Jessica Mauboy will star in a new Australian family drama series for the Seven Network, which also unveiled local versions of three entertainment formats including a dating show from the creators of Married at First Sight.
These were among the highlights of Seven’s 2016 slate announced today as director of network programming Angus Ross said, “We are launching more new Australian shows next year than ever before.”
Screentime is producing The Secret Daughter, which will star Mauboy as a part-time country pub singer who discovers she may be the daughter of a tycoon who has just died.
That leads to a confrontation with the man’s son and sees her character torn between the worlds of the haves and have-nots.
Screen Australia is investing in the series, which was developed specifically for The Sapphires star and will go into production next year with Greg Haddrick and Bob Campbell as executive producers. Screentime parent Banijay International is the international sales rep.
ITV Studios Australia will produce Sunday Night Takeaway, based on the successful UK show Saturday Night Takeaway hosted by Ant and Dec, which mixes celebrity pranks with quiz questions and will enable viewers to win products that are plugged in the ad breaks.
Seven Productions will make Kiss Bang Love, based on a ProSieben Germany format sold by Red Arrow International, which will follow 10 Aussie singles as they are matched with 15 potential partners, mostly strangers but also acquaintances and former lovers. The singles will skip the often awkward dating process and try to kiss their way to love before deciding who to take on a romantic holiday.
Endemol Shine Australia will produce The Day the Cash Came based on the BBC1’s social experiment programme also repped by Red Arrow International, which will see financial experts select two families who will each find a briefcase stashed with cash on the their doorstep. The experts will monitor and guide the families as they either invest the money wisely or blow the lot.
At the presentation Seven screened clips of the previously announced dramas Wanted and Molly. Wanted stars Rebecca Gibney and Geraldine Hakewill as strangers who intervene in a deadly carjacking and are swept up in a roller coaster chase across Australia in a car full of money. They are wanted by both sides of the law and must quickly adjust to a new life on the run with only each other for protection.
The cast includes Stephen Peacocke as the lead cop, Ryan Corr and Nicholas Bell. Directed by Peter Templeman, it’s a Matchbox Pictures production in conjunction with Gibney’s R&R Productions. NBCUniversal is the international distributor.
A two-part miniseries from Mushroom Pictures directed by Kevin Carlin, Molly stars Samuel Johnson as Molly Meldrum with Tom O’Sullivan, TJ Power, Krew Boylan, Aaron Glenane, Rebecca Breeds and Connor Crawford.
Seven’s 2016 line-up includes new seasons of My Kitchen Rules, House Rules, 800 Words, Dancing with the Stars, The X-Factor, Winners and Losers, Better Homes and Gardens and The Chase Australia.
The broadcaster confirmed it will start live streaming of the flagship Seven Network, 7Mate and 7Two on Melbourne Cup Day, part of its Seven Everywhere strategy designed to reach and engage with viewers at home and wherever they go.
At the launch Seven West Media CEO Tim Worner said SWM had undergone more changes in the past 18 months than he had seen in his previous 18 years with the company.
He acknowledged Seven’s linear audiences have declined this year but vowed, “Wherever you go we will be waiting for you.”