Australian TV shows to watch for (and watch) in 2024
As we farewell another great year of television, it’s time to look forward to the next slew of programming debuting in the new year. Here are some of the local shows that Mumbrella is looking forward to in the new year.
Gladiators
If you’re a child of the 1990s, you’ll be all-too familiar with the gleeful cartoon violence of Gladiators. It’s like watching a sport designed by a 12-year-old video game addict – and that’s certainly intended as a compliment. With the new season starting January 15, it’s time to set up that lounge room obstacle course again, I guess.
For more on the Gladiators reboot, read our interview with Ten’s chief sales officer.
Wheel Of Fortune
Who doesn’t love the wheel? It’s a timeless format, easy to understand, and impossible to rig. And with Graham Norton coming on as host, it will add a great comedic element to the turning of tiles. It’s going to air on Ten in prime time too – giving this format a whole new spin.
Read more about Ten’s 2024 slate here.
Made In Bondi
This reality show is a local spin-off of Made In Chelsea, and similarly will “follow the lives and loves of Sydney’s young, social elite”, with promises of “parties, fashion, and romances”. It sounds like a familiar formula – and if it ain’t broke, as they say. Not surprisingly, Bondi residents are furious about the light in which their boho paradise will be rendered as a place with rich, young brats – instead of sunburnt backpackers and Macca’s wrappers. And speaking of Bondi…
Dream Home
After skillfully stealing former Bondi Vet Dr Chris Brown from Ten, Seven have put him to watch across three shows – including on the heart-tugging Dream Home, in which six couples will team up and help each other renovate their homes – with the winning couple receiving a price – and everyone getting a free reno! “These will be the greatest home transformations Australia has ever seen,” Brown said at Seven’s Upfront, and you can trust him – he’s a doctor!
For more on Seven’s 2024 programming.
Bump
Claudia Karvan and co return for a fourth season of the warm-hearted comedy-drama, in which a teen pregnancy propels two families into the same orbit. Dylan Alcott will appear in this season in his first-ever acting role — which I’m sure he’ll nail — with the entire season dropping onto Stan on Boxing Day. I mean, it’s 2024 in spirit, right? I bet you’ve already put up the new calendar.
Australia’s Most Identical
One hundred sets of twins will undergo a series of tests and challenges in a bid to find out which two are the “most” identical. How can this not be fascinating? Scotty Cam is hosting, despite no grouting being involved, and there’s even “twin experts” (who knew?) Professor Sarah Wilson and Professor Jeff Craig, who will run the results and crown the winner. It will air on Nine in the new year.
Shaun Micallef’s Unnamed Project
As I wrote before, this could be a placeholder title, but is equally as likely to be the actual name of the show, given Micallef’s history at the ABC – his series that aired in the 1990s was called The Micallef Program in its first series, The Micallef Programme in its second, and The Micallef Pogram in its third. “I can’t tell you too much about what we’ll be doing” Micallef said of his new show. “Suffice to say, it will not feature cooking, home renovations, marriage, singing, sport, RBT units, dogs, wilderness survival, quiz questions, news clips, stock footage, wearing masks, border security, amazing races, Lego, sitting on a panel or being marooned on an island in your underwear.”
Find out more about ABC’s upcoming comedy programming.
Alone Australia
The first series of this show, which makes Survivor look like Holiday Island, was the most-watched original show SBS has ever produced, so it’s not surprising that they are coming back for a second season. For the uninitiated, Alone Australia dumps ten Aussies into the Tasmanian wilderness, “where they’ll be challenged by the merciless forces of nature, hunger and perhaps the toughest challenge of all: loneliness.”
How To Make Gravy
Given the sheer economy in Paul Kelly’s Christmas classic, in which he weaves an entire emotional universe, it’s apt the song is being expanded and adapted for the screen. In the capable hands of Megan Washington, who steered the adaption alongside Nick Waterman, this marks the first ever original Australian film to be produced by Binge. You’ll have to wait until next Xmas to see it, though. It’ll fly though – it always does.
Find out more about Foxtel and Binge’s programming
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Nathan Jolly is the Deputy Editor of Mumbrella. He joined the team in July, 2023.
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Looking forward to a second season of Alone AU
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zzzzzzzzzzzz… FTA has flatlined
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