A documentary series on the history of the Australian continent, makeover series Bringing Sexy Back and a crime show starring Rebecca Gibney are among the highlights of the Seven Network’s 2014 line-up.
The previously announced miniseries Never Tear Us Apart: The Untold Story of INXS and new seasons of The X Factor; My Kitchen Rules, House Rules, The Amazing Race Australia and Dancing with the Stars are among the other local shows which the network is counting on to continue its run of seven straight years as the primetime ratings leader.
Essential Media & Entertainment will produce Australia: The Story of Us, which will use CGI and dramatic re-enactments to chronicle the history of the Australian people, places and events from the first footprints to the present day.
Bringing Sexy Back is a makeover series which aims to transform ordinary Australians into something extraordinary. It’s an original Seven format being produced in-house.
Gibney plays the head of a special police task force sent to a small country town to investigate a shocking crime in The Killing Field, a project first revealed by IF. The concept and screenplay came from Sarah Smith and Michaeley O'Brien. Samantha Lang (The Monkey’s Mask, My Place, Packed to the Rafters) is the director. Bill Hughes and Smith are producing for Seven, with Gibney as co-producer. Seven’s head of drama Julie McGauran is executive producer.
Shine Australia’s four-hour INXS saga is billed as the ultimate tale of sex, drugs, rock ’n’ roll and tragedy as it charts the rise of the band formed by six suburban Sydney boys. The cast is headed by Luke Arnold (Winners & Losers) as Michael Hutchence, Damon Herriman (Love My Way), Hugh Sheridan (Packed to the Rafters) and Samantha Jade (The X Factor).
Seven Productions commissioned and made around 660 hours of television this year.
“By the end of the year, we will have posted another record high share in total people, another record high share in 25-54s and also our highest ever share in people aged 16-39,” Seven CEO Tim Worner said at the launch on Tuesday night.
“Our success reaffirms and underlines the power of broadcast television. And we plan to build on this success. We continue to invest in our people, in our businesses and in great ideas.”
Among the new US series on the 2014 schedule are Resurrection, a mystery set in a small town in Missouri where people return from the dead; Intelligence, a thriller that stars Lost’s Josh Holloway as a cyber intelligence operative with a special microchip implanted in his brain; and The Goldbergs, a raucous comedy about growing up in the 1980s in a loud, loving and slightly dysfunctional family.
From Seven’s media release:
RETURNING HIT SHOWS:
MY KITCHEN RULES
There are plenty of surprises in store when Australia’s favourite cooking show MY KITCHEN RULES returns to Seven in 2014. This year, it not only grew its audience for the fourth consecutive year but it took the mantle as the biggest show on Australian television screens this year with 3.27 million viewers nationally. Judges Pete Evans and Manu Feildel are back to guide contestants through the competition as teams battle it out to be kings of the kitchen.
HOUSE RULES
Australia’s number one new reality program HOUSE RULES is back with all new teams vying for one of the biggest prizes on national television: a mortgage-free home. Hosted by Johanna Griggs, the remarkable competition captured the country’s imagination with six houses completely transformed and revealed each week. The successful Seven franchise averaged over 1.8 million viewers and grew a massive 24 per cent on launch.
THE X FACTOR
Now in its fourth year, the blockbuster TV music franchise created by Simon Cowell continues to excite audiences around Australia with the amazing musical talent it unearths. Responsible for discovering acts like Samantha Jade, Reece Mastin, Johnny Ruffo and The Collective, THE X FACTOR has forged ahead in 2013 with massive ratings and will return for a fifth series in 2014.
A PLACE TO CALL HOME
Australians were swept away by the 1950s period drama which premiered to a combined audience of 2.6 million people to become the number one local drama in 2013. Embraced by critics and viewers alike, the epic saga of Sarah Adams and the Bligh family showcases drama on a scale never before seen on Australian television. Starring Marta Dusseldorp and Noni Hazlehurst, series two sees Sarah move in to Ash Park and work to prove that she is a fitting fiancé for George, whilst Elizabeth plays a devious waiting game to see what Regina can unearth about Sarah’s mysterious past.
HOME AND AWAY
Reaching 2.3 million viewers every week, HOME AND AWAY continues its domination of the 7pm timeslot.
WINNERS AND LOSERS
Averaging 1.1 million viewers and winning its timeslot across all shares this year, WINNERS AND LOSERS will return in 2014. Australia’s favourite best friends will face some of their biggest challenges, in what promises to be the most compelling season yet.
DANCING WITH THE STARS Currently wowing audiences with its diverse and entertaining line-up of celebrities, Australia’s favourite dancing show DANCING WITH THE STARS returns in 2014 for a staggering 14th series.
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS celebrates its 20th season in 2014 as Australia’s number one lifestyle program, continuing to offer viewers inspirational ideas for the home, garden and kitchen.
ANH DOES… Following on from the huge success of his first two specials – Anh does Vietnam and Anh does Britain – Australia’s favourite comedian returns with more specials delivering his unique brand of humour in different corners of the globe.
DOWNTON ABBEY
The number one overseas drama of 2013 returns next year. Season four sees the Crawley family reeling in the aftermath of terrible tragedy. But with new life, in the form of babies George and Sybbie, comes new hope, as the much-loved characters take tentative steps into the Roaring Twenties.
REVENGE
The third season of the top-rating drama kicks off in summer in the Hamptons where Emily Thorne’s thirst for revenge is renewed and set against an unexpected timeline. Meanwhile, the return of Victoria Grayson's son brings changes and complications to the all-powerful family. And a glimpse into the future reveals the wedding of the century may lead to Emily's ultimate demise.
MR SELFRIDGE
The second season picks up the story of Harry Gordon Selfridge in 1914 as the store celebrates its fifth anniversary of trading. Harry is proud of the store’s success but there is no time to rest on his laurels. With World War One imminent and set to be the greatest and most devastating in history, it will inevitably affect the lives of everyone in the store.
Seven’s commitment to factual programming continues with the return of BORDER SECURITY, THE FORCE and HIGHWAY PATROL.
MILLION DOLLAR MINUTE
The new kid on the quiz show block has Australians gripped as three contestants face off in an unrivalled test of brainpower and bravery to win one million dollars.
DEAL OR NO DEAL Hosted by Andrew O'Keefe, Deal or No Deal continues to enthral as ordinary Australians are set against a Banker intent on thwarting their chances of walking away with $200,000.