ABC TV - Programs and Schedules

Week commencing 15 September


Sunday 15 September
7:40pm Attenborough And The Empire Of The Ants Rpt
8:35pm Les Norton: The Real Thing
9:30pm Glitch
10:25pm EXPOSED: The Case Of Keli Lane: Missing To Murder
11:25pm Silent Witness: Flight (Part 2)

Monday 16 September
8:00pm Australian Story
8:30pm Four Corners
9:15pm Media Watch
9:35pm Q&A
10:40pm ABC Late News
11:10pm The Business
11:30pm Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds

Tuesday 17 September
8:00pm Foreign Correspondent
8:30pm Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds
9:30pm Storm In A Teacup
10:35pm ABC Late News
11:10pm The Business
11:30pm Q&A

Wednesday 18 September
8:00pm Hard Quiz
8:30pm Shaun Micallef’s MAD AS HELL Season Final
9:00 pm Utopia: The Blame Game
9:30pm Diary Of An Uber Driver Season Final
10:00pm The Set
10:35pm ABC Late News
11:05pm The Business
11:25pm Four Corners

Thursday 19 September
8:00pm Escape From The City: Townsville and Magnetic Island QLD: The Longs
9:00pm Vera: The Crow Trap
10:30pm ABC Late News
11:00pm The Business
11:15pm The City And The City: Ul Qoma

Friday 20 September
7:30pm Gardening Australia
8:30pm Keeping Faith
9:30pm Innocent
10:20pm ABC Late News
10:50pm The Business
11:05pm Shaun Micallef’s MAD AS HELL
11:35pm Planet America

Saturday 21 September
7:30pm Deep Water
8:20pm Poldark
9:20pm Les Norton: The Real Thing
10:15pm Victoria: Warp and Weft
11:00pm The Good Karma Hospital
11:50pm rage One Night Stand Special

BBC has renewed Shakespeare & Hathaway, and Father Brown for two more seasons.


Both shows air on ABC, usually on Saturday nights.

Patrick Melrose

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From Sunday 6 October at 9:30pm

Based on the acclaimed Patrick Melrose series of novels written by Edward St. Aubyn and adapted by BAFTA award nominee David Nicholls (Far From the Madding Crowd, One Day), Melrose gleefully skewers the British upper class as it tracks the titular character’s harrowing odyssey from a deeply traumatic childhood, through adult substance abuse and ultimately, towards recovery and redemption. Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game, Sherlock) plays Patrick Melrose, an aristocratic and outrageously funny playboy, who struggles to overcome the damage inflicted by an abusive father and a mother who tacitly condoned the behaviour.

A true television saga, Patrick Melrose is both gripping and humorous, with a dramatic sweep that encompasses the South of France in the 1960s, debauched 1980’s New York and sober Britain in the early 2000s. Patrick Melrose devotes an hour to each of the five novels, with each episode storytelling a few complicated and intense days in Patrick’s life.

Nominated for FIVE EMMY AWARDS 2018 categories including Outstanding Miniseries and Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie.

The Show Must Go On

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Tuesday 8 October at 9.30pm

The Show Must Go On follows former Home & Away actor, Ben Steel, on a soul-searching investigation into why so many entertainment workers are struggling with mental wellbeing issues.

Ben’s love affair with screen started from an early age, taking acting classes and appearing in television commercials as a teen. Like most actors, he wasn’t prepared for the journey he would face as a professional in the entertainment industry. This lack of knowledge and support led to him developing issues that resulted in anxiety and depression.

In addition to his own experiences, Ben shares intimate conversations with key creatives, crew, actors, dancers, musicians, performers – many of them household names – about how they too have struggled with mental health and how they’ve survived.

It’s the first film to shed light on the mental health issues of 42,000 people working in the industry.
While ‘show business’ is often seen as glamorous, fun, and well paid, recent research from Entertainment Assist and Victoria University paints a darker picture. Anxiety symptoms are 10 times higher; sleep disorders are 7 times higher and symptoms of depression are 5 times higher than the national average. Suicide attempts in the industry are also double the national average.

The Show Must Go On seeks to spark much needed public conversation around mental health and wellbeing in Australia.

Kumi’s Japan

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Tuesday 15 October at 9:30pm

Kumi Taguchi has an Australian mother and a Japanese father, she grew up in rural Australia and felt like she had to continuously apologise for her Japanese heritage, she lived between two worlds. Now Kumi returns to Japan to deliver news to a family she hopes is still there, about her father who she never really knew.

This one-hour special follows Kumi journey all over Japan from discovering her grandparents’ home in Tokyo, to Hiroshima where she learns about her late father’s time during the war – all during the time Japan announces their new Emperor, which is a truly special event.

Through her travels she discovers the amazing stories and history of her family, as well as learns incredible stories of others. Surrounded by cherry blossoms and beautiful Japanese culture, her identity is challenged as she tries to understand why she feels so at home in this exotic and intoxicating country.

Week commencing 22 September


Sunday 22 September
7:40pm The Pool
8:40pm Les Norton: Bush League
9:30pm Glitch
10:30pm EXPOSED: The Case Of Keli Lane: A Fair Trial Final
11:30pm Silent Witness: Life Licence (Part 1)

Monday 23 September
8:00pm Australian Story
8:30pm Four Corners
9:15pm Media Watch
9:35pm Q&A
10:40pm ABC Late News
11:10pm The Business
11:30pm Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds

Tuesday 24 September
8:00pm Foreign Correspondent
8:30pm Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds Season Final
9:30pm Doing It In Public: The Kaldor Projects
10:35pm ABC Late News
11:10pm The Business
11:25pm Q&A

Wednesday 25 September
8:00pm Hard Quiz
8:30pm Gruen Season 11 Premiere
9:00 pm Utopia: Ticks Of Approval
9:30pm The Set: Jessica Mauboy, Kira Puru and Didirri
10:05pm QI: Nonsense
10:35pm ABC Late News
11:05pm The Business
11:20pm Four Corners

Thursday 26 September
8:00pm Escape From The City: South Coast NSW: The Wines
9:00pm Vera: Little Lazarus
10:30pm ABC Late News
11:00pm The Business
11:15pm The City And The City: Orciny

Friday 27 September
7:30pm Gardening Australia
8:30pm Keeping Faith
9:30pm Innocent
10:20pm ABC Late News
10:50pm The Business
11:05pm Gruen
11:35pm Planet America

Saturday 28 September
7:30pm Deep Water
8:20pm Poldark
9:20pm Les Norton: Bush League
10:10pm Victoria: The Sins of the Father
11:00pm The Good Karma Hospital
11:45pm rage guest programmer: Mi-Sex

Week commencing 29 September


Sunday 29 September
7:40pm The Pool Final
8:40pm Les Norton: Misery at the Sebel
9:30pm Glitch Series Final
10:25pm Gruen
10:55pm The Detectives: Manhunt
11:55pm Silent Witness: Life Licence (Part 2)

Monday 30 September
8:00pm Australian Story
8:30pm Four Corners
9:15pm Media Watch
9:35pm Q&A
10:40pm ABC Late News
11:10pm The Business
11:30pm Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds

Tuesday 1 October
8:00pm Foreign Correspondent
8:30pm How Australia Got Its Mojo
9:35pm TBA
10:30pm ABC Late News
11:00pm The Business
11:20pm Q&A

Wednesday 2 October
8:00pm Hard Quiz
8:30pm Gruen
9:00 pm Utopia: Levers Of Power
9:30pm The Set: Northeast Party House, Polish Club and Alex Astronaut
10:00pm QI: Noodles
10:35pm ABC Late News
11:00pm The Business
11:20pm Four Corners

Thursday 3 October
8:00pm Escape From The City: Kingscliff NSW: The Riggs
9:00pm Vera: Ghost Position
10:30pm ABC Late News
11:00pm The Business
11:15pm The City And The City: Breach

Friday 4 October
7:30pm Gardening Australia
8:30pm Keeping Faith
9:30pm Innocent
10:20pm ABC Late News
10:50pm The Business
11:05pm Gruen
11:35pm Planet America

Saturday 5 October
7:30pm Deep Water Series Final
8:20pm Poldark Series Final
9:20pm Les Norton: Misery at the Sebel
10:10pm Victoria: Entente Cordiale
11:00pm The Good Karma Hospital
11:50pm rage Guest Programmer

:clock2: Daylight Saving commences at 2am Sunday morning in some states.

Grantchester - Season 4

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From Friday 18 October at 8.30pm

Grantchester starring Robson Green and James Norton, and new cast member Tom Brittney, returns to ABC for a fourth series. James Norton, who plays the charismatic, jazz-loving clergyman, Sidney Chambers, will make his final appearance during the series. Clergyman Will Davenport, played by Tom Brittney, becomes DI Geordie Keating’s new crime-solving partner in 1950s Grantchester.

It’s 1956 – a year since Amanda left and Mrs Maguire (now Mrs Chapman) married Jack. Change truly is in the Grantchester air… The post-war rulebook is being torn up – it’s the birth of the teenager, the era of Elvis. Teddy Boys are on the streets of Cambridge. Even science fiction’s becoming reality with a new ‘computer’ up and running at the university.

There’s change at the vicarage too. Sidney Chambers is feeling adrift, a man without a cause – until American civil rights activist Violet Todd arrives and fires up his need for social justice. But with a cause this dangerous, Sidney might not be around forever… And soon there’s a new Vicar of Grantchester, firebrand Will Davenport, stepping up to take his place at the pulpit.

Idealistic and energetic, Will is a man of the people. As he grapples with his new role he’ll embrace the change that’s sweeping the nation and make the parish his own. He’ll find himself drawn into Geordie’s world; of murderous plots and crimes of passion, that’ll stir his soul and unearth his own troubled past…

And whilst Will embraces the future, Inspector Geordie Keating’s left entirely baffled by it. Navigating a world without Sidney, where does he fit? Cathy’s suddenly cold and distant, the boys at the new police station all think he’s a throwback, and unfortunately Leonard’s just no good at backgammon…

Vanity Fair

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From Saturday 12 October at 7.30pm

International actress Olivia Cooke leads a stellar cast in the new ITV adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray’s Vanity Fair.

Olivia, who plays Becky Sharp, is joined by a star-studded cast including musician and actor Johnny Flynn (Genius) as Dobbin, Martin Clunes (Doc Martin) as Sir Pitt Crawley, Frances de la Tour (The History Boys) as Miss Matilda Crawley, Suranne Jones (Doctor Foster) as Miss Pinkerton and Michael Palin as Thackeray himself.

Gwyneth Hughes’ adaptation of Thackeray’s literary classic is set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, and follows modern heroine Becky Sharp as she attempts to claw her way out of poverty and scale the heights of English Society.

Another British drama on the ABC that has previously been on BBC First.

Just witnessed at 8:00pm in Newcastle that the ABC was having technical issues after ad break

Dream Gardens - Season 2

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From Tuesday 29 October at 8:00pm

Dream Gardens hosted by Michael McCoy, one of Australia’s leading landscape designers, is back in a stunning new eight-part series.

“We all recognise good design, we’re surrounded by it but when it comes to the outdoors most of us falter. Yet exceptional garden design can deliver spaces that reward again and again allowing us to embrace the natural world, transforming our lives and empowering a deeper connection with the restorative and regenerating power of nature. An effective antidote to our hyper speed, plugged in, urbanised lives,” says Michael.

In each episode Michael charts the evolution of a garden from design plan through construction to the spectacular end result.

From tiny inner-city plots to suburban backyards and generous country holdings, everyday Aussies share the hard work, challenges, and adventure of making their dream a reality.

And every dream is different. Designers are challenged to produce spaces inspired by gritty urban industrial style, relaxed coastal charm, retro mid-century modern influences, contemporary sculptural design and the evocative Australian bush.

There are owners that partner with internationally recognized designers like Fiona Brockhoff, Peta Donaldson and Paul Bangay and others who embrace the work of up and coming young designers while some prefer to keep it in the family!

Throughout, Michael is there to share his extensive landscape design and plant knowledge. With an ‘access all areas’ pass, he also tours private gardens created by the who’s who of the design world including Rick Eckersley’s breathtaking coastal garden, Will Dangar’s urban rooftop oasis, Phillip Johnson’s magnificent bush haven and Richard Unsworth’s city courtyard retreats, discovering techniques we can use in our own space.

Follow these incredible journeys from concept to creation and witness the breathtaking results in a series created to celebrate the best of Australian design, inspire a love of the natural, and share ideas to enhance the quality of our outdoor living spaces.

Grand Designs: The Street

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From Sunday 6 October at 7:40pm

Grand Designs: The Street, a six-part series presented by Kevin McCloud, follows the first ten pioneering households on the UK’s largest self-build project as they create a street like no other.

It’s a great opportunity, but not without risk. In the process, these pioneers will suffer injury, structural disaster and physical and financial exhaustion. The pressure of self- building causes friendships to fail, and even relationships to break down. However, those who see the projects through to completion will be rewarded with beautiful homes, tailored to their needs in a ready-made community.

The pioneers, whose ages range from 24–72 and with budgets of between £160k to £500k, each have different motivations for self-building. Over the course of the series, cameras witness these intrepid self-builders constructing their unique homes – turning a field into an extraordinary self-built street.

Nigel Slater’s Middle East

From Tuesday 22 October 9.30pm

Nigel Slater embarks on a Middle Eastern food adventure to explore some of the oldest and grandest cuisines in the world. His first stop, Lebanon, exemplifies Levantine cuisine but is also influenced by its position on the Mediterranean. The flavours, colours and fragrances of the region have travelled the globe but Nigel sets out to eat and cook with the people who make the dishes every day - home cooks. Nigel also explores the landscapes and ingredients, which define the recipes and dishes that have been passed on through generations. Nigel starts his journey in the capital, Beirut, at the end of Ramadan, where he is invited to celebrate Eid with a local family, before travelling south to Nabatieh near Israel and east to the Beqaa Valley close to the Syrian border. On his journey, Nigel explores the resilience of the country and its people, their survival and preservation through decades of war, and sees how this is reflected in their pride in their culture, and most importantly, in their food.

Week commencing 6 October


Sunday 6 October
7:40pm Grand Designs: The Street
8:30pm Les Norton: Day of the Gecko Series Final
9:20pm Patrick Melrose: Bad News Series Premiere
10:20pm Gruen
10:50pm The Detectives: Interrogation
11:50pm Silent Witness: In Plain Sight (Part 1)

Monday 7 October
8:00pm Australian Story
8:30pm Four Corners
9:15pm Media Watch
9:35pm Q&A
10:40pm ABC Late News
11:10pm The Business
11:30pm How Australia Got Its Mojo

Tuesday 8 October
8:00pm Foreign Correspondent
8:30pm Catalyst: Should I Risk It? Series Return
9:35pm The Show Must Go On
10:30pm ABC Late News
11:00pm The Business
11:15pm Q&A

Wednesday 9 October
8:00pm Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery: Costa Georgiadis Season 7 Premiere
8:30pm Gruen
9:00 pm Utopia: Utopia: The Ghost Of Christmas Future Season Final
9:30pm The Set: Boy and Bear, Marlon Williams and Montaigne Season Final
10:00pm QI: Naval Navigation
10:35pm ABC Late News
11:05pm The Business
11:20pm Four Corners

Thursday 10 October
8:00pm Escape From The City: Macedon Ranges Vic: The Topfers
9:00pm Vera: Sandancers
10:30pm ABC Late News
11:00pm The Business
11:15pm Thirteen

Friday 11 October
7:30pm Gardening Australia
8:30pm Keeping Faith Season Final
9:30pm Innocent Season Final
10:20pm ABC Late News
10:50pm The Business
11:05pm Gruen
11:35pm Planet America

Saturday 12 October
7:30pm Vanity Fair Series Premiere
8:20pm The Good Karma Hospital Season Premiere
9:10pm Les Norton: Day of the Gecko
9:55pm Marcella
10:45pm Victoria: Faith, Hope and Charity
11:30pm rage Guest Programmer

Russel Howcroft talks about How Australia Got Its Mojo

Week commencing 13 October


Sunday 13 October
7:40pm Grand Designs: The Street
8:30pm Total Control Series Premiere


9:25pm Patrick Melrose: Nevermind
10:25pm Gruen
10:55pm The Detectives: Judgement Day Season Final
11:55pm Silent Witness: In Plain Sight (Part 2)

Monday 14 October
8:00pm Australian Story
8:30pm Four Corners
9:15pm Media Watch
9:35pm Q&A
10:40pm ABC Late News
11:10pm The Business
11:30pm Catalyst: Should I Risk It?

Tuesday 15 October
8:00pm Foreign Correspondent: Insectageddon
8:30pm Catalyst: Face Surgeons: Inside the Craniofacial Unit
9:30pm Kumi’s Japan
10:30pm ABC Late News
11:00pm The Business
11:15pm Q&A

Wednesday 16 October
8:00pm Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery: Magda Szubanksi
8:30pm Gruen
9:00 pm Frayed Series Premiere


9:55pm QI: Numbers
10:30pm ABC Late News
11:00pm The Business
11:15pm Four Corners

Thursday 17 October
8:00pm Escape From The City: Port Douglas QLD: The Salters
9:00pm Vera: Silent Voices
10:30pm ABC Late News
11:00pm The Business
11:15pm Thirteen

Friday 18 October
7:30pm Gardening Australia
8:30pm Grantchester Season Premiere
9:20pm TBA
10:10pm ABC Late News
10:40pm The Business
10:55pm Gruen
11:30pm Planet America

Saturday 19 October
7:30pm Vanity Fair
8:20pm The Good Karma Hospital
9:10pm Total Control
10:00pm Marcella
10:50pm Victoria: The King Over The Water
11:35pm rage Guest Programmer

Wednesday 16 October
9:00 pm Frayed Series Premiere

Mark your diaries. This deserves a look. Extremely good IMO with great performances all around especially the supporting cast including Matt Passmore, with his presumably original Australian accent, Kerry Armstrong whose charater couldn’t be more different from the cartoonish wife she plays in Seachange and Trystan Go fresh from playing Benjamin Law, The recreation on late 1980s Australia is flawless, though Novocastrians might not like the depiction of their home town.

Thursday 10 October
8:00pm Men’s World Cup Qualifier
10:00pm TBA
10:30pm ABC Late News
11:00pm The Business
11:15pm Thirteen

Week commencing 20 October


Sunday 20 October
7:40pm Grand Designs: The Street
8:30pm Total Control
9:20pm Patrick Melrose: Some Hope
10:20pm Gruen
10:55pm Frayed
11:45pm Silent Witness: River’s Edge (Part 1)

Monday 21 October
8:00pm Australian Story
8:30pm Four Corners
9:15pm Media Watch
9:35pm Q&A
10:40pm ABC Late News
11:10pm The Business
11:30pm Catalyst: Face Surgeons: Inside the Craniofacial Unit

Tuesday 22 October
8:00pm Foreign Correspondent: Insectageddon
8:30pm Catalyst: Broken Mirror Season Final
9:30pm Nigel Slater’s Middle East Series Premiere
10:30pm ABC Late News
11:00pm The Business
11:15pm Q&A

Wednesday 23 October
8:00pm Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery: Nakkiah Lui
8:30pm Gruen
9:00 pm Frayed
9:55pm QI: Next
10:30pm ABC Late News
11:00pm The Business
11:15pm Four Corners

Thursday 24 October
8:00pm Escape From The City: Cairns QLD: The Clearys Season Final
9:00pm Vera: A Certain Samaritan Season Final
10:30pm ABC Late News
11:00pm The Business
11:15pm Thirteen

Friday 25 October
7:30pm Gardening Australia
8:30pm Grantchester
9:20pm Unforgotten
10:10pm ABC Late News
10:40pm The Business
10:55pm Gruen
11:30pm Planet America

Saturday 26 October
7:30pm Vanity Fair
8:20pm The Good Karma Hospital
9:10pm Total Control
10:00pm Marcella
10:45pm Victoria: The Luxury Of Conscience
11:35pm rage Guest Programmer

Kumi has written an article recounting her trip to Japan to film for this special ahead of its debut tonight.

2 Likes

Week commencing 27 October


Sunday 27 October
7:40pm Grand Designs: The Street
8:30pm Total Control
9:20pm Patrick Melrose: Mother’s Milk
10:20pm Gruen Rpt
11:00pm Frayed Rpt
11:45pm Silent Witness: River’s Edge (Part 2) Rpt

Monday 28 October
8:00pm Australian Story
8:30pm Four Corners
9:15pm Media Watch
9:35pm Q&A
10:40pm ABC Late News
11:10pm The Business
11:30pm Catalyst: Broken Mirror

Tuesday 29 October
8:00pm Dream GardensSeason 2 Premiere
8:30pm TBA
9:35pm Nigel Slater’s Middle East
10:25pm ABC Late News
10:55pm The Business
11:15pm Q&A

Wednesday 30 October
8:00pm Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery: Bill Bryson
8:30pm Gruen
9:00 pm Frayed
9:55pm TBA
10:35pm ABC Late News
11:05pm The Business
11:25pm Four Corners

Thursday 31 October
8:00pm Grand Designs Australia
8:50pm Killing Eve: Nice Face
9:35pm TBA
10:35pm ABC Late News
11:05pm The Business
11:20pm Thirteen

Friday 1 November
7:30pm Gardening Australia
8:30pm Grantchester
9:20pm Unforgotten
10:10pm ABC Late News
10:40pm The Business
10:55pm Gruen
11:30pm Planet America

Saturday 2 November
7:30pm Vanity Fair
8:20pm The Good Karma Hospital
9:10pm Total Control
10:00pm Marcella
10:45pm TBA
11:45pm rage Guest Programmer