Patrick Melrose
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
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
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.