You Can’t Ask That

You Can’t Ask That

Misunderstood, marginalised Australians answering anonymous online questions.

You Can’t Ask That premieres on iview on Wednesday 3rd August and will also screen weekly on ABC TV – Wednesdays at 9.20pm.

What would happen if you gave people the chance to ask society’s outsiders the questions they were too embarrassed, too shy, too awkward and too scared to ask? What would happen if those stereotyped minorities were given the right to answer those questions with dignity and depth?

The answer is an exercise is stereotype busting. You Can’t Ask That, a 10 x 15 minute ABC original series, confronts prejudice and discrimination in a highly entertaining format, offering genuine insight into the lives of Australians who live with labels, whose days are filled with the sidelong glances and silent disapproval of others.

The series plunges joyfully into the lives of short statured Australians, wheelchair users, the transgendered, Muslims, ex-prisoners, fat people, Indigenous, sex workers, the terminally ill and the polyamorous. It asks forthright and at times uncomfortable questions, which result in illuminating, moving and surprising answers.

Series guests include: 76 year-old transgender woman Dr. Rosemary Jones, disability rights advocate and wheelchair user Kelly Vincent, short statured comic Imaan Hadchiti, sex worker and porn star Lucie Bee, former prisoner and infamous escapee John Killick, niqab-wearing Muslims Anisa and Sadia Khan, and Indigenous dancers from Elcho Island in far North-Eastern Arnhem Land, Danzal Baker and Wakara Ganderra. These are just some of the 70 faces who make this one of the most diverse projects to grace Australian television.

You Can’t Ask That is life-affirming, insightful, hilarious and refreshingly inappropriate television. But more importantly, it gives some of the most judged and least understood Australians the chance to be heard.

You Can’t Ask That Production Credits: An ABC production. Series Produced and Directed by Kirk Docker and Aaron Smith. ABC Executive Producer Lou Porter.

1 Like

watched this show for the first time last night, featuring ex-prisoners answering questions about prison life.

Interesting show and I must go back and review past episodes. But sad to see at the end credits last night that one of the guys that had appeared in the episode had since passed away.

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/you-cant-ask-that/credits/credits_ycat.pdf

ABC fast-tracks second series of You Can’t Ask That

Due to the success of its inaugural series, production is underway on a follow-up season of the refreshingly inappropriate, thought-provoking and enlightening series You Can’t Ask That.

Giving an unmediated platform to some of the most misunderstood and marginalised people in our country, You Can’t Ask That offers genuine insight into the lives of people who live with labels. The show, originally commissioned for ABC iview, is simple in format – questions are posed to minority groups including, in season one, Indigenous Australians, sex workers, wheelchair users and the short-statured. They in turn respond direct to camera, with raw and authentic responses drawn from their own experiences.

At times funny, poignant, offensive and heart-breaking, the show has delivered on broadcast and on social media, and has quickly become one of the most watched series of the year for ABC iview. The audience reach has been far and wide.

Tonight’s show on terminal illness was difficult to watch but very powerful. Sadly, some of the participants have passed away since their segment was recorded. Having watched some relatives suffer through slow deaths due to cancer in recent years, I could feel their frustration and anger as they expressed opinions on euthanasia.

###You Can’t Ask That Season 2

A standout program in 2016, You Can’t Ask That asks groups of misunderstood or marginalised Australians the awkward, inappropriate and uncomfortable questions you’ve always wanted to know the answers to, but never had the courage to ask. Breaking down stereotypes and offering genuine insight from those who live with judgement, the series gives an unmediated platform to some of the most stereotyped people in our country.

The second series will feature the first-hand experiences of groups including: centenarians, children of same sex parents, problem gamblers, blind people, ex-military personnel, people with Down Syndrome, new refugees and suicide attempt survivors. You Can’t Ask That is moving, insightful and refreshingly inappropriate, offering some of the most marginalised and least understood people in our community a platform to speak directly to Australia.

ABC Original. Production Credits: An ABC Production – Executive Producer: Lou Porter, Producer/Directors: Kirk Docker and Aaron Smith.

Runs for: Twelve x 20 minute episodes on ABC TV and ABC iview

Latest info from 2017 upfronts

###You Can’t Ask That - Series 2

Thursday 6 April 9.30pm

NB: This is a special sneak peek episode airing on Thursday night before the new series continues in the regular Wednesday timeslot.

It’s time for Australia’s ultimate comedy cavalcade, the golden night of gags, the funniest fiesta…from the 2017 Series two of the thought-provoking and stereotype busting, the ABC original series You Can’t Ask That returns on ABC and ABC iview.

Providing a platform for marginalised and misunderstood Australians to answer anonymous online questions with dignity and depth, You Can’t Ask That hit a cord with viewers, when it aired last year.

You Can’t Ask That confronts prejudice and discrimination in a highly entertaining format, offering genuine insight into the lives of Australians who live with labels, whose days are filled with the sidelong glances and silent disapproval of others: blind people, gambling addicts, people with Down Syndrome, refugees, homeless, S&M enthusiasts, people with facial differences, recent war veterans, ice users, suicide attempt survivors, children of same-sex parents and centenarians.

In tonight’s first episode, blind people answer the questions Australians want to ask, no matter how naïve, cheeky or downright offensive the questions, our guests answer with personal insight and surprising honesty.

When asked, “What do you actually see? Blackness?” Lauren Henley from Melbourne who lost her vision as the result of a car accident says “I’ve never been able to understand this but I see either bright pink or bright green.” While Prof. Ron McCallum from Sydney, who has been blind since birth says, “I don’t know what black is because I haven’t seen light, I don’t really understand dark.”

“How do you know you’re not dressed like an idiot?” Matt Formston from Sydney explains “As a blind person you ask questions a lot about what I’m wearing today is that okay? and that is actually a really bad question because people don’t give you honest feedback about yourself.”

Asked “if you could see one thing in the world what would it be?” Bryony Balaton-Chrimes from Melbourne answers from the heart, “I would want to see the faces of the people that I love most in the world.”

You Can’t Ask That asks forthright and at times uncomfortable questions, which result in illuminating, moving, confronting and surprising answers.

###You Can’t Ask That returns to ABC

Thursday 6 April 9.30pm

Do you think you’re ugly?

How did you get here? Are you a boat person?

When was the last time you had sex?

How could you be so stupid?

The second series of the refreshingly inappropriate, thought-provoking and enlightening series You Can’t Ask That returns to ABC and ABC iview from Thursday 6 April.

Giving an unmediated platform to some of the most misunderstood and marginalised people in our country, You Can’t Ask That offers genuine insight into the lives of Australians with labels. The show’s format is simple – questions are posed to stereotyped groups and they in turn respond direct to camera, with raw and authentic responses drawn from their own experiences.

In its typical stereotype busting style, the new season of You Can’t Ask That premieres with Blind at the special time of 9.30pm on Thursday 6 April immediately following the final episode of Stargazing Live. The series will then move to its regular timeslot of Wednesday 9pm from 12 April. Episodes will be available to binge watch on ABC iview immediately after the premiere episode, including three iview exclusive episodes; S&M, Gambling Addicts and Homeless.

At times funny, poignant, offensive and heart-breaking, the show quickly became one of the most watched series in 2016 for ABC iview, with over 1.6 million program plays. Groups answering the questions in this season include Down Syndrome, Suicide Attempt Survivors, Recent War Veterans, Facial Difference and Children of Same Sex Parents.

The three remaining episodes of season 2 will be shown on ABC2 at 9.50pm Friday nights starting July 7.

ABC congratulates You Can’t Ask That for winning prestigious international Rose d’Or Award for Best Reality and Factual Entertainment Program.

Last night the 56th Rose d’Or Awards were held in Berlin to acknowledge and award the best in TV and online entertainment from around the world.

ABC’s You Can’t Ask That, won for Best Reality and Factual Entertainment Program.

One of the world’s most prestigious awards for entertainment programming, The Rose d’Or Awards are given out by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The Director of Media at the EBU, Jean Philip De Tender, praised the standard of entries in 2017: “For nearly 60 years the Rose d’Or Awards have recognised the very best in global entertainment content. Over 400 programmes from more than 130 broadcasters and production companies in 33 different countries were submitted for this year’s awards. Our winners, and indeed all the nominees, tonight truly represent the gold standard of entertainment”.

You Can’t Ask That gives an unmediated platform to some of the most misunderstood and marginalised people in our country, offering genuine insight into the lives of Australians with labels. The show’s format is simple – questions are posed to stereotyped groups and they in turn respond direct to camera, with raw and authentic responses drawn from their own experiences.

At times funny, poignant, offensive and heart-breaking, the show has had four million program plays to date for series 1 and series 2 on ABC iview. Groups answering the questions in series 2 include Down Syndrome, Suicide Attempt Survivors, Recent War Veterans, Facial Difference and Children of Same Sex Parents.

The series format represented by ABC Commercial has also enjoyed immense success internationally, and is well on the way to becoming the ABC’s biggest format hit.

Aaron Smith, director and co-producer, stated after the win that “this show started from a small idea that then grew to be recognised on a global scale. You Can’t Ask That, 100% relies on the graciousness and bravery of the participants who are kind enough to lend their voice. We wish to say thank you to those who put their trust in us."

David Anderson, Director Television, ABC said: “You Can’t Ask That is a great example of the distinctive, relevant and valued content that the ABC can create and share with all Australians and has also resonated with audiences all over the world. To have this kind of international recognition is tremendous and our congratulations to all involved.”

You Can’t Ask That Production Credits: An ABC production. Series Produced and Directed by Kirk Docker and Aaron Smith. ABC Executive Producer Lou Porter.

3 Likes

Well done.

Series 3

The ABC’s award-winning You Can’t Ask That is back with the tough questions in July

Rob Mills, EP2 - Ex -Reality TV Stars

Do you want to kill me? Aren’t you just a fame whore? Where do you hide your dick? What’s it like watching the love of your life get pounded? How much did you lie? What batshit crazy things did they make you do? Has it completely ruined your life?

The ABC’s third series of You Can’t Ask That asks misunderstood, misjudged, or marginalised Australians the awkward, inappropriate, or uncomfortable questions you’ve always wanted to know the answers to but have always been afraid to ask.

The new 8x30 minute series will air from Wednesday 11 July at 9pm on ABC, with all episodes available on ABC iview after the premiere.

The third series of the original ABC format features the first-person voices of survivors of sexual assault, ex-reality TV stars, former cult members, people with eating disorders, swingers, people living with schizophrenia, drag performers and priests. By asking the tough questions and empowering interviewees to answer in their own words with conviction, candour and humour, the series offers searing insights into the lives of Australians whose stories are often dismissed.

Series 3 guests include; drag queen superstar, Courtney Act; Bunbury’s bum-dancing former Big Brother contestant, Sara-Marie Fedele; Anglican Church whistleblower, Reverend Roger Dyer, child sexual abuse survivor and advocate, Dr Stuart Kidd; former Geelong AFL player, James McLure, who now lives with schizophrenia; and Liz Chapman, who has lived with anorexia nervosa for over 40 years.

The ABC original format won the prestigious international Rose d’Or Award for Best Reality and Factual Entertainment Program, in 2017, for giving an unmediated platform to diverse groups of Australians to confront prejudice and discrimination. You Can’t Ask That exemplifies the distinctive, relevant, and valued content that only the ABC can create to start national conversations and raise awareness of crucial social issues.

The appeal of the ABC original format series has resulted in six international versions of the show already broadcast or in production globally. Options have been signed for a further 10 territories worldwide, putting it on track to become the ABC’s most successful format ever.

You Can’t Ask That has won three United Nations Association of Australia Media Awards for Promotion of Social Cohesion, Promotion of Disability Rights and Issues, and Promotion of Empowerment of Older People. The series is nominated for the 2018 Logie Award for Most Outstanding Factual or Documentary Program.

You Can’t Ask That is an ABC Production. The series was produced and directed by Kirk Docker and Aaron Smith. ABC Executive Producer, Lou Porter.

Series 3 commences Wednesday 11 July at 9:00pm

The ABC has paid tribute to child sexual abuse survivor and advocate, Dr Stuart Kidd, who recorded the interview in November 2017 but died before the episode goes to air tonight.

According to TV Week he was also a regular on Gogglebox Australia in 2015

Thanks @TelevisionAU. Not many have made that connection.

From wikipedia:
The Kidd family were in the first two seasons. Parents Stuart and Janet, son Michael, his wife Elena, and youngest son Roger from the Blue Mountains. They did not return for season 3 due to availability issues.

Series 4 of the ABC’s award-winning You Can’t Ask That now in production

Are you a Lotto winner, a stripper, a disaster survivor or have you been bullied? Then we need you for You Can’t Ask That.

After the recently acclaimed launch of its third series, production has commenced on a fourth season of the ground-breaking, thought-provoking and refreshingly bold series You Can’t Ask That. The most successful original ABC format in decades, the series will return to ABC and ABC iview in 2019 with eight new episodes.
The series confronts prejudice and discrimination by offering searing insights into the lives of diverse Australians who live in judgement. By asking only the hard questions (submitted anonymously online) and allowing interviewees to answer in their own words, the series adds new voices, surprising insights and fresh perspectives to subjects often dismissed.

In 2019 You Can’t Ask That will cast a net wider than ever before, putting diverse subjects under the microscope: alcoholics, Africans, survivors of domestic violence, former politicians, strippers, people who have killed someone (accidentally or intentionally), Olympic gold medalists, people who’ve been bullied, disaster survivors, intersex, lotto winners and travelling show people (“carnies”).

To apply to appear on the show or to submit questions for any of the new subjects - go to www.abc.net.au/youcantaskthat or email ycat@abc.net.au

Note: Is on ABC not Netflix. Award was for episode “Drag”.

Season 4

From Wednesday 3 April at 9pm

Did you drink metho? Why does politics shit on women? Did you marry your cousin? Do African men have big dicks? The ABC’s award-winning You Can’t Ask That is back in April on ABC & ABC iview

The ABC’s fourth series of You Can’t Ask That asks misunderstood, misjudged, or marginalised Australians the awkward, inappropriate, or uncomfortable questions you’ve always wanted to know the answers to but have always been afraid to ask.

The new 8x30 minute series will air from Wednesday 3 April at 9pm on ABC and iview, with all episodes available on ABC iview after the premiere.

The fourth series of the original ABC format features the first-person voices of people who have experienced Domestic and Family Violence , African Australians, Intersex People, Carnies & Show People, Ex-Politicians, Alcoholics, Disaster Survivors and Deaf People . By asking the tough questions and empowering interviewees to answer in their own words with conviction, candour and humour, the series offers searing insights into the lives of Australians whose stories are often dismissed.

S eries 4 guests include; fourth generation showman and operator of Australia’s last boxing tent, Fred Brophy; Bali bombings survivor, Erik de Haart; deaf-blind advocate and former WA Young Person of the Year, Ness Vladjkovic; domestic violence survivor and campaigner, Dr Ann O’Neill; reformed alcoholics, former St Kilda Football Club President, Rod Butterss and former NRL star Sione Faumuina; former South Sudanese refugee Ojulu Wan; and former federal politicians Amanda Vanstone, Cheryl Kernot, Sam Dastyari, Tony Windsor, Wyatt Roy and Greg Combet.

You Can’t Ask That was awarded the European Broadcast Union’s prestigious Rose d’Or Award for Best Reality and Factual Entertainment Program in 2017. In Australia it has been awarded three United Nations Association of Australia Media Awards and been nominated for two AACTA Awards, a Logie Award and an Australian Human Rights Commission Human Rights Award.

A testament to the universal human challenge at the core of the program, You Can’t Ask That is now one of the most successful ABC formats ever. Local versions have been produced in Spain, Israel, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Norway and Canada, with more planned.

You Can’t Ask That is an ABC Production, which proudly demonstrates the ABC’s commitment to bringing diverse stories to screen. The series is produced and directed by Kirk Docker and Aaron Smith. ABC Executive Producer, Frances O’Riordan.

ABC Upfronts 2020

You Can’t Ask That returns in 2020, uncovering the truth behind eight new groups of marginalised or misunderstood Australians including people on the autism spectrum, cheaters, ‘housos’, kids, people living with HIV, accidental death, nudists and gold medallists.