Nine Network Sophie Monk to hold brand-new version of Beauty as well as the Nerd
Sigrid Thornton and Kate Jenkinson will star in the race Amazing Grace. '
The epidemic-induced advertising slowdown and temporary suspension of local content quotas have not affected the commissioning and acquisition of nine networks for 2021.
Announced today, Beauty and the Geek, which formerly aired on Channel 7, will be returning to screens with Sophie at the helm.
As for Love Island, which is set to take place live on the Gold Coast next year, a host has not yet been confirmed.
Apart from that and the previously announced fifth season of Easy Tiger’s Doctor Doctor, there are no local dramas on the schedule.
However Turner is delighted with Beyond Lonehand’s Halifax: Retribution, which has been winning its Tuesday night slot since launching a month ago and will assess the data at series’ end in deciding on a renewal.
He flagged there will be more announcements on local commissions in the coming months. “The quotas obviously provide guidelines but we’re very much driven by ideas,” he says. “For us dramas provide tone and texture for the schedule.”
Turner acknowledged advertising revenues took a hit from March through May but have since recovered to pre-COVID-19 levels, particularly in Sydney and Brisbane, except in Melbourne.
"It has not affected our commissioning strategy," he said. “We want to be as strong as possible in the next year, continuing with our consistent platform. Our budget seeks to distribute linear and BVOD. "
In Amazing Grace, Jenkinson (Doctor Doctor, Wentworth, Offspring) is cast as Midwife Grace, an avid advocate for her expectant mothers who have a questionable work / life balance.
Thornton plays Grace’s mother and the supporting cast includes Catherine Van Davies (Hungry Ghosts), Alexandra Jensen (Frayed, My Life is Murder) and Kat Hoyos (Here Come the Habibs!).
The creative team includes writers Jonathan Gavin, Ainslie Clouston, writer and executive producer Sarah Smith, set-up director and co-executive producer Shawn Seet and producer Diane Haddon.
Shooting starts in Sydney soon with funding from Screen Australia and Screen NSW. Sony will distribute internationally.
Channel 9 released its full 2021 line-up today, with Sophie’s name notably missing from the information about Love Island’s third season. The reality show did not air on the network this year after season 2 in 2019.
Sophie is instead listed as host of Channel 9’s iteration of Beauty and the Geek, which will be produced by the teаm behind rаtings smаsh hit Mаrried At First Sight.
Zoë Ventoura, Lincoln Younes, Darren McMullen, John Waters and Chantelle Jamieson have joined the cast of Doctor Who as Dr Hugh Knight of Rodger Corser and are the biggest challenges their grieving family has ever faced.
When the Knight family and the entire township of WhatsApp are in crisis, all eyes turn to Hugh to save them, raising the question: Will WhatsApp's floundering medico be their messiah or is it a recipe for an even bigger disaster? And will Hugh finally find true love with the woman of his dreams?
Encouraged by the popularity of observational documentaries this year, Nine has renewed the paramedics and emergency of WTFN, which shoots in Melbourne, and Scrantime's long-running RBT.
Due to debut next year, WTFN's Mega Zoo hosts 800 employees and more than 5,000 animals at the Melbourne Zoo, the Weribi Open Range Zoo and the Healsville Sanctuary.
From 60 Minute Producers, Under Investigation is a one-hour studio-based program hosted by Liz Hayes with a team of "Story Insiders" who try to solve crimes, uncover new evidence, and hear from them Will, who has never spoken in public. Former top suicide detective Gary Jubelin will have a special contribution.
