Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries fans rejoice. The ABC will screen 8 new episodes in 2015 Source: Supplied
MISS Fisher’s Murder Mysteries fans rejoice. You are set to get eight new episodes of your favourite crime drama in 2015 — and there could even be a wedding.
Better still, ABC TV director Richard Finlayson says there is no reason why Miss Fisher won’t continue for years to come.
The ABC has unveiled its program line-up for next year with other highlights including the return of Gruen and a news satire show hosted by The Project’s Charlie Pickering.
The third series of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, set in the 1920s and starring Essie Davis as sleuth Phryne Fisher, almost never got commissioned.
MISS FISHER’S return in doubt
CHARLIE PICKERING leaves The Project
Late last year the ABC said it ‘still hadn’t made a decision’ on the show’s future — despite it averaging around 1.5 million viewers per episode, according to OzTAM.
Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, which last aired in late 2013, was said to be the victim of ABC budget cuts and a move by Director of TV Richard Finlayson to attract younger viewers.
Angry fans petitioned ABC management with series three finally commissioned last April.
Essie Davis is all smiles with series three of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries set to screen on the ABC in 2015 Source: Supplied
Next year’s series is set to feature the appearance of Phryne’s reprobate father.
Phryne’s attraction to Detective Inspector John “Jack” Robinson is also set to go to the next level.
Earlier this year co-executive producer Fiona Eagger tantalised fans by hinting that there might be wedding bells.
“We’ve got magic in the next one (series),” Eagger told IF magazine in June.
“There’s no end to the inspiration. You never know — there might be a wedding!”
Murder cases will be set at a magic show, an RAAF base, in the world of women’s tennis and the backstreets of Melbourne’s inner city Collingwood.
Finlayson says Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries is now an integral part of future ABC programming.
“Miss Fisher is now an international phenomenon,” Finlayson says. “We have just sold the rights to the Miss Fisher scripts to China and it is being remade in Chinese. She is a character that really resonates. People love the stories. It is escapist. It looks fantastic and we are very pleased to have it back on air.
“Essie Davis’ star has risen considerablyduring this time and we’re lucky to have her. We hope we can hang on to her because it is a show that there is no reason why it couldn’t continue for many years to come.”
On the issue of looming budget cuts to the ABC, Finlayson agreed it had been difficult to navigate.
“There is no doubt that there has been some uncertainty around the ABC but we’re just really focused on our core business – what we do day to day – creating Australian stories and bringing them to viewers.
“You need to remember that what you see in this phase (2015) is work that in some cases has been a couple of years (in development).
“We are always going to work within the resources that we have. I’m highly confident that the ABC will continue to remain exciting and relevant for many years to come.”
The ABC also announced that Wil Anderson, Todd Sampson and Russel Howcroft will return for another series of Gruen.
Russel Howcroft, Wil Anderson and Todd Sampson are back for more Gruen in 2015 Source: Supplied
Gruen didn’t air this year despite being one of the ABC’s most popular shows. Anderson wanted to devote his time to stand-up and Howcroft has a management role at Channel 10.
“Gruen is a Wednesday night stalwart for us,” Finlayson says. “Wil is such a star. We’ve been really happy to let him go and explore his US comedy career but we are delighted to have him back.”
Former co-host of Ten’s The Project, Charlie Pickering, switches to the ABC for an as-yet-unnamed news comedy show.
The weekly program, which has been commissioned for 20 episodes, is described as “a news comedy show, a tonight show, a chat show and a panel show all in one”.
Finlayson says Pickering’s show will be “opinionated and outspoken”.
Pickering quit The Project in April after five years. He has appeared on the ABC’s Q & A.
Charlie Pickering to host new ABC news satire show. Picture credit: Supplied. Source: Supplied
“Charlie really wanted to work with the ABC and we really wanted to work with Charlie,” Finlayson says. “We’re really pleased that we are able to give him the opportunity to return to comedy and also draw on his skills and experience and profile he developed at The Project.”
New ABC drama is headed by The Secret River, a two-part adaptation of Kate Grenville’s novel, starring Oliver Jackson-Cohen (Mr Selfridge) and Sarah Snook (Sisters of War).
Former Packed to the Rafters star James Stewart heads the cast of the 8-part thriller Hiding. Stewart, partner to former Rafter’s co-star Jessica Marais, plays a father, Lincoln Swift, who takes his family into witness protection.
The six-part Glitch features Patrick Brammall (Upper Middle Bogan) as small town cop James Hayes.
Offspring producers John Edwards and Imogen Banks are making the six-part The Beautiful Lie, a contemporary re-imagining of Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina.
Other returning favourites are The Dr Blake Mysteries, Utopia, Redesign My Brain and Please Like Me. Indigenous drama Redfern Now will end with a 90-minute telemovie.
Music fans will relish Blood & Thunder, which charts the musical partnership behind The Easybeats, AC/DC, Rose Tattoo and The Angels.
Sean Micallef doubles his ABC output with new comedy series The Ex-PM, in which he plays Australia’s third longest-serving Prime Minister, Andrew Dugdale.
Sean Micallef is playing a leading role in a new drama series on the ABC. Picture: Andrew MacColl Source: News Limited
Comedian Judith Lucy follows 2011’s Judith Lucy’s Spiritual Journey with a six-part exploration of the modern woman in Australia with Judith Lucy is All Woman.
Sarah Ferguson is set to host what looks to be one of the ABC’s most compelling shows — No Excuses! The acclaimed journalist will immerse herself in a women’s refuge to investigate the ramifications of domestic violence.
The ABC has also commissioned a local version of the BBC’s Restoration Home. Restoration Australia, which features the restoration of historic Aussie buildings, will be hosted by Sibella Court.
The ABC will also unleash a raft of Anzac-related specials including The Waves of Anzac Cove, The Walers: Australia’s Great Warhorse, Vietnam Anzacs, and Lest We Forget, What?
“We want to cement the ABC as the home of Australian stories and national conversations,” Finlayson says.
