BBC buys Ben Miller and Sally Phillips comedy Austin

Australian series also stars Love On The Spectrum's Michael Theo

The BBC has acquired Austin, a ‘big-hearted’ Australian comedy series starring Ben Miller and Sally Phillips.

Miller plays a much-loved children’s author whose career appears over when he inadvertently causes a social media storm. But then Austin, the neurodivergent son he never knew existed, turns up out of the blue offering a possible way back from cancellation.

Phillips plays his wife and Michael Theo, one of the stars of Australian reality show Love On The Spectrum, plays Austin.

Sue Deeks, the BBC’s head of programme acquisition called the show ‘irresistibly charming, humorous and heart-warming’, adding: ‘BBC viewers are sure to find Austin a sheer delight from start to finish.’

Shot in Canberra and London last year, the show was created by Miller, Australian writer-director Darren Ashton and Brits Lloyd Woolf and Joe Tucker, who previously co-created BBC sitcom Black Ops.

Catherine Nebauer, of production company Northern Pictures, said: ‘The BBC is the perfect platform for Austin and we have no doubts its viewers will appreciate the clever blend of British and Australian humour.

‘With a stellar cast and production team, Austin has already proven to be a hit on ABC with local audiences and we can’t wait to share it with the world.’

When the comedy launched in Australia last month, The Guardian said: ‘This very funny and sharply executed comedy series has a big heart... Another season, please!’ while The West Australian called it ‘a laugh-out-loud must-see’.

It has not been announced when Austin will be available on the BBC.

Austin production credits

Made by: Northern Pictures and Lincoln Pictures in association with Screen Australia, Screen Canberra and ITV Studios
Writers/creators: Darren Ashton, Ben Miller, Lloyd Woolf, Joe Tucker, Adam Zwar and Kala Ellis
Directors: Darren Ashton and Madeleine Dye
Producer: Joe Weatherstone.
Executive producers: Catherine Nebauer, Darren Ashton, Ben Miller, Sally Phillips, Jessica Parker, Lloyd Woolf and Joe Tucker and Peter Anderson.

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Published: 10 Jul 2024