ABC TV - Programs and Schedules

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###Grantchester - Season 2

From Friday 1 April at 8:30pm

Based on The Grantchester Mysteries novels by James Runcie, James Norton (Happy Valley, War and Peace) reprises his role as Sidney Chambers, the charismatic, charming, crime-fighting clergyman, and Robson Green (Strikeback, Wire In The Blood) returns as his partner in crime, Detective Inspector Geordie Keating, in the second series of Grantchester, screening from Friday 1st April at 8.30pm on ABC TV.

Sidney Chambers is vicar of Grantchester, a small village just outside Cambridge. Sidney is a terrific parish priest - never narrow-minded or judgemental, he’s a curious, fun-loving man with plenty of time for other people. While he might have the odd pint too many, be too fond of jazz music, and sometimes fall for the wrong women, Sidney’s is a quiet life. Or at least, it was – right up until the moment that murder came his way…

Following on from last year’s highly successful first series, it’s 1954 and having lain his wartime past to rest, Sidney Chambers is in a good place. Booze and self-doubt have taken a back seat to his duties and congregation. He’s growing up, and trying to lead a good life. He has finally wrenched his thoughts away from his beloved Amanda (Morven Christie), and it’s not long before another young lady catches his eye.

Once again joining Sidney as he journeys into the dark world of murder is the affable but world-weary Detective Inspector Geordie Keating, the naive, but well-meaning curate Leonard Finch (Al Weaver), and his austere and constantly disapproving housekeeper Mrs Maguire (Tessa Peake-Jones).

In the first episode Sidney finds himself wrongly accused of a crime, his unmasking of the real culprit will send shockwaves through the entire village. Sidney is forced to face up to the consequences of his actions. Will he be able to stay the course and live with a difficult decision, even when the parish is turning against him?

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###David Attenborough’s Great Barrier Reef

From Sunday 10 April at 7:40pm

In 1957, Sir David Attenborough first visited, and scuba dived on one of our planet’s most extraordinary creations, the Great Barrier Reef. Shrouded in mystery, and mostly inaccessible, he always wanted to go back to further explore the ecosystem he describes as “like no other in the natural world”. Sixty years on, using brand-new technology and the latest scientific research, David has the opportunity to unlock the secrets of the Reef as he embarks on a personal journey that reveals the true extent of its diversity, characters and complexity along the way.

For this landmark series, David climbs aboard the Alucia, a 56-metre research and exploration vessel equipped with a state-of-the-art Triton submersible, laboratories and a helicopter. It will allow him to take to the seas, and the skies, to give a perspective on the Great Barrier Reef that has never been seen before, and unprecedented access to some of the most remote parts of the Reef and its magical residents and visitors.

David Attenborough’s Great Barrier Reef combines cutting edge scientific research alongside innovative filming techniques. By using the very latest infrared cameras, the hatching of the iconic clownfish is witnessed for the very first time, whilst time-lapse macro cameras will expose behaviour of the normally unseen tiny coral animals that built the entire reef, and also reveal the most magical reproduction event on the planet, the annual coral spawning. Furthermore, the programme will show how a shrimp with vision like no other animal on the planet views the natural wonder.

The Reef is home to some of the world’s most fascinating animals and David captures an array of creatures, such as the manta ray, the epaulette shark, which walks, and the humpback whale, which have made the Great Barrier Reef their home. The series also uses the latest satellite tracking data to follow incredible journeys, like those of the dwarf minke whales, green turtles and tiger sharks who travel thousands of kilometres to migrate there.

However, in the sixty years since David’s first visit, the Reef is now seriously under threat. Reflecting on his unique experiences, he explains how the Reef has lost almost half its coral since his first visit, and will look at what the future holds for it. He is determined to discover how it can be saved. In his quest he consults the Reef’s top scientists and visits its island research stations where researchers and their teams are trying to help corals cope with the climate’s rapid change. David’s journey also takes him to the deepest part of the Reef, where no one has ventured before, in the hi-tech Triton Submersible, to collect corals that may help scientists to better understand this natural wonder of the world.

Written and Presented by David Attenborough. Series Producer: Anthony Geffen. Series Director: Mike Davis. Atlantic Productions

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###Meet The Mavericks

From Tuesday 12 April at 10.00pm

Meet The Mavericks is a five-part interview series featuring some of our most iconic artists, performers, cultural leaders and all round troublemakers, in conversation about their work, passions, shared experiences and takes on the world.
The series provides a deeper look at Australians who challenge and shape our cultural landscape.

Meet The Mavericks pairs guests from different generations and fields who have aspects of their work or areas of interest in common:

Ep 1: Ben Quilty and Warwick Thornton: Archibald winning painter and Australia’s 2011 official war artist in Afghanistan Ben Quilty meets filmmaker and director Warwick Thornton, who broke hearts in Samson and Delilah, and is now breaking into the art world. A ‘bro-mance’ that covers masculinity, racism, using art to make a statement, and a bond built over their mutual love of cars

Ep 2: Grayson Perry and Magda Szubanski

Ep 3: Leah Purcell and Miranda Tapsell

Ep 4: Phillip Adams and Tim Minchin

Ep 5: Jon Ronson and John Safran

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###The Checkout - Series 3

From Thursday 7 April at 8:00pm

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a public warning pursuant to section 223 of the Australian Consumer Law about a likely increase in bodgy advice to consumers by scammers masquerading as a serious consumer affairs program.

The ACCC particularly advises Australians to be on the lookout for a suspicious television program called The Checkout which purports to offer advice to consumers. Credible intelligence suggests the program may return to the ABC on Thursday April 7 at 8.00pm.

“It’s not a very sophisticated operation, often using silly costumes, graphics and cute animals to distract people. But an alarming number of consumers are being hoodwinked,” said ACCC Chairman Rod Sims. “The extent of the fraud might even be more serious. I can’t be sure though because I can’t understand a word Craig Reucassel says.”

Scams like The Checkout are never a substitute for the only true source of consumer advice, the ACCC. If you think you have seen an episode of The Checkout, report it either to the ACCC via the official twitter account @acccgovau or to the TV ratings regulator OzTam.

The ACCC has also received reports that The Checkout sometimes pretends to be the ACCC in press releases. Anyone receiving such a press release should report The Checkout’s misconduct widely in all forms of media.

Consumers are advised to avoid watching any program featuring presenters Julian Morrow, Kirsten Drysdale, Craig Reucassel, Zoë Norton Lodge, Ben Jenkins, Scott Abbot, Hannah May Reilly, CHOICE’s Kate Browne as well as Alex Lee who has apparently been induced to leave her former role as a political reporter with BuzzFeed on false pretences.

* Terms and conditions apply. Objects in mirror are closer than they appear. Batteries not included. This presentation is not a floatation device. If pain persists, see your doctor.

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###The Tunnel - Series Premiere

From Thursday 7 April at 9.30pm

The English and French sleuthing duo, DCI Karl Roebuck (Stephen Dillane) and French Commander Elise Wasserman (Clémence Poésy) are back in the second series of the award-winning, thrilling crime drama The Tunnel.

Elise and Karl have been leading separate lives. But two seemingly isolated events reunite them – a French couple are abducted from the Channel Tunnel, leaving behind a traumatised small child, and days later a plane crashes into the Channel, killing everyone on board. Is it a terrible coincidence or are the two tragedies connected?

Karl and Elise are faced with bigger questions, forging connections from the clues thrown up by a vast field of debris.

Following a shocking trail of devastation, Karl, Elise and the cross-border team, become embroiled in a terrifying, deadly game of brinkmanship as the victims mount up. The Tunnel moves between the coasts of Kent and Northern France via the Eurotunnel, against a backdrop of a continent in crisis.

Joining the cast for series two are; Emilia Fox (Silent Witness), Clarke Peters (The Wire), Paul Schneider (Parks and Recreation) and William Ash (Shameless).

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###Week commencing 3 April 2016

Sunday 3 April
6:30pm Compass: Iceberg
7:00pm ABC News Sunday
7:40pm Matilda And Me Premiere Special
8:30pm Call The Midwife
9:30pm Joanna Lumley’s Trans-Siberian Adventure Rpt Final
10:20pm The Weekly With Charlie Pickering Rpt

Monday 4 April
8:00pm Australian Story
8:30pm Four Corners
9:20pm Media Watch
9:35pm Q&A

Tuesday 5 April
8:00pm Catalyst
8:30pm Keeping Australia Alive
9:30pm Foreign Correspondent
10:00pm Creatives: John Bell

Wednesday 6 April
8:00pm Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery: Kerri-Anne Kennerley
Evergreen television queen Kerri-Anne Kennerley takes Julia back to the Sandgate in Brisbane, and the locations where she dreamed of a career in show business.
8:30pm The Weekly With Charlie Pickering
9:00pm Luke Warm Sex
9:30pm Adam Hills: The Last Leg

Thursday 7 April
8:00pm The Checkout Series Return
8:30pm Janet King
9:30 TBA

Friday 8 April
8:00pm Tony Robinson’s Time Walks: Fremantle Series Premiere
The major port of Australia’s remote west coast, Fremantle began life as a place of punishment. The magnificently preserved sandstone prison conceals a thousand stories.
8:30pm Grantchester
9:15pm Silent Witness Rpt

Saturday 9 April
7:30pm Father Brown: The Mask Of The Demon Series Return
8:30pm DCI Banks: What Will Survive (Part 1) Series Return
9:05pm Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery: Kerri-Anne Kennerley Rpt
9:30pm Janet King Rpt

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###Time Walks

From Friday 8 April at 8.00pm

ABC has picked up seasons one and two (20 episodes in all) of Tony Robinson’s Time Walks.

In each 30-minute episode, Tony visits a different Australian location uncovering fascinating stories along the way. Seasons one and two visit all the major cities as well as Fremantle, Wollongong, Bendigo, Newcastle, Kalgoorlie, Launceston, Townsville and the Barossa Valley. He also travels to New Zealand to uncover some incredible stories about Wellington and Christchurch.

Tony Robinson’s Time Walks was originally commissioned for Foxtel and was seen on the The History Channel.

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###Comedy Showroom

From Wednesday 27 April at 9pm

Get ready to browse ABC TV’s Comedy Showroom

Six brand new comedy pilots…Tell us what you think!

Starting Wednesday 27th April at 9pm, ABC TV’s Comedy Showroom launches six new comedy pilots made by some of Australia’s most exciting comedians, comedy writers, producers and directors. But viewers won’t have to wait each week for the latest pilot to be unleashed, with all of the pilots being made available to watch on ABC iview straight after the Comedy Showroom premiere.

Further to this, and in a network and Australian television first, we want our audience to tell us which pilots they think should come back as full TV series. Simply by clicking through from iview, our audience will have the opportunity to provide their feedback by answering a few quick questions or just by telling us what they like and don’t like.

No other network nurtures and supports Australian comedy like ABC TV.

So which pilots will our audience gravitate to? Which will they laugh at most? And which will they blast with criticism or want to see more of?

Will it be Ronny Chieng sharing his experiences as an International Student; Eddie Perfect’s absurd suburban life in The Future Is Expensive; The Katering Show’s Kate McLennan hitting rock bottom in life and love in her and Kate McCartney’s Bleak; Lawrence Mooney discovering what it takes for a 40-something-year-old man to finally grow up in Moonman; the desperate attempts of a deadbeat weed dealer to win his new neighbour’s affections in hot WA comedy team Mad Kids’ The Legend of Gavin Tanner; or Alison Bell’s struggles as a new mum in an oddball mothers’ group in The Letdown (produced by The Chaser’s Julian Morrow).

Ronny Chieng: International Student - Wednesday 27 April at 9pm

The Letdown - Wednesday 4 May at 9pm

The Legend of Gavin Tanner - Wednesday 11 May at 9pm

The Future is Expensive - Wednesday 18 May at 9pm

Bleak - Wednesday 25 May at 9pm

Moonman - Wednesday 1 June at 9pm

And all pilots are available on iview from Wednesday 27 April from 9.30pm.

All will be revealed when our best and brightest comedians invite you to join them in ABC TV’s Comedy Showroom.

A joint initiative with Screen Australia, made in association with Film Victoria, Screen NSW and ScreenWest. Executive Producer Head of Comedy Rick Kalowski.

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Probably the biggest news of the year :o

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You do now what the date is, don’t you?

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I know its a joke :stuck_out_tongue:
Just playing along with it… :stuck_out_tongue:

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###Week commencing 10 April 2016

Sunday 10 April
6:30pm Compass: The Moral Compass
7:00pm ABC News Sunday
7:40pm David Attenborough’s Great Barrier Reef Series Premiere
8:40pm Call The Midwife
9:40pm Stephen Fry: Out There Rpt
10:45pm The Weekly With Charlie Pickering Rpt

Monday 11 April
8:00pm Australian Story
8:30pm Four Corners
9:20pm Media Watch
9:35pm Q&A

Tuesday 12 April
8:00pm Catalyst
8:30pm Keeping Australia Alive
9:30pm Foreign Correspondent
10:00pm Meet The Mavericks: Ben Quilty & Warwick Thornton Series Premiere

Wednesday 13 April
8:00pm Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery: Waleed Aly Rpt
8:30pm The Weekly With Charlie Pickering
9:00pm Luke Warm Sex
9:30pm Would I Lie To You?: Miles Jupp, Heston Blumenthal, Emilia Fox and Ed Byrne Rpt
10:00pm Comedy Up Late
Join your host Urzila Carlson direct from the 2016 Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s late night venue, The Festival Club, with comedians Dave Callan, Whitmer Thomas, Mel Buttle and Demi Lardner.

Thursday 14 April
8:00pm The Checkout
8:30pm Janet King
9:30pm The Tunnel Series Premiere

Friday 15 April
8:00pm Tony Robinson’s Time Walks: Melbourne
8:30pm Grantchester
9:15pm Scott & Bailey

Saturday 16 April
7:30pm Father Brown
8:20pm DCI Banks: What Will Survive (Part 2)
9:05pm Julia Zemiro’s Home DeliveryRpt
9:30pm Janet King Rpt
10:30pm Luke Warm Sex Rpt

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As can be seen from the schedule just posted the order of the series has changed with Ep 3: with Leah Purcell and Miranda Tapsell to be seen first followed by Ep 2.

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TV Tonight reports that the ABC has been forced to delay the season premiere of The Tunnel after it was postponed by Sky in the wake of last month’s terror attacks in Brussels. If it airs on April 14 as scheduled it will mean the first episode will air one day after the UK due to time difference.

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###QI - Season 14

From Wednesday 27 April at 8:00pm

Stephen Fry’s final series

QI is the Rose d’Or-winning and BAFTA-nominated comedy quiz show full of quirky facts in which contestants are rewarded more if their answers are ‘quite interesting’.

Hosted by Stephen Fry, each episode has a different theme on which the celebrity guests have to answer questions, avoiding repeating common misconceptions and urban myths. It is okay to be wrong but don’t be obviously, boringly wrong.

Ep 1: Guests Matt Lucas, Lucy Porter and Ross Noble join regular panellist Alan Davies, and the focus is on medical matters.

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###Week commencing 17 April 2016

Sunday 17 April
6:30pm Compass: A Town Called Brzostek
7:00pm ABC News Sunday
7:40pm David Attenborough’s Great Barrier Reef: Visitors
8:40pm Call The Midwife Final
9:40pm Stephen Fry: Out There Rpt Final
10:45pm The Weekly With Charlie Pickering Rpt

Monday 18 April
8:00pm Australian Story
8:30pm Four Corners
9:20pm Media Watch
9:35pm Q&A

Tuesday 19 April
8:00pm Catalyst
8:30pm Keeping Australia Alive
9:30pm Foreign Correspondent
10:00pm Meet The Mavericks: Grayson Perry & Magda Szubanski

Wednesday 20 April
8:00pm Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery: Leigh Sales Rpt Final
8:30pm The Weekly With Charlie Pickering
9:00pm Luke Warm Sex
9:30pm Would I Lie To You?: Rhod Gilbert, Vernon Kay, Dara O’Briain & Denise Van Outen Rpt
10:00pm Comedy Up Late

Thursday 21 April
8:00pm The Checkout
8:30pm Janet King
9:30pm Utopia S2 Ep 3
9:55pm Upper Middle Bogan S2 Ep 3

Friday 22 April
8:00pm Tony Robinson’s Time Walks: Hobart
8:30pm Grantchester
9:15pm Scott & Bailey

Saturday 23 April
7:30pm Father Brown
8:20pm DCI Banks
9:05pm Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery Rpt
9:30pm Janet King Rpt
10:30pm Luke Warm Sex Rpt

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Grantchester has been renewed for a 3rd season by ITV in the UK. Season 2 started here on ABC last week.

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###Grand Designs Season 13

From Sunday 1 May at 7:40pm

The new series of Grand Designs features a diverse range of properties, including one of the biggest builds featured so far; the transformation of a derelict cowshed; a rusty ‘floating’ barn, and a giant fortress of a house on the beach on the Isle of Wight.

There’s an outback-style house on the marshes in East Sussex, for a builder who loves boats, and a sweeping curved straw-bale conversion of an old forge for a family in County Antrim. And there’s a damp, dark cave in the Wyre Forest transformed into a home fit for 21st century living.

Kevin McCloud is on hand to witness the trials and tribulations of those willing to put everything on the line to build homes they hope will transform their lives.

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###Comedy Showroom - The Letdown

Wednesday 4 May at 9:00pm

The Letdown tells the story of a struggling new mum and the local Mothers Group she thinks she doesn’t need. It stars Alison Bell, Noni Hazlehurst, Lucy Durak, Sacha Horler, Leah Vandenberg, Celeste Barber, Taylor Ferguson, Ewen Leslie and Leon Ford with special guest appearances by Patrick Brammall and Brendan Cowell.

Audrey (Alison Bell) is a modern, first time mum for whom motherhood is proving a difficult transition. Determined not to be defined by her new role, she attempts to carry on as normal.

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Looking forward to watching new season of British crime drama ‘Midsomer Murders’ starting Sunday 24th April, most likely in 8.30pm timeslot. This is the eighteen season and consists of 6 episodes, sure to deliver good ratings as always for the ABC.