In March Acorn TV screens the second series of France’s top-rated procedural Balthazar starring Tomer Sisley (Philharmonia, Messiah).

This follows a suave forensic pathologist who makes the dead “speak” to help solve Paris’ most disturbing crimes.

Compared favourably to such shows as Castle, The Mentalist and Bones, this acclaimed series was one of the 10 highest-rated dramas in France in 2018. Popular actor, director and comic Tomer Sisley (Messiah, The Heir Apparent: Largo Winch) stars as Raphaël Balthazar, a handsome, intelligent and quick-witted forensic pathologist in Paris. Working on the investigations of violent murders, Balthazar can make the dead “speak” like no one else, but he is also irreverent, mischievous and lives his life in firm defiance of norms and conventions. This presents a major challenge for new, no-nonsense police commander HeìleÌne Bach (HeìleÌne de Fougerolles, Le Secret d’Elise, VA Savoir), who must collaborate with him on these complicated cases.

On the job, Balthazar is confident; his conclusions about the victims, their lifestyles and their deaths often accurately fill in gaps and, drawing from his top-notch skills and the latest technology, he helps uncover evidence that police missed on the crime scene. He becomes so personally invested in the victims’ back stories that he speaks with them while conducting their autopsies at the morgue and they interact in return. Balthazar is openly flirtatious with Bach, yet he is vulnerable at home where he still mourns – and draws comfort from intimate imagined conversations with – his late wife, Lise (Pauline Cheviller, Le Secret d’Elise), who was murdered 13 years earlier. Balthazar is now greatly conflicted over whether the man locked up for Lise’s murder was actually the perpetrator. Thanks to new clues, he is in hot pursuit to learn the true identity of her killer.

Monday, 1 March on Acorn TV.

UK singer Rita Ora, electronic duo Electric Fields, Eurovision entrant Montaigne and indie pop act G Flip are all set to perform at the 2021 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras on SBS.

Joel Creasey, Narelda Jacobs, Zoë Coombs Marr and Courtney Act all return to host this year’s coverage.

As the official broadcast partner, SBS is proud to bring to life the colour and magic from the event’s temporary new home, the Sydney Cricket Ground, which will be transformed into a sparkling showcase of LGBTQI+ culture and community.

The international chart-topper behind hit tracks Anywhere and the new release Big will light up the SCG with her performance along with other acts on the night including soulful electronic duo Electric Fields, ARIA Award-winning art-pop songwriter Montaigne and indie pop darling G Flip.

A very special Welcome to Country curated by Ben Graetz will be performed at the start of the show featuring John Leha, singer/songwriter Scott Hunter, plus Koomurri dancers, NAISDA dancers and Buuja Butterfly dancers.

The Dykes on Bikes will then take to the stadium on their hogs to perform a lap, heralding the start of the glittering Parade, led with the First Nations and 78ers floats.

For those that can’t join the action at the SCG, SBS is the place to be bringing the coverage to audiences across Australia and around the world, live and free from 6pm AEDT on SBS On Demand (geo-block removed for viewers internationally), or tune in for the full parade on SBS and NITV at 7:30pm.

The SBS coverage will also sparkle across the country, from regional outback areas to coastal towns and inner-city hubs with Mardi Gras parade viewing events taking place in venues across Australia.

SBS’s broadcast of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is produced by Blink TV.

Live 6pm AEDT Saturday 6 March on SBS On Demand,
Full parade at 7:30pm on SBS and NITV.

Executive Producer of The Queen’s Gambit, William Horberg was in conversation with film critic Luke Buckmaster last week as part of the Screen Forever conference.

Amongst the questions he was asked, “How do you make chess come alive on screen?”

“Well, I am going to push back and say, I don’t think it is really about chess,” Horberg said.

“It is about this character, a very, very unique character, Beth Harmon that Walter Tevis created. She is a genius, she is a nerd, she is sexy, she is a killer, she is shy. She was just so fascinating and embodied so many contradictions.

“There is also the underdog sports narrative that is part of the story, of the girl growing up and winning the world championship.

“I think what really made this something that connected to audiences all over the world was the emotional journey of Beth as an orphan, someone who came from such a dark place in terms of her childhood. And who overcame a lot of obstacles in terms of her own concern about her sanity, her own loneliness, her own battle with her demons and addictions.

“I think the limited series format is what really allowed us to do a deep dive into the character and do not have this produced sports movie.

“A lot of work went into making the chess cinematic – the visuals varied and exciting. We were just so terrified about how the heck we would do this.”

He elaborated on how the games were visualised into the narrative.

“A lot of work went into thinking about the chess games, really starting with the script. You know, Scott knew that he would have to find a way to make the emotional stakes, not just about watching people move the pieces around the board,” he said.

“It was about the context of each scene, where she was out in her life and what she wanted, what she needed. So, there were probably a lot more matches in the novel. We pick the ones that we felt had to be a part of, looking at it from a point of view of her character’s dramatic arc.

“With that in mind, once it came to making the show, we spent a lot of time with chess consultants. We really wanted to get every aspect of that authentic. Not that the chess audience was going to be the biggest audience in the world, but we knew we had to pass the smell test with those people. We wanted to show them how much we respected the game in terms of the care that went in.

“We wanted to show that that was important to us. We had Gary Karpov, one of the greatest chess players in history. He was reading the scripts and talking to Scott. And we had him and Bruce Pandolfini helping us design the matches to help us service the story. Scott is a storyteller.

“The pieces on the ceiling is something that is in the novel but how that is going to look and how to do that and how to realise that as an organic element of the show was a long, long process of trial and error. We had a fantastic visual effects supervisor, John Mangia on the show.

“It was one of the last things to lock in deep in postproduction. There was just so many elements to get it right. How big are they, how dense are they, how transparent are they, how is it lit, how is the camera moving? The film, the relationship between the character and the board? How do those pieces move? What sound do they make?

“There was just an infinite level of very specific choices. And it was a little bit like a soufflé, Luke. It is getting really close – ‘No, it looks a little bit too Harry Potter, it looks a little bit cheesy.’

“It was a great moment when we got it right. The studio gave us a lot of rope to hang ourselves with. When we found it, it is poetry, I would say.”

The Queen’s Gambit screens on Netflix.

10 may well owe its success with The Bachelor to some its female staff, many of whom were hooked on the international series.

As fans of the show, they convinced network bosses to pick up the rights for an Australian series, now approaching its 9th season.

Speaking at Screen Forever last week, Stephen Tate Head of Entertainment and Factual Programs, Network 10 said, “Bachelor had sort of languished for many years. Nobody really thought that Australia would like it and it was actually some of the female staff here at 10, who came to me and said, ‘You really need to be making The Bachelor because we’re completely invested in the various versions around the world.’ I thought ‘there’ something in this.'”

Tate also spoke about 10’s revival of Australian Survivor after one season struggled on Nine.

“In a way, Survivor was the same. It had been tried unsuccessfully, twice. The first time it was tried in Australia, the network had a gun to their head. They basically were told in order to have the (US series), they had to make the show,” he continued.

“I know many of the people that were on that foundation series. It had all sorts of difficulties because the network didn’t really want to make it. When we decided to do Survivor, we knew there were at least 600,000 superfans in the Australian market. If we were going to do it, we had to do it properly. Otherwise, they would turn on it immediately.

“So the first few seasons were very much a loss-leader for us financially, we absolutely over-invested. But the production company put every single dollar on the screen. And that’s that’s why it’s still on air.”

The Masked Singer has been another success story on which Tate gambled.

“When we first saw it, we went, ‘This is insane. It’ll never work!’ And then lo and behold, it actually did end up working in another English-speaking market. So we had to sit up straight. With Idol in my DNA, I was actually very excited to be making music television again, as bonkers as it.

“We were lucky enough to be the successful bidder and we’ve had great success with it.”

Foxtel has appointed Jacqui Abbott to the newly titled role of Group Director, Content Communications, responsible for the publicity and events team across Foxtel, Fox Sports, Kayo and Binge.

Hilary Perchard, who joined as Chief Customer, Marketing and Revenue Officer in January, said, “The new title reflects that the way people are learning about and engaging with our content is changing, and publicity has new opportunities to collaborate and innovate as part of the way we go to market.”

Abbott joins from Ogilvy PR marketing agency Pulse,  where she was Managing Director. She has spent the past six years leading the agency with a team of more than 30 and has represented major consumer brands including Netflix, Tourism Australia, Xbox, Microsoft, Audible, Coca-Cola, eBay, KFC and IKEA.

She originally joined the agency in early 2015 to lead the Netflix account, and was previously head of public affairs and social media at Virgin Australia and before that at Optus.

The role also encompasses the Foxtel magazine and Insiders digital content platform.

Paul Edwards has been leading the team in recent months, following the departure of Jamie Campbell.

Abbott begins at Foxtel on Monday, March 29.

After months of haggling over rights, the tussle between Seven and Cricket Australia appears to be nearing an outcome.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports an independent arbitrator found Seven is entitled to only a $5m discount to its rights fee this season -well short of the $70 million reduction it sought in its annual $82 million cash and contra deal.

That figure will rise to $8.3 million if the Test against Afghanistan, initially scheduled for this season but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is not played next summer.

A final determination is due to be delivered next week by Venture Consulting chief executive Justin Jameson, the man agreed by the warring parties to provide an independent ruling.

The draft determination figure stands to be a massive win for CA, which had offered its free-to-air TV partner a 20 per cent discount for this summer, which amounted to about $15 million, split over what had been the four seasons remaining on the term. This was rejected by Seven.

The two parties are also in a fight at the Federal Court, resuming on March 15. The network has said it is prepared to walk away if it does not get its way either through mediation and / or through the Federal Court.

Kurt Fearnley’s One Plus One returns to ABC on Thursday, with an interview with mining engineer, athlete, motivational speaker Turia Pitt.

A decade ago Turia Pitt was running an ultramarathon when a grassfire caused burns to 65% of her body. Doctors weren’t sure she’d survive, but she encapsulates what it means to have grit and determination.

9:35pm Thursday on ABC.

A new trailer has dropped for Season two of crime drama City On A Hill.

Starring Kevin Bacon and Aldis Hodge, this will premiere in March same day as the US, on Stan.

Season two centres on a federal housing project in the Roxbury neighbourhood of Boston that is plagued with drug violence and a rightful distrust in local law enforcement. As coalition leader Grace Campbell (Pernell Walker) works tirelessly on behalf of the community, her efforts are undermined by gang activity happening right under her nose. Enter irreverent FBI agent Jackie Rohr (Bacon), who is here to exploit Boston’s defective criminal justice system in a desperate attempt to salvage his own career. Unfortunately for Jackie, assistant district attorney Decourcy Ward (Hodge) is onto his adversary’s latest misstep. In time, the personal antagonism between these two escalates to an all-out war between the offices of the U.S. Attorney and the Suffolk DA. No one is safe from the collateral damage.

Season two also stars Lauren E. Banks, Mark O’Brien, Amanda Clayton, Matthew Del Negro and Jill Hennessy with guest stars Pernell Walker, Lucia Ryan, Kameron Kierce, Shannon Wallace, John Doman, and Michael O’Keefe.

City On A Hill is executive produced by multiple Emmy winner Tom Fontana (Homicide: Life on the Street), who also serves as showrunner. In addition, City On A Hill is executive produced by Jennifer Todd, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Jorge Zamacona Barry Levinson, Chuck MacLean and Michael Cuesta. Kevin Bacon, Aldis Hodge and Michele Giordano serve as co-executive producers.

Monday 29 March on Stan.

Nine has pledged to return Nine’s $2m JobKeeper allowance for its wholly-owned businesses, to the Federal Government as it reports a net profit of $182m for the six months to December 2020.

Nine reported a 42% increase on last year in EBITDA of $355 million and a total revenue of $1.16 billion for the December half year.

CEO Hugh Marks delivered his final results today ahead of his departure, expected by mid year.

“Our business has performed incredibly well through this period of heightened volatility, and has come out the other side in a very strong operating position,” he said. “We acted swiftly when circumstances changed, whilst continuing to embrace opportunity and remain true to our vision – of building Australia’s leading cross-platform media business. In these latest six months, the combined contribution from Stan and 9Now, and the digital components of Domain and Publishing grew by 53% to more than $140m, and, notwithstanding the strong recovery in earnings from our traditional markets, equated to 41% of our total EBITDA.

“From an advertising perspective, this latest half year was a tale of two quarters. The advertising market clearly turned in late September, earlier and more sharply than we had anticipated, and this was led by Television, both Free To Air and BVOD. The brand-building strength of these segments underpinned clear growth in market share overall for the Television industry, that has continued into the first quarter of 2021. Nine’s consistently strong audience performance, across all of our platforms, means we are well positioned to benefit from this improvement in the ad cycle.

“The lessons we have learned from COVID are clear. Our focus on strict cost efficiency at our traditional media assets delivered the profitability we were targeting. And continued investment in our digital businesses is delivering strong digital profit growth. Together, enabling us to continue to migrate the business to a more flexible, digital-base.”

“Moreover, the accelerated growth in businesses like Stan and 9Now, as well as our digital publishing mastheads, has enabled us to bring forward our longer term plans. And importantly has enhanced our competitive position across all segments. This will enable us to continue to invest in our audiences to ensure continued growth into the future.

“I’ve had a great five years at Nine, and am confident that I am handing over the reins at the perfect time – of a business which is clearly firing on all cylinders, but that has plenty of scope to accelerate its profitability in the coming few years.”

Broadcast

Nine’s Broadcast division comprises Nine Network (FTA), 9Now as well as Nine Radio. Together, Broadcast reported EBITDA of $207m on revenues of $622m for the half. Nine Network reported a revenue decline of 2%, or $8m for the half. After a September quarter decline of 14.3%1 , the Metro Free To Air ad market grew by 16.6%1 in the December quarter, combining for growth of 0.6% across the half. Nine’s Metro FTA revenue share of 38.6%1was broadly flat on pcp. For Ratings Season 2020, Nine was the #1 Network and Primary Channel in all key demographics. Nine attracted a commercial network share of 37.5%2 of the 25-54 demographic, 4.7 points ahead of its nearest competitor. On a primary channel basis, Nine’s share of the 25-54s was 38.3%2 , and 6.1 share points ahead of its nearest competitor. In the December half, Nine also won all of the key demographics.

Stan

During the half, Stan consolidated on the subscriber gains of FY20, with the strong summer period resulting in current active subscribers of 2.3m. Across the half, Stan sourced content from 18 different distributors. Particularly popular were Sky Original Gangs of London, the Bryan Cranston series Your Honour (CBS Showtime), the reboot of Saved By The Bell (NBC Universal), the hit new UK drama series It’s a Sin (All3 Media), Clarice (MGM) and Stan Originals A Sunburnt Christmas and more recently Bump, which was released on January 1 and has quickly become Stan’s most successful show of all time. Across the half, total streams increased by almost 20%.

The higher subscriber base going into this half, coupled with the September price increase (premium plan subscribers from $17 to $19) underpinned the reported 28% growth in revenues. Costs increased by 10% (split fairly equally by content and marketing), resulting in an EBITDA more than doubling to $37m.

The strong subscriber growth of the past 12 months has enabled Stan to expedite previous growth ambitions. During the half, Stan announced a long-term content deal with NBCU, the launch of Stan Sports as well as an increased commitment to Stan Originals. Already, Stan has a strong market position and significant EBITDA and cash profitability. There remains substantial upside in both subscribers and profitability for Stan on a longer-term basis.

• The Cube
• The Equalizer
• Aftertaste
• Gogglebox
• Wellington Paranormal

A long-awaited Season Nine of Grand Designs Australia is coming to LifeStyle in late March -and includes a home that went up in smoke just weeks before homeowners were to move in.

Architect Peter Maddison is back to follow eight new homeowners from Queensland, NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, in the series produced by Fremantle.

“This series is about patience, tenacity and it’s about tragedy… Romeo and Juliet have nothing on this season. Ten years on and I continue to be amazed by these homeowner’s imagination, determination and bravery,” he says.

“Being an architect is in my DNA and I find that there will never be an end to invention. The most important thing we put in our lives is our home, and this series is another example of the importance of the home and the ingenuity, inner strength and the conviction in design which drives them,” Peter says.

Grand Designs Australia follows the remarkable journeys of these ambitious and resilient architectural trailblazers who have pushed their finances and their families to the limit in their quest to create remarkable one-off homes.

With budgets ranging from $210,000 to over $2 million, a record breaking seven-year build and a heartbreaking build which went up in smoke weeks before the homeowners were due to move in.

The backdrops are as diverse as they are stunning, as Peter traverses the country, meeting and supporting the homeowners as they embark on what turns out to be rollercoaster rides of passion, creativity, and endurance.

From the design fanatic who spends seven years perfecting his radical extension to a heritage cottage on Sydney Harbour, to a hip young couple on a tight budget with plans to build an edgy house on Tasmania’s Tamar River, the common themes are innovation and determination, with some spectacular results.

Extreme design is a common theme, whether it’s a space-age Queenslander in Brisbane, a Mediterranean style concrete bunker in inner city Perth, a sandstone church with a radical copper box extension on the Hawkesbury River in NSW, or a tiny Hawthorn terrace transformed into an underground tardis. But it is the Melbourne architects who convert a derelict junk yard into an environmental passive house who face the ultimate challenge, suffering years of hardship to build their dream home only to see it ravaged by fire three weeks before completion.

Grand Designs Australia is produced by Fremantle Australia exclusively for Foxtel on the LifeStyle channel.

Wednesdays at 8.30pm from March 31 on LifeStyle.

New observational series The Pet Rescuers follows the daily adventures of a team on a mission to give abandoned pets a second chance.

Filmed during Victoria’s second lockdown by Silverfox Network this is a 10 part series.

“Each year in Australia, a quarter of a million dogs and cats are put down, due to overcrowded pounds and shelters”, says Marisa Debattista, who leads the team at Second Chance Animal Rescue (SCAR) in Melbourne.

“It’s a tragic cycle that we’re determined to end.”

Rescuing cats on death row, bottle-feeding kittens, performing life-saving surgery and rehabilitating neglected dogs, before finding them new homes are all in a day’s work, at the outer suburban shelter, where no fur baby in need is ever forsaken.

“As long as there’s a chance they can be nursed through to a healthy, happy life, we won’t give up on them,” assures Marisa.

Not even a global pandemic could slow down these champions of the underdog (and cat).

“They became Covid-safe warriors overnight,” says producer Euan Jones. “Taking surrenders in the car park, doing outdoor vet consults, delivering free pet food to owners in need.”

“We had to scale down so much that many scenes featured just one person and an animal and had to be shot on a gopro,” explains producer Gillian Bartlett.

“The result is fabulously intimate. Each character (both two- and four-legged) shines through and every interaction beautifully illustrates the warmth and depth of the bond between them.

While The Pet Rescuers title may seem to refer to the humans in the story, SCAR member Megan insists it could be read another way.

“I think animals are much more resilient than we are,” she explains. “As long as they’re loved, as long as there’s food, animals bounce back so quickly. They teach us so much about survival, sometimes it feels as though they are actually rescuing us.”

Saturday 6 March at 4pm on Nine.

Married at First Sight has lifted in its second outing this season, nudging the magic million at 992,000 metro viewers.

That was miles ahead of 7:30 (503,000) and over double The Amazing Race Australia (459,000), Foreign Correspondent (390,000), Highway Patrol (303,000) and Great Continental Railway Journeys (234,000).

Later Botched drew 386,000 then Catalyst (303,000), The Good Doctor (294,000), and NCIS (263,000).

Nine network easily won Tuesday with 34.9% then Seven 22.8%, 10 18.3%, ABC 15.6% and SBS 8.4%.

Nine News pulled 871,000 / 861,000 while A Current Affair won its slot at 720,000. Labour of Love debuted at 128,000.

Seven News (902,000 / 896,000) was best for Seven then Home & Away (460,000) and The Chase (457,000 / 276,000). The Resident managed 160,000.

The Project drew 415,000 / 233,000 for 10. 10 News First (306,000 / 181,000) and NCIS: LA (221,000) followed.

ABC News (683,000) led for ABC. The Drum was 179,000 and Australia Remastered was 163,000.

On SBS it was SBS World News (176,000 / 139,000), 24 Hours in Emergency (160,000), Michael Portillo’s Abandoned Britain (99,000) and Mastermind (77,000).

Bluey led multichannels even at 140,000.

Sunrise: 262,000
Today: 206,000
News Breakfast: 124,000 / 72,000

OzTAM Overnights: Tuesday 23 February 2021

Free to Air: 25-54 demographics (Overnight)

Free to Air: 18-49 demographics (Overnight)

Free to Air: 16-39 demographics (Overnight)

© OzTAM Pty Limited 2021. The Data may not be reproduced, published or communicated (electronically or in hard copy) without the prior written consent of OzTAM. Program performance and ranking information subject to change when not based on final program logs. Ranking information is for individual episodes. Includes Preliminary data.

Australian Exclusive: Australia’s Eureka Productions (Holey Moley, The Amazing Race Australia, Name That Tune, Crikey! It’s the Irwins, Drunk History Australia) will film another larger-than-life physical game show for the USA, based on iconic 1980’s video game, Frogger.

Production will take place in Sydney in May on a huge purpose-built obstacle course, to screen on NBC-owned Peacock streaming service.

Audiences and contestants alike will be transported into a wild, whimsical Frogger world, comprising twelve outrageous obstacle courses or “crossings.” Physically-demanding challenges will see contestants dodge treacherous traffic, leap over snapping gators and hop over hungry hippos to conquer the course.

13 hour-long episodes have been ordered with contestants to include US expats based in Australia.

Produced in conjunction with rights holders Konami, Frogger is based on one of the most classic and beloved video game franchises of all time.

To apply to be a contestant visit https://go.mycastingnet.com/Apply/Show/FROGGER

Frogger, based on the Konami-owned IP, is produced by Eureka Productions in partnership with Konami Cross Media NY, Inc. Chris Culvenor and Paul Franklin will executive produce for Eureka Productions. The Frogger competition show is an original format created by Chris Culvenor of Eureka Productions.

Back in 2010 Nine screened a few episodes of UK game show The Cube on Saturday nights in summer.

Fast-forward several years and the Brits have rebooted the format into a shiny floor game with big cash prizes. 10 now unveils the first Australian version, hosted by Andy Lee.

The Cube is a large perspex box in which a series of increasingly-difficult challenges test contestants for a total prize of $250,000 -if they can make it to the end.

There are 7 games where teams of 2 compete. But one simple slip -which can result from something as meagre as dropping a ping pong ball- equates to one of ‘9 lives’ lost. In a laser-lit, imposing studio, a shadowy audience watches on…

Episode one features cousins Ali and David, both of whom lost jobs during the pandemic. Watching on, and frequently consulted are three family members.

These parlour games are by definition relatively simple … but under the pressure of a TV studio and a ticking clock, nerves can catch out the best of skilled players.

There are also two lifelines: Simplify (which diminishes the degree of difficulty) and Swap (allowing single players to change places).

A female-voiced Cube (“I prefer Siri” says Andy Lee) announces the first game Expulsion in which Aly must empty a box of 1000 balls. On offer is $2000.

Perhaps drawing upon the Tardis, Ali tells us, “The inside of The Cube is different to the outside…” Wow.

Up the money ladder, Millionaire-style, it goes with varying amounts and the ability to take the money and run or risk it all for a bigger jackpot. How fast can you catch blocks, how well can you balance a ball, how fast can you count or swap a row of balls?

Some games are single players, while others require teamplay. There are helmeted, Stig-like Cube assistants, lights and sound FX to amplify the drama.

Relaxed host Andy Lee, a self-confessed fan of the format, is more friend than pressured game show host, cracking the odd gag here and there. He’s a good get for the show. Not unlike Seven’s 2010 game show Minute to Win It (hosted by Darren McMullen) the games are deceptively simple.

But when the games were not underway I felt the show dragged. There’s too much consulting of family members and strategy analysis as well as slow-mo and commercial breaks. Maybe that’s a hangover of the British format, always too chatty for this market. A tighter edit (or a shorter show) could readily pick up the pace.

Still compared to some recent 10 outings where the audience was sucking the red cordial (Looking at you Game of Games), The Cube is light fun.

The Cube airs 7:30pm Wednesdays on 10

Jason Donovan has been forced to drop out of ITV’s Dancing on Ice due to ongoing back pain.

Doctors had advised him not to continue.

Donovan said he was “completely gutted” by the move.

“I am devastated to announce that due to this ongoing back issue that occurred on Dancing on Ice about 10 days ago, and at the advice of my medical team in the show, that unfortunately I can’t continue in the competition and therefore have to withdraw,” he said.

“We put so much work into getting to this point but I have to respect my health and I have to respect my body moving forward. That is my biggest priority.”

Donovan becomes the fifth celebrity to withdraw from the show. ITV cancelled a live show on Sunday but said the contest would resume this weekend with five remaining celebrities.

His skating partner Alexandra Schauman said on Instagram, “Finding it hard to find the right words right now…

“What a true honor and privilege to have been partnered with @jdonofficial on this series of @dancingonice.

“To say that I was star struck when we first met would be an understatement even though I played it cool and I think he didn’t notice. Told him later though.

“Beyond gutted that our time on the ice together has come to such an abrupt end when I feel like we had so much more to show you all.

“But as always, thank you so much for all your love and support, couldn’t have done it without you and a huge thank you to everyone involved with the production of this fantastic show.

“It has been a tough year but I will always treasure these months on the ice knowing that we hopefully have brought some magic into people’s living rooms on Sunday night! I will continue to cheer everyone on and wishing my wonderful partner in crime a speedy recovery.

“No risk-no magic.”

Source: BBC

ABC has teamed up with BBC for a feature documentary looking at rivers on six continents.

River is being produced by Stranger Than Fiction Films (Australia in Colour, David Stratton: A Cinematic Life) and Arrow Pictures in the UK.

Spanning six continents, and drawing on extraordinary contemporary cinematography, including satellite filming, the film shows rivers on scales and from perspectives never seen before.

Described as a unique cinematic and musical collaboration between the ACO and BAFTA-nominated director Jennifer Peedom, River features specially-composed music by the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s Richard Tognetti and a narration script by author Robert Macfarlane. The score also features music from Jonny Greenwood and Radiohead.

The film is directed by Jennifer Peedom, co-directed by Joseph Nizeti and produced by Jo-anne McGowan and Jennifer Peedom from Stranger than Fiction and John Smithson from Arrow Pictures.

Jennifer Peedom, Producer, Director and Co-Founder, Stranger Than Fiction, says: “As Mountain drew its audience up to the highest world’s most formidable summits, so River will draw its audiences in to explore the arteries of the planet.

“This is not a traditional theatrical documentary. The phenomenal global success of Mountain shows that audiences worldwide have a huge appetite for a different kind of experience. Its union of image, music and sparse, poetic script will ensure that River is both dream-like and powerful.”

Bernadine Lim, Head of Documentary at Screen Australia, said: “We are proud to fund this documentary from an award-winning team which will take audiences on a breathtaking journey across six continents, exploring and celebrating rivers here in Australia and around the world. I have no doubt River is set to be another landmark cinema experience.”

Kalita Corrigan, Executive Producer for ABC Arts, said: “An exquisite film, River is also a powerful and timely reminder of our responsibility to our ancestors downstream. ABC Arts is proud to bring this cinematic experience into Australian homes.”

Despite the Australian Open being down on 2020, and Married at First Sight premiering lower than last year, it’s not all bad for Nine.

Nine is claiming its best commercial share for the first 16 days of survey in more than a decade.

Nine: 42.6
Seven: 34.1
10: 23.3

Of course it’s also the first time the AO has been staged in official survey.

Hamish Turner Nine’s Program Director said, “We are thrilled to see Australia once again fall in love with Married At First Sight.

“The successful Australian Open and now the launch of MAFS has given Nine the best start with Total People and 16-39s in more than a decade and our second best start with people 25-54s. We expect that the audience will again build across both linear TV and 9Now as Australia follows the journey of the experiment’s participants.”

60 Minutes returns on Sunday as Tom Steinfort files a plea from a princess in the Dubai royal family, plus Karl Stefanovic looking at the conservatorship surrounding Britney Spears (also the subject of a US doco next week).

The Princess Diaries
The disturbing saga engulfing the royal family of Dubai has taken another incredible twist. Princess Latifa, the 35-year-old daughter of the Emirates’ ruler Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum, who claims she is being held hostage by her father, has managed to smuggle secret video diaries out of her palace prison. In the recordings she describes the hell she’s endured since attempting – but failing – to flee Dubai almost four years ago. Tom Steinfort, whose multiple reports for 60 Minutes about the princess have received international attention, says Latifa’s videos are a positive development because they reveal proof of life. They also add weight to efforts by the United Nations seeking clarification from Dubai about her welfare. Despite these encouraging signs though, Latifa’s supporters remain concerned that her latest attempt to draw attention to her plight may have exposed her to dangerous repercussions.
Reporter: Tom Steinfort
Producer: Joel Tozer

Out of Control
At the height of Britney Spears’ fame, exclusive paparazzi shots of the popstar sold for up to a million dollars. With ridiculous money like that on offer, it’s little wonder she became the most hunted celebrity on the planet. It’s also not surprising the never-ending attention crippled her. In 2008, Britney’s erratic behaviour and tumultuous personal life led to a very controversial court order which gave her father, Jamie Spears, control over every part of his daughter’s life, including the tens of millions of dollars she earned as one of the world’s most popular singers. Effectively, Britney went from performer to prisoner. Thirteen years on, the conservatorship, as it’s called, is still in place, but it seems Britney, who turns 40 this year, now wants her father to back off. As Karl Stefanovic reports, so do many of her adoring fans who’ve started an extraordinary movement to set her free.
Reporter: Karl Stefanovic
Producer: Naomi Shivaraman

8:40pm Sunday on Nine.

Seven screens the Mount Panorama 500 will be broadcast live on Saturday and Sunday.

Mark Beretta will headline Seven’s Supercars coverage in 2021.

Joining him will be co-host Abbey Gelmi, Australian Rally Champion Molly Taylor and Australian cricketer and motorsport lover Brad Hodge – making their Supercars commentary debut plus long-time Supercars driver Jack Perkins, son of motorsport legend Larry Perkins. Motorsport icons Neil Crompton, Mark Skaife, Craig Lowndes and Garth Tander will also be part of the coverage, along with fan favourite Mark Larkham in pit lane.

Managing Director Seven Melbourne and Head of Network Sport, Lewis Martin, said: “This Saturday marks the start of a bold new era of not just motorsport but Australian sport in general, as Supercars returns to its rightful home, the Seven Network.

“The 2021 Supercars season is shaping up as an absolute thriller. The championship race is the most wide-open in a long time, while sports fans won’t want to miss their last chance to see Jamie Whincup in action before he signs off on one of touring cars’ most legendary careers.

“With Mark Beretta leading an unbeatable new commentary team full of fresh faces, we can’t wait to bring all Australians the passion and non-stop action only Supercars racing offers,” he said.

It is the first of six blockbuster Supercars events on Seven and 7plus in 2021. Fans can also look forward to:

Darwin Triple Crown, Hidden Valley Raceway, 19-20 June
NTI Townsville, Reid Park Street Circuit, 10-11 July
Sydney SuperNight, Sydney Motorsport Park, Eastern Creek, 21-22 August
Repco Bathurst 1000, Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit, 8-10 October
Season finale: Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise Street Circuit, 4-5 December

Highlights from the other races of the 2021 Supercars Championship will be replayed on Seven and 7plus the same day of the race.

Mount Panorama 500, 12.00pm AEDT Saturday and Sunday on Channel 7, 7mate and 7plus.

Amazon Prime has announced cast for season two of anthology series Modern Love, including Kit Harington, Anna Paquin, Miranda Richardson and Minnie Driver.

New stories of love and relationships filmed in Albany, New York City, Schenectady, and Troy, New York and Dublin, Ireland, will premiere later this year.

“We’re so excited to bring a second season of this series to life, and give an opportunity to really shine a light on what matters most,” said series showrunner John Carney. “With so much uncertainty in our current world, these stories bring truth and love to people everywhere, and I’m so appreciative to be a part of making that happen.”

Joining the anthology series in season two are Gbenga Akinnagbe (The Deuce), Susan Blackwell (Madam Secretary), Screen Actors Guild Award nominee Lucy Boynton (Bohemian Rhapsody), Tom Burke (Mank), Zoe Chao (Love Life), Maria Dizzia (Orange is the New Black), Academy Award nominee Minnie Driver (Cinderella), newcomer Grace Edwards, Dominique Fishback (Judas and the Black Messiah), Tony Award nominee Kathryn Gallagher (Jagged Little Pill), Emmy Award nominee Kit Harington (Game of Thrones), Screen Actors Guild Award nominee Garrett Hedlund (Mudbound), Telci Huynh (God Friended Me), Tony Award winner Nikki M. James (Book of Mormon), Aparna Nancherla (Corporate), Larry Owens (High Maintenance), Zane Pais (Room 104), Academy Award winner Anna Paquin (Flack), Isaac Powell (Dear Evan Hansen), Ben Rappaport (For the People), Milan Ray (Troop Zero), Jack Reynor (Midsommar), Golden Globe Award winner Miranda Richardson (Stronger), Marquis Rodriguez (When They See Us), James Scully (You S2), Zuzanna Szadkowski (Gossip Girl), Lulu Wilson (The Glorias), Don Wycherley (Wild Mountain Thyme), and Jeena Yi (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt).

Carney also serves as writer, director and executive producer. Additionally, John Crowley (Brooklyn), Marta Cunningham (Insecure) Jesse Peretz (Glow), and Andrew Rannells (Black Monday), will also direct episodes of the anthology series with Celine Held and Logan George (Topside) co-directing an episode. The episode Rannells will direct is based upon a personal essay that he penned for the New York Times column.

Todd Hoffman, Trish Hofmann, and Anthony Bregman also serve as executive producers on Season 2, along with Caitlin Roper and Choire Sicha of The New York Times, with Sean Fogel serving as a producer and Daniel Jones, editor of the “Modern Love” column, who serves as co-producer. The series is produced by Amazon Studios, Storied Media Group, Likely Story, and The New York Times.

Season 7 of The Flash begins on FOX8 next week.

This screens a day after the US. It has already been renewed for an 8th season.

After a thrilling cliffhanger last season which saw the new Mirror Master victorious and still-at-large in Central City, The Flash must regroup in order to stop her and find a way to make contact with his missing wife, Iris West-Allen.

Thursday March 4 at 9.30pm on FOX8.

Seven West Media has signed a Letter of Intent to provide news content to Facebook, following amendments to the media code.

The LOI is subject to signing a long-form agreement between the two companies, expected to be executed over the following 60 days.

Seven West Media Chairman Kerry Stokes AC said: “The establishment of this new partnership with Facebook is a significant move for our business and reflects the value of our original news content across our successful metropolitan and regional broadcast, digital and print properties.

“On 15 February we announced a LOU for a partnership with Google, to provide news content to the Google Showcase product.

“Together, the two announcements are a strong recognition of the quality and credibility of our leading news brands and entertainment, and will enable us to continue to build our digital platform,” he said.

“These partnerships would not have been possible without the leadership and vision of Prime Minister Scott Morrison, the Chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Rod Sims, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Communications Minister Paul Fletcher, and we thank them.”

Meanwhile a Nine spokesperson: “We are pleased the Government have found a compromise on the Digital Code legislation to move Facebook back into the negotiations with Australian media organisations. We look forward to constructive discussions resuming.”

Woody Allen and his wife Soon-Yi Previn have described the new US documentary series Allen v Farrow as a “hatchet job riddled with falsehoods”.

In the 4 part series Dylan Farrow, the adopted daughter of Allen and his ex-partner Mia Farrow, speak about the allegations of abuse she made against her father, which he denies.

The documentary suggests Allen groomed Farrow from a young age.

Farrow accused Allen of sexually abusing her in 1992 when she was seven years old.

He has always denied the claim, which was investigated at the time but led to no criminal charges.

Allen claims his daughter was coached by her mother to say he abused her after she discovered he was having an affair with another of her adoptive daughters, Soon-Yi Previn.

A statement on behalf of Allen and Soon-Yi said, “These documentarians had no interest in the truth. “Instead, they spent years surreptitiously collaborating with the Farrows and their enablers to put together a hatchet job riddled with falsehoods.

“Woody and Soon-Yi were approached less than two months ago and given only a matter of days ‘to respond’. Of course, they declined to do so.

“As has been known for decades, these allegations are categorically false. Multiple agencies investigated them at the time and found that, whatever Dylan Farrow may have been led to believe, absolutely no abuse had ever taken place.”

The statement said that the HBO network “has a standing production deal and business relationship with [Mia’s son] Ronan Farrow” – who is a prominent supporter of his sister’s claims and the #MeToo movement.

“While this shoddy hit piece may gain attention, it does not change the facts,” the statement concluded.

Publishers of Allen’s audiobook, which were used in the doco also said that “neither the producers nor HBO ever approached Skyhorse to request permission to use excerpts from the audiobook.”

Producers claim the excerpts were used under Fair Use.

Allen v Farrow is now screening on FOX Showcase / Binge.

Source: BBC

Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia.
Lifeline 13 11 14
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The Victorian Coroners Court has released its investigation into the death of AFL great and former FOX Footy presenter, Danny “Spud” Frawley.

Frawley died tragically from a car crash in September 2019.

FOX Sports reports the coroner found Frawley was battling depression when he crashed into a tree 20km east of Ballarat.

Frawley, who had spoken publicly about his mental health battles, passed away “almost certainly rapid in onset” of the crash. No alcohol or illicit drugs were found in his system however prescription drugs were.

He was posthumously diagnosed with CTE, a neurological disorder believed to be caused by repeated brain trauma and concussions.

The Coroner’s report states Frawley began treatment for his mental health in June 2014.

“He had a significant constellation of depressive symptoms including significant insomnia, depressive ruminations, relative anhedonia, self-reproachment, amotivation, difficulty functioning and episodic passive suicidality,’’ the report said.

“He had also engaged in poor decision making and conduct that caused conflict in his marriage.”

The report added, “To his family, Mr Frawley would lie in bed all week and be extremely needy, but he would be able to put on a brave ‘public face’ and give the appearance of normal functioning.’’

The Coroner found CTE was a “potential contributor” to the depression Frawley suffered from but the degree of its impact cannot be concluded, due to the need for more research into the area.

“Although CTE has long been associated with mental health symptoms including depression and aggression, no strong causal link with suicide has been established,” the Mental Health Investigator found.

“Further, since CTE can only be diagnosed post-mortem, it is impossible to establish at what point CTE began and whether this coincided with any changes in mood or behaviour.”

The Coroner also concluded there were no failures in Frawley’s clinical management.

She recommended the AFL “actively encourages players” to donate their brains to the Australian Sports Brain Bank after death to enable more research into CTE.

You can read more here.

Brainline
Lifeline 13 11 14
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It may have struggled in Australia but in the US Holey Moley remains a very big deal where ABC has renewed it the show for not one -but two- more seasons.

Produced by Australia’s Eureka Productions, with Unanimous Media, the mini golf contest has performed well as summer fare (it airs for an hour a week), increasing ratings.

“It certainly has had a lot of chatter, its ratings are up [last] year,” ABC exec Rob Mills said. “Holey Moley has been one of our breakouts.”

ABC also increased the run for the second season from 10 to 13 episodes. Seven produced 11 episodes + 2 specials.

In the US version Rob Riggle is joined by Joe Tessitore, correspondent Jeannie Mai and resident golf pro Stephen Curry.

Creator Chris Culvenor is executive producer alongside Paul Franklin, Wes Dening, Charles Wachter, Michael O’Sullivan, Kate Shelbourn, Jeron Smith, Erick Peyton and Stephen Curry.

The show also received 4 nominations at the American Realty Television Awards last week. Eureka received a total 10 nominations, the most of any production company in the world, outside of Universal Studio.

Seven’s Celebrity / Junior editions screen next Sunday and Monday, respectively.

Source: Deadline

In the final episode of Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films Of All-Time the topic is “Comedy & Camp.”

What no Carry-On?

Episode Three:
The final volume of Time Warp digs deep into what makes us laugh over and over again as we reveal the greatest cult comedies and campy classics of all-time. From ‘Fast Time at Ridgemont High’ and ‘Office Space’ to ‘Monty Python And The Holy Grail’, and ‘Showgirls’.

Thursday, 25 February at 9.20pm on SBS VICELAND.

2021 legal thriller The Mauritanian will premiere on Amazon Prime Video in Australia in March.

The film directed by Kevin Macdonald features Jodie Foster, Tahar Rahim, Benedict Cumberbatch and Shailene Woodley and centres around suspects imprisoned at Guantánamo Bay.

The film has been longlisted for an impressive 11 BAFTAs, including Best Film, and nominated for several other awards, including Golden Globe nods for Best Actor – Drama for Tahar Rahim and Best Supporting Actress for Jodie Foster.

Directed by Kevin Macdonald and based on the best-selling memoir “Guantánamo Diary” by Mohamedou Ould Slahi, The Mauritanian is the inspiring true story of Slahi’s fight for freedom after being detained and imprisoned without charge by the U.S. Government for years. Alone and afraid, Slahi (Tahar Rahim) finds allies in defense attorney Nancy Hollander (Jodie Foster) and her associate Teri Duncan (Shailene Woodley) who battle the U.S. Government in a fight for justice that tests their commitment to the law and their client at every turn. Their controversial advocacy, along with evidence uncovered by a formidable military prosecutor, Lt. Colonel Stuart Couch (Benedict Cumberbatch), reveals shocking truths and ultimately proves that the human spirit cannot be locked up.

Macdonald directs The Mauritanian from a screenplay by M.B. Traven and Rory Haines & Sohrab Noshirvani, based on the book “Guantanamo Diary” by Mohamedou Ould Slahi. The film was fully financed by 30West, Topic Studios and BBC Films and produced by Adam Ackland, Leah Clarke, Benedict Cumberbatch, Lloyd Levin, Beatriz Levin, Mark Holder, Christine Holder, Branwen Prestwood Smith, and Michael Bronner.

Wednesday March 24 on Amazon Prime.

24 V8 powered Supercars will take to the mountain on Friday for the Mt. Panorama 500, Live on FOX Sports.

Competing are Shane Van Gisbergen, Cam Waters, Jamie Whincup, Chaz Mostert, David Reynolds and Anton De Pasquale.

Supercars commentator Mark Skaife, said: “This is the most demanding and unforgiving, yet rewarding, circuit on the calendar bar none and what a way to kick off the 2021 season. With McLaughlin bidding farewell and Whincup signaling his final season it’s time for a new star to emerge, or perhaps the final chance for an old dog to teach some new tricks.

“With some weather surprises forecast I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else than parked up in front of a screen over the weekend for all the Live action on Foxtel and Kayo.”

Jess Yates is hosting alongside commentators Mark Skaife and Neil Crompton plus Craig Lowndes, Garth Tander and analyst Mark Larkham.

Supercars Championship
Mt Panorama 500
Foxtel channel 506, Foxtel GO and Kayo
All times are AEDT

Tues, Feb 23
20/20 Best Ever Races
7.00pm

Wed, Feb 24
20/20 Best Ever Races
7.00pm

Thurs, Feb 25
20/20 Best Ever Races
7.00pm

Fri, Feb 26
Live coverage begins
11.30am

Practice 1
12.25pm

Practice 2
4.10pm

Supercars Life: Scott McLaughlin
Premiere
5.20pm

Sat, Feb 27
Qualifying
9.10am

Top Ten Shootout
12.10pm

Supercars Race 1 (250kms)
3.00pm

Sun, Feb 28
Supercars Qualifying
9.10am

Top Ten Shootout
12.10pm

Supercars Race (250kms)
3.00pm

Supercars Week
– Over 25 hours of Live Supercars
– Four brand new Supercars Podcasts (4 x 30min)
– Supercars Life: Scott McLaughlin (1 x 60min) Premiere episode
– Supercars 20/20 Countdown: Best Races ever (20 x 30min)

EXCLUSIVE: TV Tonight understands Schapelle Corby has signed on to appear in Seven’s Dancing with the Stars: All Stars.

Corby, who was convicted on drug smuggling in Indonesia, appeared on SAS: Australia for Seven last year.

After lasting just two episodes, she will now frock up for Seven’s dancing revival, with a mix of former stars and new ‘wildcards.’

TV Tonight also hears whispers the following personalities are set to appear:

• Luke Jacobz: actor / presenter, Winner Season 8
• Lincoln Lewis: actor 5th Place Season 9
• Bec Hewitt: actor, Winner Season 1.
• Renee Bargh: presenter (DWTS backstage host USA)

Erin McNaught, already leaked by the Daily Telegraph, is also taking to the dance floor.

So far Seven has only confirmed the return of:

• Ada Nicodemou: actor, Winner Season 3
• Tom Williams: presenter, Winner Season 2
• Fifi Box: presenter, Runner-Up Season 6

The series will shoot at the ICC in Sydney in March, to screen as a 2 week event in coming months.

Daryl Somers and Sonia Kruger are tipped to reunite as hosts.

Seven declined to comment.

Extinction Rebellion climate change activists dressed as zombies have gathered for a "scary" protest in Brisbane.

Here's what happened when we sent @Bianca_Stone to meet them. pic.twitter.com/5BtC0B2Wok

— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) February 22, 2021

One Brissy zombie has seen a bit too much of The Walking Dead, methinks….

Always make sure the ‘talent’ is worded up on how TV works.

UK crime drama The Pembrokeshire Murders, based on a true story, will screen on Seven next week.

This stars Luke Evans as a Welsh detective looking into unsolved murders in the 1980s.

It drew solid ratings in the UK when it screened in January. This is a 3 part series which opens with a double episode.

Newly returned to Pembrokeshire, Detective Superintendent Steve Wilkins looks into a brutal double murder which was never solved. Known locally as the Coastal Path murders, he is shocked to discover links to two other notorious unsolved crimes. The prime suspect, a local man named John William Cooper, was imprisoned for a number of burglaries and robberies in 1998. If Steve is right, and Cooper is not just a murderer but a serial killer, the team must find the crucial evidence they need to charge him before he is granted parole.

8:30pm Wednesday March 3 on Seven.

UK series I Hate Suzie has been renewed for a second season

Co-created by Billie Piper (Collateral, Doctor Who) and Lucy Prebble (Succession, Secret Diary of a Call Girl), the dark comedy-drama series stars Piper as Suzie Pickles, an actress whose career and personal life is thrown into chaos when nude photos of her are leaked.

Also starring in the series are Daniel Ings (The Crown) as Suzie’s husband Cob, Leila Farzad (Innocent) as Suzie’s agent Naomi, and Nathaniel Martello-White (Collateral) as Suzie’s lover and colleague.

New episodes will begin filming in 2022.

It screens in Australia on Stan.

Tuesday current affairs shows will return to SBS in mid-March with new Insight host Kumi Taguchi, plus Dateline and then The Feed.

NITV’s flagship current affairs program, The Point, will also be repeated on Tuesdays airing at 11.00pm after SBS World News Late.

This year The Point will be hosted by Shahni Wellington and John-Paul Janke. Shahni Wellington is a proud Jerrinja woman who first joined NITV as a political correspondent in 2019. In 2020, she hosted The Point’s Black Lives Matter special, and most recently co-hosted Australia’s first ever Indigenous breakfast television program – Big Mob Brekky. It premieres at 7.30pm Tuesdays on NITV ahead of an SBS replay.

SBS Director of News and Current Affairs, Mandi Wicks, said: “2021 is shaping up to be another big year for news and SBS’s current affairs line up will help Australians understand the issues facing us all. New Insight host Kumi Taguchi brings enormous warmth and experience and we are looking forward to sharing many surprising and untold stories this year. We’re also delighted to welcome the world-class reporting of The Point to Tuesday nights.”

SBS Head of Indigenous News and Current Affairs, Rhanna Collins said: “The NITV team are beyond excited to launch The Point as a part of the SBS Tuesday night current affairs line up after its premiere on NITV. We want to thank Rachael Hocking for her passion in driving the program to where it is today and for telling so many stories from our communities with authenticity and grace over the past six years. We welcome Shahni Wellington as co-host alongside John Paul Janke. Shahni is an incredible journalist and storyteller and a credit to NITV and the show!”

Tuesday March 16 on SBS.

Insight, 8.30pm
“Adult ADHD”
In Kumi Taguchi’s first episode as host, Insight asks the question – what’s it like to get to your fifties and find out you’ve got ADHD? A range of adults from their twenties to fifties share with Insight what it was like to get that diagnosis, how things about their past fell into place and how they used the diagnosis to change their lives for the better. They are joined by family who share the impact on them.

Dateline, 9.30pm
“Digital Predators”
This is a story no parent can afford to miss. During global COVID-19 lockdowns police reported a huge increase in the number of people viewing and sharing child sexual abuse images online. In the 1990s there were 10,000 such images[1] – today there are more than 47 million[2]. Evan Williams reports from the UK where the Government has pledged to become the safest place in the world for kids to use the internet. He meets the police officers, counsellors and investigators trying to stop the proliferation of abuse material, and he meets victims and perpetrators who bravely share their stories.

The Feed, 10.00pm
“Like, Subscribe, Follow” (part 1 of 4)
The Feed takes a deep dive into the murky world of social media influencers. In a wild experiment, journalist Calliste Weitenberg and producer Elise Potaka build a fake influencer persona to see if they can cash in on what’s now a $15 billion dollar industry. Documenting the process over six months, the series examines the rise of a new frontier in advertising, where influencers are paid or given contra to spruik products. Everyone is out to make a buck, but at what cost?
“The Unseen Insight Audition Tapes” (part 1 of 3).
In late 2020, SBS began the search for the new host of Insight. Australia’s most respected journalists auditioned for the role … and so did Alex Lee. In this never-before-seen audition tape, Alex Lee shows what a venerated and respected show like Insight can become in the very wrong hands.

The Point, 11.00pm
NITV’s weekly flagship news and current affairs program The Point covers stories that matter most to communities across Australia. Hosted by key Indigenous commentators, Shahni Wellington and J.P Janke, The Point tackles issues impacting First Nations Australians today across current affairs, the arts, social media, science, technology and entertainment. A network of NITV’s journalists including Karla Grant, Natalie Ahmat, Ryan Liddle, Douglas Smith, Keira Jenkins and Sarah Collard join to cover these issues from across the country.

Married at First Sight returned to screens last night, landing at #1 with 964,000 metro viewers and topping the demos.

That was well ahead of the competition, if down on the 2020 season premiere of 1.15m viewers.

Next was 7:30 (649,000), Australian Story (577,000), The Amazing Race Australia (508,000) and Holey Moley Grand Final (491,000).

Later Four Corners drew 442,000 then Media Watch (419,000), 9-1-1 (331,000).

Elsewhere, Seven enjoyed a strong gap at Breakfast.

Nine network won Monday with 32.3% then Seven 26.2%, 10 17.2%, ABC 17.1% and SBS 7.3%.

Nine News drew 937,000 / 930,000 for Nine. A Current Affair won its slot at 702,000 then Hot Seat (399,000 / 247,000). Despite the bumper MAFS lead-in viewers did not stick around for a Bridesmaids movie (213,000).

Seven News (948,000 / 910,000) was best for Seven then Home & Away (485,000) and The Chase (461,000 / 286,000). The Rookie was 243,000.

The Project pulled 458,000 / 271,000 for 10. 10 News First was 311,000 / 210,000 and Hughesy We Have a Problem (219,000). A Graham Norton repeat was just 116,000.

ABC News was 691,000 for ABC. The Pacific: In the Wake of Captain Cook with Sam Neill was 288,000) then The Drum (137,000).

On SBS it was SBS World News (190,000 / 141,000), The Architecture the Railways Built (148,000), 24 Hours in Emergency (144,000) and The Story of Songs (95,000). A new-look Mastermind was 82,000.

Bluey again barked up multichannels at 178,000.

Sunrise: 265,000
Today: 186,000
News Breakfast: 93,000 / 75,000

OzTAM Overnights: Monday 22 February 2021

Free to Air: 25-54 demographics (Overnight)

Free to Air: 18-49 demographics (Overnight)

Free to Air: 16-39 demographics (Overnight)

© OzTAM Pty Limited 2021. The Data may not be reproduced, published or communicated (electronically or in hard copy) without the prior written consent of OzTAM. Program performance and ranking information subject to change when not based on final program logs. Ranking information is for individual episodes. Includes Preliminary data.

“In the last 20 years he was able to run amok while I was growing up. I was coping with this through sleepless nights and panic attacks, because of one man.”

So says Dylan Farrow, 35, as she reflects on alleged devastating incidents from 1992.

“No matter what you think you know, it’s just the tip of the iceberg.”

4 part HBO documentary Allen v Farrow is a gob-smacking account of allegations levelled against celebrated filmmaker Woody Allen. To be clear, this review encompasses all 4 episodes, which will be calamitous to his career and legacy.

Investigative filmmakers Kirby Dick, Amy Ziering and Amy Herdy -whose previous work garnered two Oscar nominations, an Emmy and a Peabody- centre their narrative around Dylan Farrow speaking out as an adult, largely after decades of silence (she wrote a damning essay in 2014).

Mia Farrow, Allen’s partner of 12 years, alleged abuse when he supposedly took 7 year old Dylan to an attic, supported by similar ‘strange behaviour’ claims witnessed by the couple’s babysitter. After Farrow consulted a doctor, the allegations were reported to police.

What followed was a media storm with Allen claiming Farrow was a woman scorned, because he was romantically involved with Farrow’s adopted daughter, Soon-Yi. He claimed Dylan had been coached.

Police investigations followed but Allen was never charged -the doco will dissect both New York & Connecticut cases that enveloped the allegations.

Speaking on the record along with Dylan is Mia Farrow, who agrees to speak out in support of her daughter. She says the great regret of her life was not being perceptive enough.

“It’s my fault. I brought this guy into our family. There’s nothing I can do to take that away,” Mia reveals.

“Who on earth could believe that of Woody Allen? I couldn’t believe it.”

Also speaking is journalist Ronan Farrow (who famously co-authored the expose on Harvey Weinstein), brother Matthew, family friends, staff, film critics, Andre Previn (Farrow’s former husband), Carly Simon, Gloria Steinem, medical, social and legal experts plus original state prosecutors.

Allen did not participate and is only heard via grabs from his 2020 audio book ‘Apropos of Nothing’. Farrow’s son Moses, one of 3 kids legally adopted by Allen, turned on his father as a teen, but later retracted it. He has since published a lengthy defence of Allen you can read here.

While Mia Farrow has been repeatedly accused of a smear campaign against Allen, the documentary specifically addresses claims by Moses that the incidents could not have happened.

The evidence and accounts build a damning case against Allen, not just in his private life, but even to recurring themes in his work. This includes access to original script drafts and notes by Allen, which are insightful if circumstantial.

There are of taped phone calls, home videos -including an account from 7 year old Dylan- audio from other siblings. Underpinning much is Allen’s power as a successful New York filmmaker and all the influence and wealth he wielded.

Without Allen’s participation this is clearly a one-sided argument, but one that is so compelling as to be overwhelming. Kirby Dick, Amy Ziering and Amy Herdy have uncovered meticulous evidence for the prosecution, in a case that never made it to court, save for a separate custody battle.

But frankly, in one corner is a man who fell in love with his partner’s daughter (including taking ‘erotic’ photos of her) versus a woman who mothered 14 children, 10 of whom were adopted from countries including South Korea, Vietnam and India. Mia is already starting from a position of virtue….

So what does this all mean to an audience? Justice denied. Yes. Dangers of sexual assault. Yes. Abuse of trust. Absolutely.

But there is also the difficult question of whether the art of Woody Allen can be separated from the man. Or whether it should be. That’s a personal choice for each viewer.

In an era of Weinstein, Jackson, Cosby and others, Woody Allen’s film legacy may be about to come undone by film itself. But not one where he has control.

Allen v Farrow is now screening on FOX Showcase / Binge.

Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia.
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Heavily-bearded Queensland garbo Mark Duncan has won Seven’s Holey Moley contest, pocketing $100,000 prize money.

Also competing in the Final were Nik “The Punisher” Papoutsis, Jesse “Surfing Beer Salesman” Earnshaw, Jayden “The Pilot” Lawson, Tom “The Yeppoon Mudflap” Kunkel , Daniel “Prawn Farmer” Thusberg, Montana “Pro Golfer” Strauss, Teresa “Dragon Boat Racer” Thoi, Michelle “Coach” Cowan and Amy “Big Foot” Morris.

Mark breezed through his early rounds against Jesse Earnshaw on Clowning Around and Teresa Thoi on Polcano, proceeding to the final hole, The Tomb of Nefer-Tee-Tee, where he met pro-golfer, Montana Strauss and drone-pilot, Jayden Lawson.

Each player had to putt through a sphinx onto the rotating pyramids and then onto the green with a 100-ft shot at a hole-in-one.

“I cannot believe it!” he said of the win.

After 11 episodes Seven will wrap the series with a Celebrity Holey Moley and Holey Moley Junior next Sunday & Monday, respectively.

The series launched with a bumper audience but was unable to sustain as a stripped series. In the USA the Eureka production has won awards and ratings in a weekly edition.

The elaborate Queensland course is expected to be used by other international productions.

The Australian Open concluded on Sunday night after being rescheduled from its traditional January dates, due to COVID restrictions.

But while the event moved into 2021 survey it was up against increased competition on air and in audience habits.

That included shows including The Amazing Race Australia, Holey Moley, Hard Quiz, Four Corners, Gogglebox, The Weekly, Harrow and more. Being out of school holidays also appears to have impacted numbers, with more viewers back to 9-5 routine (at least for those who still work 9-5). Also missing from the event, full capacity crowds and any patrons during a 5 day Melbourne snap lockdown. Absent too were names such as Roger Federer.

Nine’s metro audience was down 31.8% compared to 2020,  which was one of the best of the last decade. Nine claims 9Now registrations and BVOD are up on 2020. After a a 10 per cent discount on its annual fee to Tennis Australia, Nine will not seek further discounts.

But Nine has been able to promote its upcoming content including Married At First Sight, Amazing Grace and Under Investigation.

Hamish Turner, Nine Program Director, told the Sydney Morning Herald, “We are very happy with the incredible launch pad the Australian Open has given us intoMarried At First Sight and have every expectation that it will again dominate the key demographics throughout Q1 as Australia falls in love with the experiment.”

Australian producers were damaged by the suspension of local quotas during the pandemic

Matthew Deaner, CEO of Screen Producers Australia yesterday told a House Standing Committee on Communications & the Arts, several key Government decisions both positively and negatively, set the course for the industry throughout 2020.

“The sector was significantly disrupted by the decision in April last year to suspend quotas for commercial free-to-air and subscription television at the height of pandemic disruption. It had an immediate impact on commissioning activity freezing well developed projects and everything in between. The uncertainty it injected into the market was damaging for the sector, just as it was looking to aid economic recovery and keep people working. It was not a path any other territory took. The decision was made without any dialogue with us or any affected production business,” he said.

“And for our Children’s producers this had been the culmination of months of frozen activity by commercial broadcasters as they played a game of brinkmanship with the Government in their refusal to commission children’s content and any new drama content prior to the pandemic hitting Australia, which cost our sector millions of dollars and hundreds of jobs in the process.

“Industry was, however, greatly assisted by the Government’s willingness to assist with visa entry assistance for critical personnel needed to resume or commence screen projects and while there was no proper task force or fulsome collaborative structure to collect data or co-ordinate deep engagement and strategies for the sector, there was a successful project built by industry and government together in the creation of industry protocols. States and territories also stepped in to fill gaps very successfully.”

SPA welcomed the release in November last year of a Media Reform Green Paper, which includes proposals which would apply minimum Australian content requirements on streaming platforms, such as Netflix, Amazon, Disney +, Apple and others.

It is also awaiting the implementation of the major reforms announced by the Government in September 2020.

Deaner added, “If the pandemic has taught us anything, as an industry it has taught us the value of having our own house in order, in order for us to have success independent of what happens in other markets and countries. We therefore need the Government’s focus to be on strengthening the local sector and ensuring it is robust in its own right.”

Two more Holey Moley specials will wrap up proceedings for Seven’s mini-golf show next week.

The Celebrity special features Denise Drysdale’s tumble plus Olympian Steven Bradbury, Big Brother’s Angela Clancy and ex-Bachelorette Ali Oetjen.

A Kids special sees children putting the golf ball and parents completing the obstacles.

Celebrity Holey Moley
7.00pm Sunday, 28 February on Seven

A who’s who of celebrities from Australia’s premier entertainment and sporting worlds will take on the mighty Holey Moley course in extreme mini golf’s night of nights.

Australia’s favourite celebri-tees set to take on the hallowed checkered green include football legends Mat Rogers and Barry Hall, beauty queen and sports commentator Erin Holland, Olympic Gold medallist Steven Bradbury, Big Brother’s Angela Clancy, entertainment icon Denise Drysdale, The Bachelorette’s Ali Oetjen and Love Island’s Eden Dally.

Former rugby dual-code international, Rogers, plays to a handicap of six strokes and is a hot tip heading into the competition, but as these celebrities know, in showbiz anything can happen. What they don’t know is that on the Holey Moley course, anything will happen.

These celebs are about to learn the Holey Moley course doesn’t care who you are, if you want to play ball you’ll still have to conquer the towering windmills of Dutch Courage, slay the fire-breathing Dragon’s Breath and brave Putt the Pirate’s shark infested waters.

Holey Moley Junior
7.30pm Monday, 1 March on Seven

Holey Moley Junior brings together eight of the country’s most talented junior mini golfers, ranging in age from eight to 10 years, to battle it out across three wild rounds.

While they show off their incredible skills on the most extreme mini golf course on the planet, these competitive kids are chasing the ultimate prize: the Holey Moley plaid jacket, golden putter, a whopping $10,000 golf shopping spree and being crowned the world’s first-ever Holey Moley Junior Champion.

How will these golfing stars of tomorrow deal with the death-defying Holey Moley obstacles? That’s where their parents step in. While the kids take the putts, their adult caddies will take the hits on diabolical course favourites, including Putter Ducky, Dutch Courage, Putt the Plank any many more.

With hours of daily training and prior wins in junior golf tournaments, it’s an even pack heading into the competition.

Tonight on Catalyst, astrophysicist Professor Tamara Davis and astronomer Greg Quicke meet the Australian scientists on a mission to solve the many challenges of putting people on the red planet.

This is Part 1 of a 2 part science special.

Mars has long held our fascination; we have sent probes and rovers, now the time has come to send humans. In the first of a two-part Mars special, astrophysicist Prof Tamara Davis and astronomer Greg Quicke meet the Australian scientists who are reaching for the stars as they attempt to overcome the many challenges involved in human missions to Mars.

Tamara gets a taste of what it’s like to be an astronaut launching into space as she takes flight in a jet fighter, experiencing high G forces and the feeling of weightlessness. Then meets a team of scientists working out ways to measure and mitigate the effects of micro-gravity on the body.

In Far North Queensland, one of the longest continuous lava flows from a single volcano that erupted 190,000 years ago may provide answers for human shelter on Mars. Escaping the heat of the day, Tamara joins the Ewamian Rangers on country to explore the lava tubes with astro-geologist, Dr David Flannery.

Artificial intelligence has long held promise to perform tasks humans can’t or won’t do. Given the hostile conditions on Mars, robots should be perfect for maintenance, reconnaissance and repair – leaving more time for human exploration and discovery. Tamara joins the CSIRO team in Brisbane as they put ‘Kitten’ and ‘Rat’ to the ultimate test of searching and locating a human survivor.

Production credits: Producer: Poppy Stockell; Directors: Poppy Stockell, Anna Jeffries, Lisa Dupenois; Associate Producer: Dominique Pile; Executive Producer: Penny Palmer; Head of Factual and Culture: Jen Collins.

8:30pm Tuesday on ABC.

Timing…

I don’t normally post on National Press Club speakers, but tomorrow is of particular newsworthiness…

Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds addresses the National Press Club. She has been at the centre of recent headlines in Canberra linked to Parliament House rape allegations by Brittany Higgins.

“Protecting and Securing Australia’s interests in a challenging world”
Senator Linda Reynolds was sworn in as a Senator for Western Australia in 2014 and was appointed Minister for Defence in May 2019.

It airs 12:30pm Wednesday Feb 24 on ABC.

As it happens Australian of the Year, sexual assault survivor Grace Tame, then addresses the National Press Club a week later.

12:30pm Wednesday March 2 on ABC.

Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia.
Lifeline 13 11 14
Beyond Blue 1300 22 46 36

Anthology drama Genius: Aretha will premiere in March on National Geographic.

This third season starring Cynthia Erivo will explore Aretha Franklin’s musical genius and incomparable career as the Queen of Soul, as well as the lasting influence she has had on music.

An outspoken civil rights champion, she received countless honours throughout her career.

Genius: Aretha will be the first-ever, definitive and only authorised scripted series on her life story.

Without knowing how to read music, Franklin taught herself to play the piano; at the young age of 12, she began to record songs and sing on gospel tours with her father. She signed her first record deal at age 18 with Columbia Records. In 1966, she moved to Atlantic Records, where she recorded many of her most iconic songs. In 1979, she began a 40-year friendship and partnership with Clive Davis, which produced a number of hit songs, including the highest charting and bestselling song of her career, “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me),” a duet with George Michael. The legendary singer is one of the world’s bestselling musical artists of all time, with more than 75 million records sold globally during her career. Her voice was identified as a “natural resource” by her home state of Michigan.

The previously announced cast includes triple threat Tony®-, Emmy®- and Grammy® Award-winning Erivo as Aretha Franklin who will be performing many songs from Franklin’s rich catalogue; the Emmy-winning Courtney B Vance (“The People V. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story”) as Aretha’s father, CL Franklin; Malcolm Barrett (“Timeless,” “Preacher”) as Ted White, Franklin’s first husband and business manager; David Cross (“Mr. Show,” “Arrested Development”) as legendary music producer Jerry Wexler, who guided Franklin as she developed into a confident singer and commercial success; Patrice Covington (“The Color Purple”, “Ain’t Misbehavin’”) and Rebecca Naomi Jones (“Oklahoma!,” “The Big Sick”) portray Erma and Carolyn Franklin, respectively, as Aretha’s sisters and frequent background singers, who supported and collaborated with their famous sibling; Steven Norfleet (“Watchmen,” “Dynasty”) as older brother Cecil Franklin, who stepped in as Aretha’s manager following her divorce from Ted White; veteran actress Pauletta Washington (“Beloved,” “She’s Gotta Have It”) as Aretha’s nurturing and loving paternal grandmother, Rachel; Omar J. Dorsey (“Queen Sugar”) as James Cleveland; Marque Richardson (“Dear White People”) as King Curtis, Kimberly Hébert Gregory (“Vice Principals”) as Ruth Bowen; and introducing Shaian Jordan as young Aretha Franklin, aka Little Re.

The series features many of Franklin’s biggest recordings and hit songs from the comprehensive Warner Music catalogue, including “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You),” “Chain of Fools,” “Don’t Play That Song” and “Save Me.” In addition, the series features Franklin’s performances of “I Knew You Were Waiting for Me,” “Freeway of Love” and “Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves.” Additionally, the third season of the acclaimed anthology series features a number of well-known personalities who crossed paths with Franklin, including Dinah Washington, King Curtis, Clara Ward, Art Tatum, Reverend James Cleveland, Sydney Pollack, Angela Davis, Martin Luther King Jr, Curtis Mayfield and George Michael.

The series is produced by 20th Television and Imagine Entertainment. Imagine has partnered with Warner Music Entertainment for this third season, which is again executive produced by Imagine’s Brian Grazer and Ron Howard. Pulitzer Prize recipient, MacArthur “Genius” grant receiver and Tony Award winner Suzan-Lori Parks (“Topdog/Underdog”) is showrunner, executive producer and lead writer. Emmy, Golden Globe and BAFTA TV Award winner Anthony Hemingway (“The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story”) is also executive producer and serves as director.

Legendary hit-record producer Clive Davis and Atlantic Records chairman and CEO Craig Kallman are executive producers. Imagine’s Anna Culp also serves as executive producer, and Peter Afterman is producer. Returning executive producers include Francie Calfo (Genius: Einstein, Genius: Picasso, “Empire”), Ken Biller (Genius: Einstein, Genius: Picasso), Gigi Pritzker and Rachel Shane (MWM Studios), and Sam Sokolow (EUE/Sokolow).

March 22 at 7.30PM on National Geographic.

• Catalyst
• The Good Doctor
• Great Australian Railway Journeys
• Highway Patrol
• Labour Of Love

ABC investigative journalist Caro Meldrum-Hanna unveils her next true crime case, Exposed: The Ghost Fire Train.

This centres around a 1979 fire at Sydney’s Luna Park in which six boys and one man perished.

This is a 3 part documentary as people break their silence on suspected foul play.

42 years of not knowing. 42 years of questions unanswered. One last chance to get to the truth.

Across three feature-length episodes, this stunning investigation reveals the untold story of the 1979 Ghost Train Fire at Sydney’s iconic Luna Park.

On a winter’s night screams of delight turned into screams of terror as the Ghost Train ride erupted in flames, quickly becoming an inferno. Six boys and one man died.

The fire was written off by authorities as a terrible accident but was it something more sinister?

Despite multiple inquiries, rumours and innuendo, no one has ever been held accountable for the blaze.

Leaving no stone unturned, Caro and the team re-investigate the tragic event which claimed the lives of seven people: John Godson (29) and his two sons, Damien (6) and Craig (4). And four schoolboy best mates: Jonathan Billings (13), Richard Carroll (13), Michael Johnson (13) and Seamus Rahilly (13).

With unprecedented access to the key people involved, The Ghost Train Fire features an astonishing cast of eyewitnesses, police, investigators, and government insiders who have never spoken before.

Silences will be broken and secrets will be told.

The families of those who died in the fire, and many of those who survived it, have long suspected foul play.

Join Exposed as it sets out to find truth and justice before it is too late.

Tuesday 16 March at 8:30pm on ABC.

All five seasons of The Muppet Show began streaming on Disney+ on Friday.

Guests across the show filmed from 1976 – 1981 include Elton John, Liza Minnelli, Alice Cooper, Julie Andrews, Bernadette Peters, Diana Ross, Gladys Knight, Gene Kelly, and Mark Hamill.

However some episodes carry a disclaimer, endeavouring to put context on the era they were filmed. Much has changed culturally since then and Disney is conscious of cancel culture.

“This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now,” a disclaimer states. “Rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together.

“Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe,” the statement concludes.

The disclaimer has been added to a total of 18 episodes throughout the show’s five seasons, including those guest hosted by Jim Nabors, Joel Grey, Steve Martin, Peter Sellers, Cleo Laine, James Coco, Spike Milligan, Crystal Gayle, Kenny Rogers, Beverly Sills, Jonathan Winters, Alan Arkin, James Coburn, Joan Baez, Johnny Cash, Debbie Harry, Wally Boag and Marty Feldman.

Disney has a vast library of period content including depictions of Native American, Middle Eastern, African and Asian cultures.

This Stories Matter initiative outlines the platform’s reasoning for adding the labels to its content.

Source: Deadline, Variety

Should soaps incorporate the pandemic into storylines or avoid it altogether?

That’s a question that has been raised before, but there are varying views on the matter, and for some it depends on the show’s own setting.

A hospital drama, for instance, may find it far more difficult to avoid than a suburban soap.

Neighbours is on record as saying whilst a soap is ideally escapist it has selectively incorporated natural advancements such as sanitisers on bench tops.

Home & Away has also avoided the pandemic becoming central to Summer Bay, but did make changes to shooting.

Last Week writer Holly Lyons told the Screen Forever conference, “We cut a lot of kissing. At one meeting, we debated how important a handshake between two enemies was for a story, and we were very mindful full of lines like, ‘remember to wash your hands.’ And I especially remember having to cut the line, ‘I will avoid him like the plague.’ We really didn’t want to reference the pandemic on that show. A character who initially was about to go away for a holiday on a cruise ship, had to change his plan. And one brawl, which would usually be a fistfight, was turned into people armed with baseball bats, so that actors wouldn’t have close contact. So that’s how we kind of tackled the pandemic in Summer Bay. We tried to ignore it as much as possible it possible.”

Meanwhile, Kate Oates, Head of Genre, BBC Studios said UK productions weren’t sure during their first lockdown how things would pan out.

“The overused phrase from me was, all our crystal balls are broken. We just don’t know how this is going to look. So we had to make judgment calls. And so we decided to pick Wolford, which is where EastEnders is set. We decided to pick Wolford up because we came off screen briefly as we had to close down. When we came back, we decided that we would pick it up post lockdown, so we would reflect what had happened to a community that had been in lockdown, but we wouldn’t still be in lockdown,” she said.

“So we went to a slightly parallel universe, I guess you could say, where COVID is a thing, COVID has had an effect on people. We’ve all experienced the same thing, but we’re looking at a community sort of trying to move forwards. In the present, you don’t do so much of the social distancing or mask wearing, that kind of thing. But people are aware of COVID and still talk about it.

“I suppose one of the main story threads that it affected for EastEnders was we were already running a domestic violence storyline. Our character, Chantelle Atkins, who was a beautiful, feisty, fiery young woman who happens to be married to a man who hits her and has kept it a secret to protect the integrity of her marriage. She’s made that mistake. When we picked it up after lockdown, what we saw was that violence had become markedly worse and that she’d been suffering it behind locked doors whilst people just, you know, have not been able to see any evidence of what’s been happening to her day to day. Actually in our second week back, that mistake was to prove fatal, that she’d not told anybody and he killed her.

“It offered big, big dramatic opportunities. I think rather than letting it completely change our narrative, we let it shape the narratives in a realistic way. So we have a nurse character called Sonia Fowler, it’s affecting her. She’s got a bit of sort of PTSD from it now, really. It’s changed her outlook on life. It changed the way she looks at the world. It’s been about just applying that layer of truth to the characters without making the drama about COVID as such.”

BBC hospital drama Casualty also chose to incorporate COVID.

Loretta Preece, Series Producer said, “Well, like a lot of productions, we had to close down very suddenly as COVID came over into the UK, and we had to stop filming and we had to make a decision about how we come back and what we put on air when we come back. It was Kate who had said initially in a meeting that it was essential that we covered COVID in the show, being a medical show. And I was quite afraid of that idea.

“I remember talking to Kate (Oates) about it in the morning and thinking, knowing that she was right, but also understanding what a huge undertaking that was. I spent the rest of that day speaking to our medical advisers. So, we’ve got four consultants in the field, and just trying to gauge from them how they thought that the crisis might unfold, because, as you rightly say, we were speaking then in April about transmission that we knew would go out in December, January. And so to try and predict the future in a very fast-moving epidemic situation, of course, none of the medics could tell us. In fact, three of them said absolutely different things.

“So, we had to gauge what we thought that the world might look like. But also, we set that episode quite, quite distinctly in the period of the first wave, which was unfolding at the time we were writing. We set it as a flashback, basically, which allowed us some licence. At the time that it did go out, which was 2 January this year, actually for COVID there was an enormous second wave hitting the UK and it was a time of tremendous fear in Britain and an enormous, terrible death toll. But actually, although, again, we were concerned and the channel was concerned about how such a hard-hitting episode would go down, by good fortune, it struck a chord with the British people. It felt like the truth that they wanted to hear about what was really going on in emergency departments. And so it was very challenging decisions, which happily seemed to come good.”

Violence

10 part French ‘found footage’ thriller screens on Netflix in March.

Franck, a music video director, infiltrates a rough neighbourhood in the South of France to film Tony, a charismatic but unpredictable drug gang leader wanting to break into the rap music scene. Using his camera to reveal the hidden, true face of drug dealing, Franck will get caught in a bloody gang war.  

Wednesday March 10 on Netflix.

Andy Lee slipped in a cheeky plug for The Cube when he was being interviewed on Nine.

But he quickly ‘pivoted’ to a network friendly push for Married at First Sight.

“Am I allowed back on this network?” he added.

Late night news The Latest returns to Seven from tonight, anchored by Michael Usher and Angela Cox on alternate weeknights.

“I can’t wait to get back into The Latest studio. It’s a milestone week as COVID vaccines roll out across the country. As we do every night on The Latest, we’ll have it covered in every corner of the country,” said Usher.

“We have a really engaged and loyal nightly audience, and we’re looking forward to keeping our viewers up to date in the evening.”

In 2020 the show averaged 251,000 in metro viewers, up 70% on 2019.

Last year Usher told TV Tonight, “The big point of difference with The Latest is that its content is all interviews and crosses. We don’t run reporter stories. I like to think our audience has been flat out all day and evening, and we can help them catch up on the day’s news, and give them an idea of what’s brewing in the morning, so they can go to bed up to speed. I also always try to end The Latest on a positive note. An image of thoughts that’s uplifting before the day ends.”

Violence

UK crime mystery 15 Days will screen on BBC First from early March.

This starts with a brutal murder – before rewinding back the 15 Days to find out why, how, and most importantly, who was responsible.

The 4 part series stars Geraint Morgan, Tom Rhys Harries, Sharon Morgan, Freddy Carter, David Caves, Catherine Tydesley & Aneirin Hughes.

Reversing the traditional investigate narrative, 15 Days is an intensely human drama and original crime thriller that’s not so much ‘whodunnit’ but more a ‘who’s going to do it?’. In the opening scenes, a young man is shoot dead. Immediately the story rolls back to two weeks prior, and we meet four siblings and their families, including the soon-to-be murder victim, as they arrive at an isolated farmhouse.

Thursdays at 8.30pm from March 4 on BBC First.

Pretty unnerving scenes live on Icelandic TV tonight after a contestant on the country’s equivalent of University Challenge storms off set, pushing over his podium in the process pic.twitter.com/FwH1SrVTXf

— Tom Hourigan (@TomHourigan) February 19, 2021

You don’t even need to speak Icelandic to see what’s going on with this quiz show contestant…

2020 Stan mystery The Gloaming is getting a US screening after Starz picked up the Tassie series.

The series stars Emma Booth and Ewen Leslie as detectives who share a tragic past, investigating the brutal death of a woman.

It also featured Martin Henderson, Aaron Pedersen, Rena Owen, Josephine Blazier and Matt Testro.

The Gloaming was written and created by Victoria Madden (The Kettering Incident) as a co-production with Madden’s Sweet Potato Films and John Molloy’s 2 Johns Productions, ABC Signature, a division of Disney Television Studios.

While Starz notes it as a limited series, development was undertaken last year on a potential second season.

© OzTAM Pty Limited 2021. The Data may not be reproduced, published or communicated (electronically or in hard copy) without the prior written consent of OzTAM.

© OzTAM Pty Limited 2021. The Data may not be reproduced, published or communicated (electronically or in hard copy) without the prior written consent of OzTAM.

© OzTAM Pty Limited 2021. The Data may not be reproduced, published or communicated (electronically or in hard copy) without the prior written consent of OzTAM.

Season 5 of Outlander begins tonight on SBS.

This screened on Pay TV a year ago.

Jamie Fraser must fight to protect the ones he loves, as well as the home he has established alongside his wife, Claire Fraser, their family, and the settlers of Fraser’s Ridge. This new mantle of responsibility sees him pitted against his godfather, Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser, a leader of North Carolina’s Regulator Rebellion.

Season Five, Episode One:
Following celebrations in honour of Brianna and Roger’s wedding, Governor Tryon reminds Jamie of his obligation to hunt down and kill Murtagh Fitzgibbons. He also expects Jamie to raise a militia to quell the Regulators if necessary. Brianna, meanwhile, is reminded of her past trauma when she inadvertently hears some devastating news.

Monday February 10:45pm on SBS.

1.17m metro viewers watched Novak Djokovic thrash Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open Men’s Final last night, making it the #1 show.

The match wrapped up a complex event that was challenged by COVID-19 restrictions, quarantine, crowd limits or bans, and a delayed season. But the Men’s Final was also down on 2020’s 1.52m when it screened against an I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here finale and a My Kitchen Rules season premiere.

The Amazing Race Australia drew 523,000 ahead of Holey Moley (498,000) and Grand Designs: NZ (438,000).

Later Harrow drew 419,000 then Silent Witness (256,000) and Movie: John Wick: Chapter 2 (236,000).

Nine network easily won with a 35.7% share then Seven 23.0%, 10 18.0%, ABC 15.8% and SBS 7.4%.

Nine News drew 792,000 viewers for Nine.

Seven News led its slot with 977,000 viewers.

The Sunday Project pulled 420,000 / 280,000 for 10. 10 News First was 288,000 / 230,000. FBI: Most Wanted was 201,000.

ABC News was 627,000 for ABC. Antiques Roadshow managed 182,000.

On SBS it was SBS World News (172,000 / 134,000), I Am Jackie O (157,000) and I Am JFK Jnr (137,000).

Bluey topped multichannels as usual at 190,000.

OzTAM Overnights: Sunday 21 February 2021

Free to Air: 25-54 demographics (Overnight)

Free to Air: 18-49 demographics (Overnight)

Free to Air: 16-39 demographics (Overnight)

© OzTAM Pty Limited 2021. The Data may not be reproduced, published or communicated (electronically or in hard copy) without the prior written consent of OzTAM. Program performance and ranking information subject to change when not based on final program logs. Ranking information is for individual episodes. Includes Preliminary data.

Sorry Tom Gleeson.

Marc Fennell has thrown down the gauntlet.

“Mastermind is undeniably the hardest quiz in Australia,” he insists.

“I respect that Tom calls his show Hard Quiz. But this is an actual hard quiz. It may take a few episodes for people to see if they’ve never watched it before, but longtime viewers of the show will know: there is no harder quiz on Australian television, than Mastermind. And I’m happy to back that.

“It is much harder than what they have to do on Hard Quiz -or any other show.”

Fennell steps into the anchor chair on the SBS quiz, succeeding Jennifer Byrne, following a network reset. The versatile Feed host has previously stepped in for Byrne in 2019 due to illness, as well as competing as a celebrity contender with his specialist subject, Star Trek: The Next Generation.

“I’ve actually watched back the footage and I cringe”

“I’ve actually watched back the footage and I cringe, because I realise all the clues were there and I should have just taken a swing at it. But I didn’t, and it actually causes me physical pain! So when I’m talking to the contenders at least I know the shame!”

Mastermind owes its success to the UK original, running for nearly 50 years. Fennell, whose career spans film critic, technology journalist, author, podcaster, radio and television presenter -now adds quiz show host to his CV. Having filmed 40 episodes, he has grown to appreciate the format, even in its strict rules.

“There’s a whole bunch of rules that come from the BBC”

“There’s a whole bunch of rules that come from the BBC that once you start adopting, you don’t go back. So contestants are actually contenders. When they get something correct, you’re only allowed to say ‘Yes’ or ‘Correct.’

“I respect the history of the show, and I think it’s really important to pick and choose what parts of the iconography we own. I’m also mindful of the fact that this is six o’clock weeknights, it is dinner time, before the news. It has to have light and shade within the format for it to work.”

While the ‘playability’ may be limited for home viewers, there’s no denying the show’s longevity and its celebration of specialist -even obscure- subjects.

“Everybody is a nerd about something,” Fennell suggests. “Everybody has that one thing that they know, and they love above all.

“So when people come on the show they are saying ‘Here is this thing that I love, that is character-defining about me.’ Then in effect, what we do for the first half of the show is put that love to the test.”

“When the lights go down, and the spotlight is on you, you can’t see anything”

Technically the show also uses visual language to emphasise the drama, from its ‘interrogation’ lighting to intense camera close-ups.

“When the lights go down, and the spotlight is on and the timer has started, it is just you versus the questions. There is no humour, no joy… it is entirely up to you to crush these questions.”

“I’ve had a lovely, long chat with Jen”

While SBS maintains the host change is part of a plan to ‘evolve’ the series, Fennell insists he had no part in the switch from Jennifer Byrne.

“I was not involved in the decision to refresh in any way, shape or form. I’ve had a lovely, long chat with Jen, who I’ve known for quite some time. She wishes me and the show well. But I have zero insight into what motivates that decision. I have given nobody any assurances about better ratings! All I’ve said when approached is, I want to find a way of bringing some light and shade to it,” he adds.

“Whether people like it or not, is really up to them. All I will say is I find watching the contenders absolutely riveting, and I hope other people think so.”

Mastermind screens 6pm weeknights on SBS.

Has Facebook lifted its ban on news in Australia?

Doubtful.

But there are a few rare exceptions that appear to have been spared the shut down.

Over the weekend posts were published for The Project, Seven News and Sunrise.

Not so lucky are ABC News, Nine News, SBS News, 10 News or the Today show.

Also out of luck are 7:30, Four Corners, Insiders, Q+A, The Feed.

Strange algorithms at work….

Week 2 of 2021 ratings goes to Nine, thanks to the Australian Open.

It drew up to 879,000 metro viewers on Day 8 -an adjusted figure for Ash Barty’s win over Shelby Rogers, but it was down on a Kyrgios match the preceding week.

Overall the 2 week tournament is also down on its usual January dates, but against stronger competition.

ABC’s Hard Quiz was the top entertainment show at 685,000 viewers, while Seven News topped the week.

Network:
Nine: 30.7
Seven: 25.3
10: 17.9
ABC: 17.8
SBS: 8.3

Primary channel:
Nine: 22.0
Seven: 16.9
ABC: 12.8
10: 10.3
SBS: 4.7

Multichannels:
10 BOLD: 4.0
7TWO / 7mate: 3.2
9GO!: 3.0
10 Peach: 2.9
9GEM / ABC TV Kids Plus: 2.4
7flix / ABC News: 2.1
9Life: 2.0
SBS VICELAND: 1.5
9RUSH: 1.4
SBS World Movies: 1.0
SBS Food: 0.9
10 Shake: 0.6
ABC ME: 0.5
NITV: 0.2

Nine led the demos 16 – 39 and 25 – 54.

Nine won Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane. Seven claimed Adelaide & Perth.

Nine won every night. ABC bettered 10 on Wednesday, Friday & Saturday.

Best brands were:

Nine: Nine News (Sun: 914,000), Australian Open (D8 Night: 879,000), RBT (256,000) and Today (210,000).

Seven: Seven News (Sun: 988,000), The Chase (520,000), Holey Moley (Sun: 510,000) and Home & Away (496,000).

10: The Amazing Race Australia (Sun: 564,000), Gogglebox (501,000), The Sunday Project (475,000) and 10 News First (362,000).

ABC: ABC News (Sun: 702,000), Hard Quiz (685,000), and The Weekly with Charlie Pickering / 7:30 (both 573,000).

SBS: Great Continental Railway Journeys (206,000), Michael Palin: Travels of a Lifetime (192,000), SBS World News (182,000) and Anne: The Princess Royal at 70 (181,000).

Infograph supplied by Nine:

WA’s McGown Government has pledged a $100m new studio and sound stage in Fremantle’s Victoria Quay and a new $20 million Production Attraction Fund, if it wins the state election.

A state-of-the-art studio, digital and post-production complex is set to vastly lift the state’s prospects for screen production. Screen investment in Western Australia hit over $51 million in 2019-20, doubling the size of the Western Australian Screen Industry over the past three years.

John Driscoll, Board Chair of Screenwest said, “Screenwest has long been advocating for additional government support for Production Attraction and for the development of a studio in WA and we welcome today’s commitment. This is a game changer and gives WA a competitive edge nationally and internationally to attract incoming productions while ensuring our local homegrown stories don’t leave the state.”

Screenwest recently released a Strategic Plan, with the set target of increasing production investment to $150 million in Western Australia annually by 2024.

The WA state election is set for March 13.

US documentary Framing Britney Spears screens on Nine next week.

Directed by Samantha Stark for the New York Times and Hulu, the film revolves around Britney Spears’ conservatorship overseen by her father Jamie Spears since 2008, which has sparked the fan-driven #FreeBritney movement.

It screened in the US earlier this month. Since the US broadcast Justin Timberlake has issued a public apology to his former girlfriend,

Her rise was a global phenomenon. Her downfall was a cruel national sport. People close to Britney Spears and lawyers tied to her conservatorship now reassess her career as she battles her father in court over who should control her life.

9pm Tuesday March 2 on Nine.

Heads up Whitney Houston fans (yes, you), with The Story of Songs on SBS looking at her discography.

Episode Four:
We delve into the three tracks that cemented Whitney Houston as an indisputable music icon who redefined and changed pop music forever. We hear from the producers, songwriters, back-up singers, session musicians, choreographers, journalists, and industry experts who witnessed it all. Whitney burst onto the mainstream scene in 1987 with up-tempo pop smash hit ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’.

Monday, 22 February at 9.20pm on SBS.

Season 2 of Godfather of Harlem with Forest Whitaker as the notorious 60’s crime boss Bumpy Johnson, will premiere on Stan in April.

Season two finds Bumpy Johnson (Whitaker) battling the New York Crime families for control of the lucrative and murderous “French Connection,” the pipeline for heroin that runs from Marseilles to New York Harbor. With a distribution syndicate that includes black crime bosses from other major U.S. cities, Bumpy takes a cue from his friend Malcolm X’s message of black economic nationalism. His ambitious plan will face challenges from not only the Italians, but his wife Mayme, daughter Elise, rival Adam Clayton Powell, prosecutor Robert Morgenthau, and even Malcolm himself. Once again, Godfather of Harlem explores the collision of the criminal underworld and civil rights in the colourful, tumultuous year of 1964.

In addition to Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland), season two sees the return of stars Vincent D’Onofrio (Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Daredevil), Nigel Thatch (Selma, American Dreams), Ilfenesh Hadera (She’s Gotta Have It, Baywatch), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad, The Mandelorian), Lucy Fry (Stan’s Wolf Creek), Rafi Gavron (A Star is Born) and Antoinette Crowe-Legacy. Cast members Erik LaRay Harvey (Luke Cage) and Demi Singleton (King Richard) have been upped to series regulars for season two.

Tuesday April 20 on Stan.

2 hour HBO Documentary Fake Famous screens on Foxtel next week -although it was already was reviewed on Gogglebox last week.

Followers, likes, comments – these are the currencies of fame today. But can the 140 million Instagram users boasting over 100,000 followers all be considered famous? To answer this question, former reporter for the New York Times and Vanity Fair Nick Bilton and a team of social media experts, casting agents, and stylists recruit three starry eyed Los Angeles transplants to participate in a social experiment designed to turn everyday people with modest online followings into “famous” influencers.

Wednesday March 3 at 8.30pm on FOX Showcase.

• Allen v Farrow
• Holey Moley
• Four Corners
• Industry
• Hughesy We Have a Problem

Free to Air: 25-54 demographics (Overnight)

Free to Air: 18-49 demographics (Overnight)

Free to Air: 16-39 demographics (Overnight)

© OzTAM Pty Limited 2021. The Data may not be reproduced, published or communicated (electronically or in hard copy) without the prior written consent of OzTAM. Program performance and ranking information subject to change when not based on final program logs. Ranking information is for individual episodes. Includes Preliminary data.

Seven has today confirmed Larry Emdur is taking the helm at The Chase Australia.

As previously tipped, he takes over the role following the departure of Andrew O’Keefe.

Emdur will film his first episodes next month, in addition to his duties on The Morning Show.

“I’ve had a love affair with quiz shows for most of my working life and the opportunity to host one of the TV world’s greatest formats is incredibly exciting,” he said.

“I’ve always enjoyed watching The Chase Australia and I can’t wait to dust off my shiny game show shoes, apply some ‘game show’ grade teeth whitener and learn how to say words like pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis.”

Seven’s Network Programming Director, Angus Ross, said: “Everyone at Seven is delighted that Larry has agreed to take on this new role.

“He is the ideal host for The Chase Australia. Australians love Larry. Australians love the show. Together, they are the perfect combination.”

Emdur has famously hosted over 1,500 episodes of The Price Is Right, plus Wheel Of Fortune and The Main Event.

Emdur’s first episodes of The Chase Australia, produced ITV Studios Australia, will screen on Seven later this year.

There are all kinds of visual nods to Superman 1978 in Superman & Lois, when Christopher Reeve made the world believe a man could really fly.

But fast forward to Metropolis 2021 and Superman is now a Super-dad, married to Lois and father to two teens, and who answers the bat-call alarm of his Army general father-in-law. Are you keeping up?

Clark Kent’s (Tyler Hoechlin) identity is known to a handful of family, principally journalist Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch) and her dad Samuel Lane (Dylan Walsh). But neither of his teenage sons, for their own protection, know his true story. They include perfect teen Jonathan (Jordan Elsass) and rebellious brother Jordan (Alexander Garfin), who also has social anxiety disorder.

But Superdad -who still isn’t recognisable with his spectacles on despite his telltale 5:00 shadow- is full of emotion, for his growing sons and ailing mother, who draws him back to Smallville.

There he reunites with former high schooler Lana Lang (Emmanuelle Chriqui), now married to cynical Kyle (Erik Valdez). As it happens they have a wild child teen daughter Sarah (Inde Navarrette) … the apple of which brother’s eye?

As the plot unfolds questions are raised over father having passed on super-powers to his sons, apparently a late blooming talent in this universe.

There’s more drama than action in this pilot, but it lays a good foundation for caring about the characters and hunky Tyler Hoechlin could readily make you forget some of those who recently suited up: Henry Cavill, Brandon Routh…. Elizabeth Tulloch isn’t given enough to do in the opening chapter, all of which leaves her too earnest. Given her name is in the title let’s hope that balance shifts.

Nonetheless Superman & Lois makes for a broadly entertaining restart by Todd Helbing & Greg Berlanti (The Flash).

And yes there are villains and Krpytonite in store, but I’m not about to spoil the fun.

Superman & Lois airs 8:30pm Thursday on FOX8 and Binge.

Legendary Nine News presenter Peter Hitchener is celebrating his 75th birthday today.

But after a low-key year, he is also planning a similar day today.

“I’m having a quiet day, just with the family,” he tells TV Tonight.

“Then on Monday, I’ll be back in here at Nine and hanging out with the Nine newsroom family in Melbourne, which means a lot to me as well. I’m just looking forward to whatever is next.

“Occasionally there have been milestones along the way but I’ve always rather preferred to just let birthdays slide by if possible, and this one’s no different.”

‘Hitch,’ as he is fondly known, has been busy the last few days with interviews on the Today show, radio spots and cutting the cake with his Nine colleagues.

“I’m so honoured and so thrilled to be to be part of Nine. I know that may sound trite, but it’s the truth. I just feel so great that I still have a role to play. The people are so nice to me and so welcoming to me. We had a lovely afternoon with some speeches and those of us who had February birthdays were made to feel very special indeed. There was a slightly, not entirely out of key, rendition of Happy Birthday.”

Queensland-born Hitch joined Nine in 1973, initially recruited to Sydney to host game show Gambit (“Gambit! A game of skill, fate and fortune!”) and read bulletins when Brian Henderson took holidays.

A year later he arrived in Melbourne.

“I came to this glorious city in 1974, and I thought, ‘Wow, how good is this? How long has this been going on? This is amazing!'” he recalls.

“I worked with Sir Eric Pearce, initially. Then, of course, Brian Naylor came over in 1978 and then I took over from Brian in 1998.

“It’s just been a wonderful time. The great thing about News is, it’s an ever-changing landscape. You’ve always got new and interesting stories to report on, so you just can’t get bored with that.”

2020 was of course the biggest year of news of them all, including bushfires, US election and a global pandemic.

“It’s been a very interesting story for us to cover. Hopefully we’ve brought local news back into into focus, because you’re looking at live stream stuff from all over the world, Netflix and Stan which offer great programs. But when it comes to news, especially the restrictions of lockdown, you need to know what our local requirements are. Melbourne-based, Melbourne and Victorian focused news bulletins,” he affirms.

When he isn’t reading news, or connecting to his social media following, Hitch enjoys chilling out with some Kath & Kim bloopers.

“They came up on my YouTube feed, they are so hilarious. I enjoyed watching them on Nine in recent months … it’s a repeat, but I just found them just as fresh and funny as ever,” he says.

“I love bloopers. Julia-Louis Dreyfus in Seinfeld…. her laughter is infectious.

“Having a laugh is probably the best medicine, and we’ve certainly needed it in recent times.”

Australian actress Samara Weaving will play former Playboy bunny Holly Madison.

Weaving (SMILF, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Home & Away) has signed on to Sony Pictures Television’s limited series based on Madison’s 2015 memoir Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny.

Fellow Australian Marieke Hardy (Laid, Packed to the Rafters, Nowhere Boys) will write the script which “looks beyond the polished facade of the Playboy brand to depict the visceral, often deeply damaging stories of the women who entered following a dream and found themselves manipulated, controlled, and abused by the machine.”

Madison, famously one of Hugh Hefner’s girlfriends, appeared on E!’s reality series The Girls Next Door and had her own show, Holly’s World. Her second book, The Vegas Diaries: Romance, Rolling the Dice, and the Road to Reinvention — which detailed her life in Las Vegas — was published in 2016.

A US network is yet to be attached.

Source: TV Line

On Foreign Correspondent, “Women of the Revolution” shows Belarusian women have stepped on to the frontlines in a bid to topple their President.

“If you’re scared, go home,” says 27-year-old Maria as she heads out on another freezing day to front the police and protest against Belarus’ long-time leader Alexander Lukashenko.

In the lead up to last year’s election, Lukashenko locked up the men who stood against him. The women stood in their place and won huge support in the national vote. But the dictator refused to yield, declaring he’d won by a landslide.

Protests erupted and there were mass arrests of men. Again, the women stepped up and have been protesting ever since.

The revolution’s icon is 74-year-old great-grandmother, Nina Baginskaya. Short but fierce, Nina’s confrontations with policemen almost twice her size have made her a social media star.

“She’s a really inspiring person,” says Maria about Nina. “She’s not scared of anything. She doesn’t give a flying f*** about all of the police and everything.”

Working with local crews, former Russia correspondent Eric Campbell gives us a rare insight into a country where most of the foreign media has been banned.

We meet the ‘president in exile’ Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, now living in Lithuania. She became the main opposition candidate after her activist husband was jailed.

“The government got rid of strong candidates. But they didn’t know every strong man has a strong woman who supports him.”

We visit Nina’s country house, where she sews the banned Belarusian flag, in preparation for another confrontation with the police.

“Evil cannot win, fascism cannot win,” she says.

Maria is arrested and charged and while she has no intention of stopping, she admits the police brutality is taking its toll.

“I don’t remember a day when I didn’t saw [sic] a dream with police,” she says. “I’m dreaming how they enter my apartment, how they detain me. So it’s some kind of huge national trauma.”

Lukashenko’s strategy is to belittle the women.

“Our constitution is not made for a woman,” he says. “Our society hasn’t matured to vote for a woman.”

But it’s not working, and the women just won’t stay at home.

“It’s scary to think of the future but it’s even more scary to think what will happen to us if we will stop”, says Maria.

Tuesday 23 February at 8pm on ABC.

I am strong…
I am invincible…

Debra Byrne, Angie Hart and Chenile Chandler perform iconic anthem 'I am Woman' ahead of tonight's #AusOpen women's final. pic.twitter.com/vmO0y6h1iY

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 20, 2021

An Aussie icon is remembered at an Aussie classic.

New E! series For Real: The Story of Reality TV is coming in April.

Hosted and executive produced by Andy Cohen, the seven-part limited event series explores different themes including celebreality, dating, competition and extreme makeover series, among others, and shares shocking revelations from those industry executives, producers and journalists who helped catapult reality programming into the pop culture zeitgeist.

The series highlights the Kardashian/Jenner Family, the Osbournes and the original cast of The Real World.  

Featuring untold stories and “never-before-seen” footage, Cohen reminisces with some of the biggest stars to examine the evolution and decades-long cultural impact of unscripted television. Cohen navigates reality’s storied past as he dishes with the Kardashian/Jenner family ahead of their final season of the global phenomenon Keeping Up with the Kardashians; celebrates all that Black women have brought to the genre with an insightful conversation with Kandi Burruss, Vivica A. Fox and producers Holly Carter and Mona Scott-Young; reveals secrets from The Bachelor with Jason and Molly Mesnick; and brings together cast members of the first season of The Real World for a long-awaited and tearful reunion after 20 years.

Additional talent interviews for the series include: Bret Michaels, Caroline Manzo, Clay Aiken, Danny Cahill, Dr. Drew, Eric Nies, Heather B. Gardner, Janice Dickinson, Jazz Jennings, Julie Chen, Julie Gentry, Kelly Alemi, Kendra Wilkinson, Kyle Richards, Lisa Vanderpump, Luann de Lesseps, Melissa Rivers, Mama June, Mike “The Miz” Mizanin, Nev Schulman, Norman Korpi, Omarosa Newman, Dr. Paul Nassif, Rachel Zoe, Ramona Singer, Richard Hatch, Ruben Studdard, Russ and Paola Mayfield, Sharon, Jack and Kelly Osbourne, Tami Roman, Teresa Giudice, Dr. Terry Dubrow and Thom Filicia.

For Real: The Story of Reality TV is produced by Bunim/Murray Productions & Most Talkative with Gil Goldschein, Julie Pizzi, David Sambuchi, Lauren Lazin and Andy Cohen serving as Executive Producers.

8:30pm Thursday April 1 on E!

Feature film Zack Snyder’s Justice League will be screen on Binge next month as part of a global premiere simulcast, included in monthly subscription.

This is a Director’s recut of the 2017 feature.

The topline cast includes Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa and more.

Binge Executive Director, Alison Hurbert-Burns, said: “Australia, mark your calendars and get ready because Binge is bringing you this special film event. DC’s incredibly passionate fanbase broke the internet and have been lobbying to watch Snyder’s cut for many years and the wait is nearly over.

“Binge is committed to bringing the world’s best entertainment to Australians. And now, not only will Aussie fans get to stream Zack Snyder’s Justice League, they’ll do so at the same time as the global premiere, which is a fantastic outcome.”

In Zack Snyder’s Justice League, determined to ensure Superman’s (Henry Cavill) ultimate sacrifice was not in vain, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) aligns forces with Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) with plans to recruit a team of metahumans to protect the world from an approaching threat of catastrophic proportions. The task proves more difficult than Bruce imagined, as each of the recruits must face the demons of their own pasts to transcend that which has held them back, allowing them to come together, finally forming an unprecedented league of heroes. Now united, Batman (Affleck), Wonder Woman (Gadot), Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Cyborg (Ray Fisher) and The Flash (Ezra Miller) may be too late to save the planet from Steppenwolf, DeSaad and Darkseid and their dreadful intentions.

A star studded ensemble feature in Zack Snyder’s Justice League including Ben Affleck (Bruce Wayne / Batman), Henry Cavill (Clark Kent / Superman), Amy Adams (Lois Lane), Gal Gadot (Diana Prince / Wonder Woman), Jason Momoa (Arthur Curry / Aquaman), Ezra Miller (Barry Allen / The Flash), Ray Fisher (Victor Stone / Cyborg), J.K. Simmons (Commissioner Gordon) and Amber Heard (Mera).

6pm AEDT Thursday March 18 on Binge / Foxtel’s DC Movies Pop Up Channel (Ch. 402).

A revival of Criminal Minds is in development for Paramount+, just a year after it concluded on CBS.

It isn’t clear which cast members would return but longtime showrunner Erica Messer would reportedly return.

Created by Jeff Davis, Criminal Minds ran for 15 seasons ending in February 2020. The cast included Mandy Patinkin, Shemar Moore, Joe Mantegna, Aisha Tyler, Matthew Gray Gubler, Thomas Gibson, Lola Glaudini, Paget Brewster, and spawned two spinoffs — Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.

CBS is also plotting procedural spinoffs NCIS: Hawaii and FBI: International.

Paramount+, a rebranding of 10 All Access, is due to launch in Australia mid year.

Source: Variety

• Harrow
• The Amazing Race Australia
• Lady and the Dale
• Holey Moley
• Grand Designs NZ

Free to Air: 25-54 demographics (Overnight)

Free to Air: 18-49 demographics (Overnight)

Free to Air: 16-39 demographics (Overnight)

© OzTAM Pty Limited 2021. The Data may not be reproduced, published or communicated (electronically or in hard copy) without the prior written consent of OzTAM. Program performance and ranking information subject to change when not based on final program logs. Ranking information is for individual episodes. Includes Preliminary data.

Married at First Sight returns with 9 new couples looking for their perfect match when they meet at their TV wedding.

Puerto Rican clinical sexologist Alessandra Rampolla joins relationship experts Mel Schilling and John Aiken as they match couples in a ‘social experiment.’

Once again the weddings are not legally binding but couples will replicate key stages of early marriage.

Nine Programming Director Hamish Turner recently said, Nine looked to find couples who would “go the distance” this year, whilst conceding that viewers love the dinner party fireworks.

“Couples who have the discourse and dialogue to really share their emotions in a mature fashion is probably the best way to describe it,” he explained.

“So it’s always the balance. It’s the two ends of the table that we always talk about. This year we’ve ensured that the sharing at the table has a strong voice. It’s a very strong season, I think the country will again embrace it.”

In 2021, the dating landscape has changed more than anyone could ever have expected. The new and unfamiliar “normal” for dating adds yet another challenge for the newlyweds to approach together, in the hope that it can bring them even closer.

Once again, the couples will all live under the same roof and have the chance to compare the highs and lows of their relationships at the highly anticipated and explosive dinner parties. And more than ever, the experts will hold the couples accountable for their actions at the weekly commitment ceremonies – where secrets are revealed and bombshells dropped.

Each newly married couple is ready to experience the highs and lows of their relationship in this pressure-cooker environment, baring all for all of Australia to see.

Alana
30, QLD Teacher
Alana is an energetic, fast-talking teacher with a heart of gold. She is passionate about girl-power and empowering women, both in the classroom and in her own life. She’s sensitive and emotional and takes things to heart, something she fears may have negatively affected her past relationships. Alana always likes to communicate how she is feeling – which can sometimes be seen as a little intense or full-on. Her future partner will be loyal, honest, and also enjoy deep conversations. Dedicated to her students, Alana works tirelessly as a teacher, which takes up a lot of her time, and finds it hard to date due to the long hours at work. She’s been single for three years.

Jake

20 years since it first aired on Australian television, the rumour mill suggests The Weakest Link is heading back to Australian television.

A ‘Quizical’ casting notice for trivia experts is believed to be for a new version of The Weakest Link for Nine: “A quiz show where everyone is invited to play. We are looking for individuals who aren’t afraid to have some fun, have a friendly but competitive nature and who can answer quiz questions or have a good time trying. The only thing we ask you to bring is a positive attitude and be ready to have some laughs.”

It comes as personality-led quiz show Hard Quiz draws big numbers for ABC and the USA reboots The Weakest Link with former Glee star Jane Lynch.

TV Tonight recently reflected on who could host a new version in Australia… Gretel Killeen, anyone? But a host for a new version is still a guessing game.

Cornelia Frances hosted the series for Seven in 2001 – 2002.

Nine as been contacted for comment.

Jacqui Markham has won the Mastermind grand final -the first female winner.

One of three women in the final, her specialist subject was ‘The Princess Bride” and refers to herself as “the queen of the educated guess” and says “I know a little bit about a lot of stuff without being an expert on one thing in particular”.

Her previous subjects were Australia in the 2019 Netball World Cup and The West Wing series 1-3, demonstrating an eclectic knowledge.

On Monday a new series begins with new host Marc Fennell replacing Jennifer Byrne.

Producer / Distributor John Caldon, founder of Flame Media, has died aged 73.

Flame said that Caldon died of cancer on Tuesday.

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the loss of inspirational John Caldon, chairman and CEO of Flame Media,” the company said in a statement.

Born in the U.K, Caldon emigrated to Australia in 1973. He established Flame in 2010 with partner, presenter Lyndey Milan.

The best-known part of the Flame group is Flame Distribution, a TV production and distribution company specialising in high-end factual and documentary content. The group also includes Flame Productions in Australia, Wildflame Productions in the U.K., Flame Media GmbH in Germany, and Flame Corporate which advised the media industry on funding, government assistance, mergers and acquisitions.

“John was a gift to factual content creators everywhere — a master of the business world who inspired and supported new ideas with generosity, kindness, insight and respect. He was a joyful gentleman, tireless and even tempered, capable and visionary. And with Flame, he was just getting started. John’s passing comes far too soon for all of us who knew him,” said Colette Beaudry, MD of SeaLight Pictures.

“John was a truly unique person. A ‘Renaissance Man’ with a deep and broad intellect that he deftly combined with a generous and warm soul. His passing is a loss to all that knew him,” said Brad Danks, CEO of OUTtv Network and OMG Media Group.

Source: Variety

New seasons of Bondi Rescue and Territory Cops premiere on 10 on Thursday.

Bondi Rescue returns with the aftermath of the pandemic on Bondi Beach, after its closure for the very first time since World War II. Then, with 10 new recruits ready to put their training into action, a shocking scene unfolds as a paraglider crash lands into the water, leaving the lifeguards rushing to their rescue.

Then at 8.00pm, we take a ride with the Territory Cops. From tip-offs about a suspected methamphetamine dealer to patrolling a local footy final strike, and a coward’s punch in the infamous Mitchell Street, our cops from the country’s Top End sure do have their work cut out for them.

Expect heart-warming and heart-breaking moments as we witness first hand, the country’s finest first responders doing what they do best.

Bondi Rescue 7.30pm Thursday, 25 February
Territory Cops 8.00pm on 10.

• Australian Open
• Call the Midwife
• Death in Paradise
• Going Places with Ernie Dingo
• NCIS: New Orleans

Monday’s Australian Story report “The Tipping Point” profiles scientist Veena Sahajwalla, unveiling her latest recycling invention.

Scientist Veena Sahajwalla is a recycling superstar with some bold new ideas about how to save waste from landfill.

As Australia’s collective garbage guilt builds alongside the tonnes of plastic piling up in recycling depots, Professor Sahajwalla’s inventions may offer some exciting new solutions to deal with the problem.

“We’re sitting at that tipping point,” she says. “We can no longer send it somewhere overseas…we have to solve it, we have to do something about it.”

A self-confessed ‘obsessive’ when it comes to waste, she regularly raids her home rubbish bins for inspiration.

“I think Mum had a few funny quirks that made her a little bit different to other Mums, she was definitely the rubbish cop,” says daughter Rama.

Inspired walking the streets of her Mumbai neighbourhood as a child, Veena observed almost everything was reused and ‘nothing was wasted.’

This attitude underpinned her career as an engineer and sowed the seeds for a variety of ground-breaking ideas, including making steel from car tyres.

Now Veena Sahajwalla is unveiling her latest invention, a ‘microfactory’ that creates building materials and tiles from the unlikely combination of old clothes and glass.

And it’s catching the eye of major players.

“I remember just being blown away by the variety of things that she’d been able to create out of what would have been considered waste materials,’’ says Mirvac CEO Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz, referring to a new apartment that showcases her tiles.

But the pressure is on to transform her latest invention into a workable idea for business and get consumers interested.

It’s a big bold concept and could be revolutionary. But will it work outside the lab?

Producer: Jennifer Feller

Monday 22 February at 8pm on ABC.

Back in 1991 Neighbours’ iconic pooch Bouncer was bizarrely given a dream sequence, fantasising that he was ‘marrying’ Rosie, Clarrie McLachlan’s (Frederick Parslow) Border Collie, who lived next door.

The Times UK named it one of Neighbours most memorable moments, as did readers of Britain’s NOW Daniel Bettridge of The Guardian even said the “Neighbours‘ faithful golden retriever” was one of the best actors to “tread the Ramsay Street tarmac.” He described Bouncer’s dream as the “infamous episode dedicated to a doggy daydream where he married the saucepot sheepdog from next door. Woof.”

At the time, Bouncer’s fan cards became the most popular out of any cast member. Woof indeed.

Heads up trivia fans… BBC Studios Australia is looking for contestants for a new quiz show.

Described as “pub trivia on prime-time television” it is offering cash prizes -meaning a public broadcaster is unlikely.

The casting notice advises, “A quiz show where everyone is invited to play. We are looking for individuals who aren’t afraid to have some fun, have a friendly but competitive nature and who can answer quiz questions or have a good time trying. The only thing we ask you to bring is a positive attitude and be ready to have some laughs.”

Filming will take place from April – May in Melbourne.

Applications close Friday April 9th 2021.

Updated.

Season 3 of New Zealand comedy Wellington Paranormal is fast-tracked to SBS VICELAND next week.

In the 6 Part series Officers Minogue, O’Leary and Sergeant Maaka are back investigating all manner of supernatural events on the streets of Aotearoa’s capital city.

Episode One: The Invisible Fiend
After getting called out to a mysterious home invasion with no visible signs of entry, Minogue and O’Leary manage to arrest an invisible entity and bring it in for questioning. But thermal vision goggles reveal the entity to be huge and monstrous and it soon escapes custody after a violent struggle in the police station foyer.

Wednesday, 24 February at 8.30pm on SBS VICELAND.

Optus Sport has secured the rights to the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022, regarded as the most prestigious national women’s team competition in the world after the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 will feature five of the six top ranked teams in the world, indicating the level that the Matildas will need to be at in order to compete at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, which Australia is jointly hosting. Australia is currently ranked 7th in the FIFA rankings.

Optus Sport’s Head of TV & Content, Corin Dimopoulos, said, “No matter what the code, every year we are continuing to observe exponential growth in women’s sport across the globe, and we saw this as a terrific opportunity to continue our investment in this market.

“We had tremendous success streaming the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019, have seen great interest in the Barclays Women’s Super League and are continuing to look into acquiring future women’s football leagues and tournaments.”

“We are delighted to welcome Optus Sport as our official broadcaster of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 in Australia. This deal now means they will transmit both the UEFA Men’s and Women’s European Championships in the next two years, providing unprecedented coverage of both tournaments in Australia” added Guy-Laurent Epstein UEFA Events Marketing Director.

The UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 will be held from the 6th to 31st July 2022.

Hamish Blake may currently be tied to Nine for Season 3 of Lego Masters, but he is also looking forward to Andy Lee’s next project on Channel 10.

“He’s doing The Cube. I think that’ll be good, that’ll be great. I know we’re here to talk about Channel Nine, but I reckon it’ll be really good,” he told TV Tonight.

He recalls filming Gap Year Asia in 2013 in China’s Guangzhou region when Andy Lee first spied a version of the show.

“I hope I’m not stealing Andy’s inception story for what made him say yes to The Cube.

“All I remember is we were getting foot massages after shooting all day and eating lots of watermelon and this TV show was on. I think it was the Chinese version of The Cube. We were like, ‘I don’t know what this is, but this looks like a fun show!'”

Nice endorsement if you can get it.

MTV will screen UK reality series Celebrity Bumps: Famous & Pregnant featuring six couples who are all set to become parents.

“With the phenomenal success of Teen Mom and 16 and Pregnant, MTV has brought its audiences incredible stories of birth and motherhood. This series follows an inspirational cast of celebs at their most intimate – as we follow them from bump, to birth and beyond!” says Craig Orr, Vice President, Original Content & Development, ViacomCBS Networks International Youth & Entertainment Brands.

Celebrity Bumps: Famous & Pregnant documents six celebrity couples’ journey to parenthood. MTV fans will witness the highs and lows that come before the big milestone, from scans to baby showers to the magical moment of bringing the newborn home. Viewers will enter the reality of what pregnancy is like through filmed observational content, interviews, and self-filmed video diaries of the couples lives.

The cast includes:

Daughter of comedy legend, Les Dawson, and former MTV Ex on the Beach star Charlotte Dawson and her fiancé Matt Sarsfield
Former Olympian Perri-Shakes-Drayston and Big Brother Nigeria’s Mike Edwards
Radio presenter and Big Brother UK winner Kate Lawler with her fiancé Boj
Former Love Island star and former Blazin’ Squad rapper, Marcel Somerville, and his influencer girlfriend Rebecca Vieira
Former cast members of The Only Way is Essex, Shelby Tribble and Sam Mucklow
The X Factor and I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! star, Jake Quickenden, and his girlfriend Sophie Church

The 9 x 44-minute episodes were commissioned for MTV International by Craig Orr and Kerry Taylor. The series is executive produced by Orr and Jaime Brannan for MTV, and Jake Attwell, Managing Director of Appeal TV.

Sunday, 7 March at 5.50pm on MTV.

US reports claim CBS is plotting another spin-off procedural, FBI: International.

The potential series would deal with the agents that make up the international branch of the FBI -which sounds somewhat tricky to pull off given travel restrictions.

Variety reports Derek Haas, previously the co-showrunner on FBI, is writer and executive producer on the series, with Dick Wolf and Peter Jankowski also executive producing via Wolf Entertainment.

Haas also co-created Chicago Fire on which he serves as showrunner and executive producer, and co-developed Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med.

There are 63 legal attaché offices and more than two dozen smaller FBI sub-offices in various countries around the world.

FBI airs in Australia on 10.

Cast have been announced for Power spin-off Power Book IV: Force.

The series centres on fan favourite Tommy Egan, played by Joseph Sikora after he cuts ties and puts New York in his rearview mirror for good.

Joining Sikora are Isaac Keys (Get Shorty, The Oath), Lili Simmons (Banshee, Ray Donovan), Gabrielle Ryan (The Haves and the Have Nots, Bonding), Hightown alum Shane Harper (A Teacher), Kris D. Lofton (Ballers, Empire), Anthony Fleming III (Prison Break, The Beast), Lucien Cambric (Chicago P.D., The Chi) and Tommy Flanagan (Sons of Anarchy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2).

Courtney A. Kemp and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson will executive produce alongside Mark Canton, and series creator and showrunner Robert Munic (Vital Signs, The Cleaner).

Power Book IV: Force will screen in Australia on Stan.

Monday’s Four Corners report is “Crisis in Kakadu” by Adam Harvey, investigating accusations of mismanagement as traditional owners speak out.

“It’s gone downhill. No one basically trusts anybody, no one respects each other anymore. That’s how bad it is here.” Traditional owner

Kakadu is one of the great natural wonders of the world. The stunning landscape, teeming with wildlife, is a major tourist destination with scores of Instagram friendly sites. For tourism operators it is an iconic symbol of what Australia has to offer.

“It’s one of the most special places in Australia. It’s for so long been one of the reasons why people visit Australia and for Australians, one of their must do life experiences.” Tourism industry representative

Despite its beauty, there is trouble inside Australia’s biggest national park. This World Heritage listed site is in crisis.

“It’s an absolute mess because the institutions responsible for fixing it up aren’t doing their job.” Traditional owner

On Monday Four Corners investigates accusations of mismanagement and neglect which have fuelled a bitter dispute between the park’s traditional owners and the authority that runs the park.

“Things are a bit tense here…It seems like it’s being run from far and beyond, meaning Canberra. We need people on the ground, at the grassroots level, dealing, talking with our people.” Senior cultural tour guide

Key locations are in a state of disrepair, others are inaccessible and local community members are furious. Tourism operators hoping to cash in on a domestic tourism boom after a horror 2020 say action needs to be taken now.

“We believe it can be fixed. We believe we have no choice but to fix it. Kakadu deserves more.” Tourism industry representative

The stakes couldn’t be higher for the local Indigenous community. Royalty payments that have flowed from the controversial Ranger uranium mine are ending. After 40 years of production, the mine has shut down and there are massive plans to transform the former mining town of Jabiru into a tourism hub. Hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer money have been committed to redevelop the town, but some are asking if this will be money well spent.

“I would not be putting all my eggs in the tourism basket, I can tell you that. A lot more effort needs to be put into the health of our people, the education of our people, employment of our people…Tourism is not the be all and end all.” Senior community member

Traditional owners are speaking out about their frustrations and they want all of Australia to hear them.

“I really truly believe that this has got to be the turning point… if we don’t sit at the table very soon, things will be taken into our own hands.” Senior cultural tour guide

Monday 22nd February at 8.30pm on ABC.

ABC was strong with early evening viewers last night -until viewers drifted away from Q+A.

7:30 led its slot at 576,000 metro viewers then Back Roads (530,000), Ambulance Australia (303,000) and The World’s Greatest Palaces (144,000).

A soft lead-in saw Gogglebox return with 502,000 ahead of Wife Swap Australia (306,000) and Q+A (280,000).

The Australian Open averaged 562,000 / 391,000 viewers which was down on last Thursday.

Nine network won Thursday with 27.3% then Seven 26.6%, 10 19.3%, ABC 17.8% and SBS 9.0%.

Nine News (773,000 / 764,000) as best for Nine.

Seven News was #1 at 942,000 / 899,000 for Seven. An extended Home & Away averaged 459,000 and The Chase was 496,000 / 303,000. Busted in Bangkok was 151,000.

The Project drew 442,000 / 280,000 on 10. 10 News First was 358,000 / 211,000. A Hughesy replay drew 158,000.

ABC News won its slot with 698,000. Sammy J (286,000), The Drum (171,000) and The Rise of the Murdoch Dynasty (146,000) followed.

On SBS it was SBS World News (180,000 / 142,000), Cornwall with Simon Reeve (125,000), The Truth about Cosmetic Treatments (123,000). Mastermind was 85,000.

Bluey again led multis at 206,000.

The Morning Show: 135,000 / 80,000
Studio 10: 53,000 / 47,000 / 32,000

OzTAM Overnights: Thursday 18 February 2021