Where is ABC at with more Utopia, Fisk, Question Everything, Monday’s Experts?

Last week ABC announced its key titles for 2025, but several high profile productions were absent.

Working Dog comedy Utopia at 5 seasons is one of the longest running scripted shows on air outside of serials Neighbours and Home & Away.

But it does not usually screen in successive years having aired in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2023. Known for being selective about their slate, this week Working Dog were announced as recipients of the 2025 Lyell Longford Award at the AACTAs next February.

Chief Content Officer Chris Oliver-Taylor told TV Tonight, “We would always want (producer) Michael Hirsh and Working Dog to bring their show back to the ABC, whenever they’re ready.”

It’s a similar state of play for Fisk which has only just concluded its third season on air.

“Fisk is the biggest ABc comedy of all time on ABC iview. We love what Kitty (Flanagan) and her amazing collaborators have created, and hope, when the team are ready they will create a fourth series for Australian audiences.

“Question Everything‘s not on the list but that’s because it’s still on air now. So we haven’t made a decision on that for next year but we’ll figure that out in due course.

“I don’t think Monday’s Experts will return in 2025. We had a gap around Q+A but we presume we don’t have that gap next year for various election reasons.”

Old People’s Home for Kids / Teenagers is also not announced for 2025, having already had several instalments.

“We’ve got Role of a Lifetime produced by DreamChaser which is similar, but different. That’s got Kate Ritchie, Nazeem Hussain and Amanda Keller. It offers a whole bunch of insights into parenting …are we good parents or not?”

Finally, ABC’s biggest entertainment show in 2024 Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee is returning. Running at an unusual 45 minutes, should it be brought back to 30 minutes? Oliver-Taylor remains cautious of if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it.

“I think it’s such a wonderfully funny show. But you’ve got to be a little bit careful of how many episodes you’re going to engage with, and how many series? I think you want to be a bit smart on making sure there’s enough pace through that series. 45 seemed to work but it could be a bit tighter.”