject of repatriation by their original homelands. Given European history has many dark chapters this one is ripe for further exploration, and a spin-off is in development.

Sex
(1992 -1993)
When sultry Sophie Lee (and later Pamela Stephenson) presented a titillating, info-based Nine series about sex into the lounge rooms of Australia it lit up TV ratings. Pushing boundaries and taboos, with explicit shots of genitalia, simulated sex and discussion of controversial topics  -dare anybody go there again? In 1994 it moved to Channel 10 renamed Sex/Life, with Tottie Goldsmith, then Alyssa Jane-Cook as host.

19 Responses

  3. Nice listings there David. I was happy to see GBTWYCF being put on the list. I watched the 2012 show in my high school class and thoroughly enjoyed it. This has challenged my views on refugees and asylum seekers. After the school year concluded, I borrowed the DVD from a local library. I still remembered listening to Colin Friels as a narrator back then and I enjoyed him so much. I wonder whether he narrated all the GBTWYCF (2015 and 2018) on SBS or not?
    It would be nice if SBS on DEmand would upload every episode of the GBTWYCF so I can watch them again. Cordell Jigsaw productions did an exceptionally good job at produing this reality doco. It would be nice if GBTWYCF could posthumously acknowledge the late Peter Reith there.

    1. There was a lot of propaganda, obfuscation of facts and inaccuracies. Union teachers liked GBTWYCF because it aligned with the political narratives and agendas. There were also episodes and reports on SBS’ Dateline, Seven’s Sunday Night and Nine’s 60 Minutes that gave other sides and angles to the issue.

      1. When I saw this sneak peak of GBTWYCF, radio shock jock Michael smith claimed that Australia was gained by queue jumpers. Queue jumpers are represented as refugees who are trying to seek protection and safety. It is hard with refugees where they are trying to find some settlement into the country. It also challenges my own view with refugees and immigration. The Australian Government has promoted about Refugee immigration on TV 12 years ago.

  5. I can’t believe nobody mentioned Kath and Kim! Full credit to Riley-Turner for getting it sold to the US but it just didn’t translate.

    And a dud that probably seemed a good idea at the time… Number 96. The Americans envied its success here and tried their own, and it failed dismally.

    But I think a few Grundy soaps also led to overseas versions, like The Restless Years and Sons and Daughters were re-made in Europe.

    Grundy also took the US Sale Of The Century format and remade it so well here that he sold the revamped format back to the Americans!

    Similar happened to MasterChef and Dancing With The Stars, I think? We took the overseas formats and remade them and sold them back to become the new template.

    1. Do you see K&K working with different casts around the world? I don’t….. the list is not about sales itself. Where you mention we ‘took an overseas format’ you’ve also answered your own question around Australian creation, heheh.

  6. I know it didn’t start here but MasterChef’s Aussie version is the one seen all over the world. Last week I was in Batam Indonesia and double episodes of this year’s season were showing.

  7. I don’t think The Project is a good format and the NZ version also struggled with ratings. An issue with The Project is that it doesn’t fully satisfy audiences looking for in-depth news analysis or those seeking pure entertainment.

    The Project also doesn’t have a significant influence on public discourse or opinion. It’s more background noise. The program just survives and it might not have if it was under Ten’s news and current affairs division. They say it’s news delivered differently when it’s not actually news.

      1. There would have been some restructuring over the years. It does appear to be part of, or integrated with their news and current affairs division now.

        A few years ago, Ten had let go of some news and current affairs staff, yet The Project remained and I speculated as to whether the reasons to keep The Project were political or if it had something to do with the production company.

  8. I have to admit that I am ABC centric, so that flavours my opinion.

    Gruen, mainly because of its educational element. I have learnt so much about different business models and advertising from this show. It is actually some of the other advertising people I find the most insightful, but you can’t go past Russell for being at the top of his game.

    You Can’t Ask That. Another insightful show that reminded me of Andrew Denton in his younger days on JJJ. Really breaks down stereotypes. Go Back to Where You Came From is in a similar vein.

    Hard Quiz, mainly because I think it is the most brilliantly devised quiz show. The first three segments are all so different that it really opens it up to anyone to get through to the final segment.

    Finally Stuff the British Stole, not so much for the show, although always interesting, but Marc Fennell is just such an under-rated talent. So knowledgeable and a good story teller.

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