Big drama ... Foxtel’s 2015 program line-up includes a stack of big ticket international and local drama series, including the hugely popular Game of Thrones. Source: Foxtel
FOXTEL has unveiled its slate of new and returning programs for 2015, hitting hard with an emphasis on international and local blockbuster drama series.
The subscription television service will bring new seasons of the popular Game of Thrones, Girls, Veep and The Leftovers, thanks to its exclusive content agreement with American network HBO.
It’s back ... Foxtel will air the new season of hit show Game of Thrones. Source: AP
The deal also includes broadcast rights to the highly anticipated second season of True Detective, starring Colin Farrell and Vice Vaughan.
A swag of other big ticket overseas dramas will also return, including Orange is the New Black, Ray Donovan, Outlander and the final season of Mad Men.
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But it’s not all about American programming — Foxtel will air a slew of local shows next year, including Tasmanian-shot mystery thriller The Kettering Incident starring small screen favourite Matthew Le Nevez.
Local drama ... the cast of The Kettering Incident: Matt Le Nevez, Elizabeth Debicki, Brad Kannegiesser, Victoria Madden (co-creator) and Kris McQuade on set. Source: News Corp Australia
It will also premiere the big budget wartime mini series Deadline Gallipoli, which is fronted by Hollywood megastar Sam Worthington and focuses on the journalists at the frontline.
Runaway hit prison series Wentworth is back for its third season, and Foxtel will also revive period drama A Place To Call Home, after it saved the Bevan Lee production from Channel Seven’s cutting room floor.
Runaway hit ... prison drama Wentworth is back again. Source: Supplied
On its new channel BBC First, Foxtel will also air locally made co-production Banished, a convict settlement epic starring David Wenham as Governor Arthur Phillip and Ryan Corr.
On the reality front, the hugely popular Australia’s Next Top Model returns, hosted by Jennifer Hawkins, with a stack of special guest judges from Victoria’s Secret star Alessandra Ambrosio to fashion legend Jean Paul Gaultier.
Colonial era ... David Wenham as Governor Arthur Phillip on the set of BBC co-production Banished. Source: News Corp Australia
Selling Houses Australia is also back for its eighth outing, as well as new seasons of Grand Designs Australia and River Cottage Australia, while the second season of The Real Housewives of Melbourne will also premiere in the early part of the year.
Fashion designer Alex Perry hosted this year’s reunion special with the housewives, which he jokingly described as a “chilling” experience.
“I’ve never been into prescription drugs or any kind of drugs, until... I hosted the reunion special,” Perry said.
“What you see on the crime channel is child’s play compared to (these ladies). It’s 16 hours of my life I’ll never get back.”
Another turn ... the cast of hit series Orange is the New Black, which will air on Foxtel again next year. Source: Supplied
A new local version of the popular American franchise Pawn Stars will also hit screens.
Foxtel also announced a major new comedy project combining the talents of Rick McKenna and Laura Walters, who will create a 20 episode series for The Comedy Channel.
New home ... after Seven ditched it, Foxtel has commissioned two seasons of hit period drama A Place To Call Home. Source: Supplied
And a new comedy animation series for adults, Pacific Heat, will also premiere.
In another co-commission, Foxtel and Network Ten are joining forces to produce Gogglebox, which is described as “a show about people watching television”.
The experimental initiative will capture the reactions of people as they watch news stories, engage in debate over politics and digest current affairs.
New drama ... The Real Housewives of Melbourne is back with more sass. Picture: Ian Currie Source: News Corp Australia
Foxtel expects that with the strong line-up, coupled with its recently announced overhaul of package structure and pricing, the service will be more desirable than ever.
“We’re thrilled to continue bringing our viewers new and award winning programming that Foxtel is known for,” Foxtel executive director of television Brian Walsh said.
Last hoorah ... the final season of Mad Men will air on Foxtel. Source: Supplied
The 2015 program was launched in a star-studded affair at Sydney Theatre Company on Thursday night, attended by actor Chris Hemsworth, supermodel Linda Evangelista, fashion designer Alex Perry and a host of other big names.
TEN OF THE BEST — FOXTEL’S YEAR OF DRAMA
Mad Men — final season of drama set in an advertising agency
Game of Thrones — fifth season of mythical epic
Orange is the New Black — third season of the quirky prison drama
A Place To Call Home — third season of the Aussie period drama
The Kettering Incident — first season of the mystery thriller
Deadline Gallipoli — debut of the wartime mini series
True Detective — second season of the American crime drama
Veep — fourth season of the political comedy
Wentworth — third season of the gritty prison drama
Banished — first season of the convict settlement period drama
News Corp owns 50 percent of Foxtel.
