Teenage Boss

ABC’s Teenage Boss returns with new host Emma Watkins

The teens are in charge!

Casting has begun on the on the ABC’s Teenage Boss: Next Level – this time 15-17 year olds will step up and learn to manage the whole family’s finances!

The ABC and SAFC are delighted to announce that production is currently underway in South Australia on a third series of the entertaining, educational and compelling social experiment that sees Australian teens take hold of their household spending.

The cost of living is soaring and spending is as easy as a click of a button. Enter Teenage Boss: Next Level!

Under the guidance of brand-new host Emma Watkins, in each episode a teenager will assume responsibility for their family’s budget for an entire month. Cutting through to young people in a way only Emma can, the aim is to teach the teen (and the family) how to spend money in a sensible and balanced way.

ABC Head of Children and Family, Libbie Doherty said, “We are so excited to have Emma Watkins (The Amazing Race, Emma Memma, The Wiggles) lead a new lively bunch of Teenage Bosses, building their financial literacy and teaching viewers to do the same, one South Australian family at a time.”

Host Emma Watkins said: “I’m thrilled to join the beloved show, Teenage Boss for its third series. I’m looking forward to working through the challenges of managing budgets with the teens themselves and hoping to learn a thing or two myself. Tighten your purse strings - I’m on my way!”

South Australian Film Corporation CEO, Kate Croser said “ After the success of South Australia’s involvement in the second season of Teenage Boss we are delighted to welcome McAvoy Media back to the state. The latest production to be supported through the ABC SAFC Content Pipeline Fund, this exciting new series will boost South Australia’s capability in the factual and documentary television production space by expanding and diversifying our bench of experienced factual crew, employing a team of creative South Australians in the field including leading unscripted creative Colin Thrupp.”

McAvoy Media CEO, John McAvoy said: “ Teenage Boss is a show packed full of natural jeopardy and hilarious, laugh out loud moments. All the while delivering a critically important message to teens rights across Australia. And now, with the hugely talented Emma Watkins in charge, it’s about to go Next Level.”

Teenage Boss: Next Level will be coming to the ABC later this year.

Production credit: T eenage Boss: Next Level is a McAvoy Media production for ABC Children and Family. Principal production investment from ABC, in association with Screen Australia and the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC). Post Production in South Australia and NSW with funding from the South Australian and New South Wales Governments through the SAFC and Screen NSW. Produced by award-winning executive producer John McAvoy with South Australian based Colin Thrupp serving as co-executive producer. ABC Children and Family’s Commissioning Editor is Mary Ellen Mullane. Distribution by All3 Media International.

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According to TV Tonight, Teenage Boss: Next Level will premiere on ABC Family in October this year.

The teens are in charge! Teenage Boss: Next Level returns with new host Emma Watkins

Emma Watkins (The Amazing Race, The Wiggles) takes us deep inside the world of ten Aussie families where things are about to become truly next level. See what happens when teens are placed in charge of their family’s finances for one whole month. Watch them learn to budget, face real-life dilemmas, and discover creative ways to balance their household expenses, while still managing to have a blast.

Tune in for a mix of practical advice and the occasional melt down. All episodes of Teenage Boss: Next Level available to stream on ABC iview from Friday 11 October at 7am, then starts weekly on ABC Family on Saturday 12 October at 7:30pm.

With bigger kids come bigger challenges and in this series of Teenage Boss: Next Level, the stakes are even higher. Under Emma’s mentorship, watch as they hustle, stumble, strategise, and face real-world financial challenges head-on.

In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, with rental and mortgage pressures, soaring electricity bills and rising fuel costs, these teens are thrown into the deep end of financial management with nothing but their wits and Emma to guide them.

And they’re not just managing the household budget; they’re also saving for their own dreams and milestones. From planning extravagant 18th birthday parties to funding an overseas gap year or buying their first cars, the goals are bigger than ever before.

Meet teens like Jack (17), the confident soccer player who always manages to land on his feet, but will implementing a sausage-only diet for his mum and sister result in a mutiny?

Or there is Lainie (15), the pragmatically minded budding beef baron determined to save for a breeding heifer at any cost, even if it means cutting back on family luxuries or a family member… Or Ethan (15) the budding radio presenter desperate to buy his first car.

As these teens take on the challenge of managing household expenses, from budgeting for groceries to handling unexpected bills, viewers will witness the real-world impact of economic pressures on Australian families. With Emma’s advice, they’ll navigate the complexities of financial independence, teaching both themselves and their parents invaluable lessons about money management in today’s challenging economic landscape.

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Series 3, Episode 1

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Saturday 12 October 7.30pm

Jack (17)

Charismatic but disorganised soccer player Jack takes an unconventional approach to meals whilst managing his family’s budget.

Confident teenager Jack always manages to fall on his feet, but planning isn’t his strong suit. With the goal of funding a ticket for an international gap year, will Jack’s ‘fly by the seat of his pants’ attitude carry over to his budgeting skills or will mum Claire and sister Aimee bear the brunt of his cost saving measures?

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Emma Hawkins features on this week’s episode of Something to Talk About podcast, plus a photoshoot in Stellar magazine inside News Corp papers today.

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Series 3, Episode 2 Imogen

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Saturday 19 October 7.30pm

Roller derby loving Imogen is determined to save for a blow-out 18th bash by running her family finances for a month.

With her 18th birthday just around the corner, recent high school graduate Imogen has a real and tangible timeline to achieve her savings goal. Will this roller-derby loving athlete manage her busy schedule of sporting commitments and part time work, alongside being the boss? And will an unexpected electrician’s bill of epic proportions see her dreams of an equally epic birthday party slip away?

Family : John (47), Jo (44), Imogen (17) and Liam (11)

Purchase Goal: A blow out 18th birthday party at the family home.


Series 3, Episode 3 Ethan

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Saturday 26 October 7.30pm

Radio presenter in the making Ethan feels the pressure running his family of six for a month.

Running a family of six is no small feat. How will budding radio announcer Ethan manage the requests of such a large family with his determination to contribute to a goal of his first car? Will a special caller on his show ‘The Groovy Helpline’ give him some good advice or will his sibling’s misadventures strike a bad chord.

Family - Andrew (41), Lisa (40), Ethan (15), Logan (13), Hudson (11) & Olivia (6)

Purchase Goal: A second-hand car.


Series 3, Episode 4 Elise

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Saturday 2 November 7.30pm

Empathetic aspiring childcare educator Elsie takes on running her family budget for a month and faces an early set back.

Elsie is passionate about Irish Dancing and completing her vocational qualification in childcare. She’s keen to expand her budgeting knowledge as practice for when she eventually leaves home. A recent change in the stability of the family income means there might be some unexpected hurdles, but will an early and very substantial reduction in her budget dash her savings goals?

Family - Gemma (44) Liv (38) Elsie (16) Oscar (11)

Purchase Goal: To surprise her family with a day out.

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Series 3, Episode 6

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Saturday 16 November 7.30pm

Agricultural student Lainie has firm dreams of buying a breeding heifer to start her beef empire. Alarmed by the crippling costs of groceries, she makes a very difficult decision in order to keep within her budget, with some dire emotional consequences for her mum Tania.

Family - Ray (56), Tania (53), Lainie (15) & Archer (10)

Purchase Goal: A breeding heifer

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Series 3, Episode 7

Saturday 23 November 7.30pm

Ballerina and committed vegan Alix has strong ideas about how to run her household. Whilst aggressively changing the diets and social habits of her parents might be a strong financial strategy, is it going to push mum and dad tu-tu far? Or will an eleventh-hour meal out get them back on side?

Family - Scott (51), Nerissa (46) & Alix (16)

Purchase Goal: A home dance studio.

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Series 3, Episode 8

Saturday 30 November 7.30pm

Star Wars aficionado Nick will need more than the force to contain their large blended family’s spending. With a drawing tablet (that could lead to their future dream career) on the line, will a firm family discussion get them back on the same page and headed in the same direction?

Family - Doug (45), Olimpia (43), Oscar (19), Finn (18), Nick (15) & Victoria (13)

Purchase Goal: An electronic drawing tablet

3, Episode 9

Saturday 7 December 7.30pm

Surf Lifesaver Bolek surrenders to temptation whilst running his family’s budget for a month.

Bolek and his mum Justyna are a tight knit duo. Confident that his budgeting strategies will get him all that closer to his goal of his first car, will surf-lifesaving mad Bolek be balanced in the sacrifices expected to achieve his goal? Or will the allure of being a ‘Teenage Boss’ steer Bolek towards temptation leaving his mum to fend for herself?

Family - Justyna (44) and Bolek (16)

Purchase Goal: A second-hand car

Series 3, Episode 10 - Season Final

Saturday 14 December 7.30pm

Melody, an aspiring lawyer in the making, is confident that her negotiation skills will be her ticket to future success. However, the challenge of managing her mother’s expenses on an international trip—while also handling the demands of Year Eleven studies and piano exams—might just lead her to exclaim, “I object!” under the pressure.

Family - Jason (47), Rachel (44) and Melody (16)

Purchase Goal: A vintage look necklace for her birthday.

The next season will take place in Tasmania so Tasmanian-based applicants need only.

Episode 5, which premiered on November 9, features 15-year-old Lucas. He and his family, and Emma, used Auslan to communicate.

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Emma is on the cover (bottom left of page) of TV Week magazine this week.