Choir of Hard Knocks

Television ABC
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Choir of Hard Knocks returns to the ABC

The ABC is proud to announce a heartwarming new four-part documentary series Choir of Hard Knocks: A New Chorus has commenced production in Melbourne.

20 years after they first captured the heart of the nation, the Choir of Hard Knocks returns for its most ambitious challenge yet: a star-studded gala concert celebrating the choir’s remarkable legacy while welcoming a new generation of people into its ranks.

As members confront disadvantage, homelessness, mental illness, social isolation, disability and addiction, this uplifting documentary series follows their journey towards an unforgettable performance.

ABC Head Arts, Music and Events Kath Earle and Head of Documentary & Specialist Susie Jones said: “In 2007 the ABC premiered the original Choir of Hard Knocks series. Two decades later, this new series celebrates the Choir’s ongoing legacy and its role as a safe place for some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Audiences will reconnect with original Choir members, meet new faces, and be uplifted by the power of music. Culminating in a huge musical event featuring the Choir of Hard Knocks with guest performances by Australian music royalty, this series will be an unmissable television experience”.

Eureka CEO Rikkie Proost said: “Twenty years ago, the Choir of Hard Knocks captured the hearts of Australians by showing the extraordinary power of music to create connection, purpose and hope. This new series is a powerful reminder of what can happen when people are given the opportunity to be seen, heard and supported. We’re incredibly proud to bring audiences the next chapter of this remarkable journey and to celebrate the resilience, talent and spirit of a group that continues to inspire”.

VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher said, “The Choir of Hard Knocks was much more than a TV documentary; it was a landmark Victorian series that gave voice to some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged members of our community and revealed the life-changing power of music. We’re proud to support the long-awaited follow-up, Choir of Hard Knocks: A New Chorus, and we can’t wait to meet the new members of the choir and catch up with familiar faces twenty years on.”

Heartwarming, hopeful and deeply moving, Choir of Hard Knocks: A New Chorus is a celebration of resilience, belonging and the enduring ability of music to change lives.

Choir of Hard Knocks: A New Chorus will premiere on ABC TV and ABC iview in 2026.

Production credits: Choir of Hard Knocks: A New Chorus is produced by Eureka Productions, a Fremantle company, for the ABC. Financed by the ABC in association with VicScreen. Post, digital and visual effects supported by Screen NSW. Executive Producer: Gemma Murphy. Series Director: Natalie Cattach. Eureka Chief Content Officer: Sonya Wilkes. ABC Executive Producer: Rachel Robinson. ABC Head of Arts, Music & Events: Kath Earle. ABC Head of Documentary & Specialist: Susie Jones.

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Choir of Hard Knocks returns to the stage this November

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The ABC is thrilled to announce the heartwarming new documentary series Choir of Hard Knocks: A New Chorus will premiere on Sunday, 29 November at 7.30pm on ABC TV, with all episodes available to stream on ABC iview.

Twenty years after it first captured the nation’s heart, with homelessness and mental health remaining pressing issues in Australia, the Choir of Hard Knocks returns for its most ambitious undertaking yet: a landmark gala concert celebrating two decades of music, resilience and community. Narrated by host of ABC’s Spicks and Specks Adam Hills, Choir of Hard Knocks: A New Chorus is a moving four-part documentary series following choir members as they navigate rehearsals, personal challenges, unexpected reunions and extraordinary musical collaborations while preparing for a once-in-a-lifetime performance at Melbourne’s iconic Palais Theatre.

Returning for this milestone celebration is original choirmaster Jonathon Welch AM who, having handed the reins to current Co-Artistic Directors Danielle Matthews and Adam Przewlocki in 2019, reunites with founding members and familiar faces from across the choir’s history, while helping Dani & Adam navigate the rollercoaster ride to the anniversary concert

Along the way, the choir receives support from some of Australia’s most celebrated performers, including Missy Higgins, Casey Donovan, Mark Seymour, Kate Miller-Heidke, Christine Anu, Kirk Pengilly, James Morrison, and Powderfinger’s Bernard Fanning and Darren Middleton, many of whom take to the stage with the choir in the final concert, helping create some of the evening’s most powerful and moving moments in a stirring celebration of the power of music to change lives.

From intimate rehearsals to the exhilaration of the final performance, Choir of Hard Knocks: A New Chorus is ultimately a story about people finding a sense of belonging, discovering their strengths and refusing to be defined by their past. Twenty years after the choir first began, its message remains as powerful as ever: music can restore confidence and dignity, create connections and give people the opportunity to be heard.

Production credits: Choir of Hard Knocks: A New Chorus is produced by Eureka Productions, a Fremantle company, for the ABC. Financed by the ABC in association with VicScreen. Post, digital and visual effects supported by Screen NSW. Executive Producer: Gemma Murphy. Series Director: Natalie Cattach. Eureka Chief Content Officer: Sonya Wilkes. ABC Commissioning Editor: Rachel Robinson. ABC Head of Arts, Music & Events: Kath Earle. ABC Head of Documentary & Specialist: Susie Jones.