Take 5 with Zan Rowe

[TV.Cynic]

EPISODE 3

TUESDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 8.30 PM

Kevin Bacon has been lighting up our screens for over 40 years. Ever since his breakout role in Footloose, he’s been a prolific fixture in film and television.

But there’s more to Kevin than acting; he’s also a passionate musician, performing with his band The Bacon Brothers and regularly sharing his favourite tunes with his 5 million Instagram followers.

Through sharing his songs, and a side we don’t often see, Kevin Bacon lets us in to the man behind the fame; vulnerable, joyful, generous and deeply down to earth.

[JohnsonTV]

Zan features on Sunday Life magazine inside The Sun-Herald and Sunday Age today.

Eight years ago, I called off my engagement. We’re back together, with one...

[JohnsonTV]

Through the Trojan Horse of music | TV Tonight

Zan revealed season four was filmed overseas (Melanie C’s episode was shot in at a Hi- Fi Bar at a Richard Branson-owned Virgin Hotel in London).

[TV.Cynic]

EPISODE 4

TUESDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 8.30 PM

One of the most talked about pop artists today; Lorde shares her story of rebirth in a deep and candid conversation with Zan.

Across the episode, Lorde shares stories from her childhood before fame, the influence of her supportive mother, and a desire to always impress her. She reflects on what it felt like to become world- famous as a teenager and the long, winding journey of navigating her own path forward from there.

In one of the most powerful moments, she talks about ‘Girl, So Confusing’, a song written by her friend Charli XCX that openly questions their relationship.

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@TV.Cynic

Aaron joins Zan Rowe in New York to Take 5 with the songs that have soundtracked his meteoric rise in the comedy world.

Zan Rowe Takes 5 with Aaron Chen | TV Tonight

[TV.Cynic]

EPISODE 5

TUESDAY 7 OCTOBER 8.30 PM

Music runs in **Jarvis Cocker’**s veins. From manifesting his band Pulp as a teenager in Sheffield, to making a career as one of the defining acts of the Britpop era, his songs are his story.

In this very special Take 5, Zan asks Jarvis to share songs that, for him, are about love. Jarvis reflects on the theme “It was kind of a timely thing… because the word love has always been problematic for me… I don’t think I ever actually said it to anybody until I was about 40 years old.”

This episode is a rare and moving portrait of an artist who’s spent a lifetime turning everyday moments into something magical.

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EPISODE 6 - Season Final

TUESDAY 14 OCTOBER 8.30PM

It’s a rare gift to hear one of the country’s best songwriters talk about the artists that mean so much to him.

Paul Kelly is a national treasure. His music has soundtracked our road trips, our heartbreaks, and our coming of age. They don’t just reflect Australian life; they’re the very fabric of it.

Paul Kelly’s wisdom, emotion, and humour shine through as he shares his songs and a lifetime of stories.

At one point he even pulls out an old mixtape he made back in 1975, playing Zan a Joni Mitchell song that’s close to his heart.

[JohnsonTV]

Who is on Zan Rowe's Take 5 wish list? | TV Tonight

[TV.Cynic]

The ratings for the season have been disappointing so far. ABC has slotted in additional encores on SUnday nights for the rest of the season starting with a double episode this Sunday night from 10:25pm. Sunday night movies are now pushed back to later in the night.

[JohnsonTV]

I think we can point the finger at The Block but the ABC also needs to cop some of the blame. Why did it schedule the show against the ratings juggernaut? If Take 5 is renewed for 2026, it should be moved to mid year (between MAFS and The Block).

[TV.Cynic]

ABC Showcase announced Take 5 with Zan Rowe returning with a new season in 2026.

[JohnsonTV]

Zan Rowe appeared on ABC Melbourne afternoons today alongside John Safran to promote the return of Race Around the World (premiering this Sunday night). Zan told host Brigitte Duclos and the studio audience that the new season of Take 5 would be shown in the second half of this year. Zan said she actually flew to America to film two episodes of Take 5, including a chat with a big name pop star in New York City, in between studio shoots of episode 2 and 3 of Race Around the World.

[TV.Cynic]

Take 5 with Zan Rowe returns with a stellar line up for season five

Take 5 with Zan Rowe returns for its fifth season, bringing together an exceptional line-up of global music, cultural and political icons. The new season premieres on Thursday 20 August at 8:30pm on ABC TV, with all episodes available to stream on ABC iview.

A go-to destination for artists and audiences alike, the acclaimed music interview series explores the universal idea that we all carry a soundtrack to our lives.

This season features an extraordinary line-up: global superstar Shania Twain, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett, Talking Heads visionary David Byrne, Savage Garden’s Darren Hayes, country music phenomenon Lainey Wilson, boundary-pushing artist Genesis Owusu, and ARIA Hall of Famers Vika & Linda Bull.

Guided by Zan, each guest shares five songs tied to a personal theme, unlocking stories of love, loss, identity and resilience.

Shania Twain reflects on the childhood poverty that shaped her; Darren Hayes opens up in a deeply personal story of healing; and David Byrne follows his creative curiosity across an extraordinary career. Jacinda Ardern reveals the songs that guided her leadership, while Peter Garrett shares his soundtrack for change. Lainey Wilson tips her cowboy hat to the songs that keep her grounded, and Genesis Owusu charts his remarkable evolution, while national treasures Vika & Linda’s stories of family, harmony and sisterhood are as powerful as the songs themselves.

Across the season, music unlocks the moments that define us. Because songs are more than memories, they’re time machines. Hit play, and the stories flow.

For audiences who want even more Take 5 with Zan Rowe, hear the podcast on Double J or anytime on ABC listen.

PRODUCTION CREDIT: Take 5 with Zan Rowe is an ABC Production. Created, hosted and written by Zan Rowe. Executive Producer: Nikita Agzarian. Series Producer: Josh Schmidt. Head Arts, Music and Events, Kath Earle.

[JohnsonTV]

The photos of guests for the new season were posted on ABC iView FB page this afternoon.

ABC iview

[TV.Cynic]

EPISODE 1 OF 8

THURSDAY 20 AUGUST 8.30PM

Take 5 with Zan Rowe returns for its fifth season, bringing together an exceptional line-up of global music, cultural and political icons. The acclaimed music interview series explores the universal idea that we all carry a soundtrack to our lives.

Peter Garrett is an Australian icon. As frontman for Midnight Oil and through a lifetime of political action, Peter has dedicated himself to fighting for change. In this episode, Zan asks him to share five songs that have changed him.

As the songs play Peter is transported back to his childhood, when he was the only boy in the school choir. He reflects on the life-changing meeting with his band of brothers in Midnight Oil, and opens up on the profound loss of drummer and friend Rob Hirst.

[TV.Cynic]

EPISODE 2

THURSDAY 27 AUGUST 8.30PM

Shania Twain’s story is the stuff of legend. But behind the record-breaking success is a woman whose greatest achievement has been backing herself when few others did.

In this episode Zan invites Shania to look back in time, and share the five songs that shaped her extraordinary career. We travel back to Shania’s poverty-stricken childhood where every dollar counted and music wasn’t a dream; it was a necessity.

[TV.Cynic]

EPISODE 3

THURSDAY 3 SEPTEMBER 8.30PM

Darren Hayes has lived a remarkable life. As the voice of Savage Garden and through a celebrated solo career, he became one of Australia’s biggest musical success stories. But behind the global fame was a man navigating childhood trauma, heartbreak, and depression. In this deeply personal episode, Zan asks Darren to share the five songs that helped him heal.

[TV.Cynic]

EPISODE 4

THURSDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 8.30PM

David Byrne is an icon. As the visionary frontman of Talking Heads and through an extraordinary solo career, he has continually reinvented what music and performance can be. In this episode, Zan asks David to share five songs that have sparked his curiosity.

As they sift through records and the early days of his band, David reveals himself a someone who finds out by doing, often to phenomenal results.

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EPISODE 5

THURSDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 8.30PM

Jacinda Ardern redefined modern leadership. Becoming New Zealand’s Prime Minister at just 37 years old she showed the world you can lead with empathy, kindness, and conviction while shepherding her country through extraordinary challenges.​

In this incredible and uplifting episode we see a different side of Jacinda, one dotted with a deep love of music. Flipping the script, she shares the songs that led her throughout a life less ordinary.

[JohnsonTV]

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