Charlie Pickering from The Project is joining ABC TV’s lineup of comedians – Wil Anderson, Shaun Micallef, Rob Sitch, Judith Lucy and Josh Thomas – to headline new and returning shows in 2015.
Pickering, who quit the Ten news and entertainment show this year, will star in his own weekly news and comedy vehicle, which is yet to be named.
The ABC’s director of television, Richard Finlayson, said Pickering was “really keen to join the ABC”.
“He sees the ABC as a place he can return to comedy, but he’s bringing with him all the benefits of working on The Project which we have a great deal of respect for,” said Finlayson, who unveiled the ABC’s 2015 programming slate on Wednesday. “Charlie can comment on the events of the week and exercise the full powers of his comic talents.”
Micallef will star in a new narrative comedy show, The Ex PM, as well a returning series of Mad As Hell. The high-rating series about advertising, Gruen, hosted by Anderson, will return with regular panellists Todd Sampson and Russel Howcroft.
Finlayson told Guardian Australia he was happy to be talking about new ABC shows and a strong comedy lineup amid stories about cuts to the ABC’s budget.
“We’re always conscious of budget pressures but regardless of whatever cuts come our way the ABC will be impactful, relevant and have Australian voices.”
Finlayson confirmed ABC2 would remain on air next year and revealed several new commissions for the channel which was at one stage being considered for closure. A Lawrence Leung comedy series and a quirky documentary series on tattoo parlours are among the commissions.
Comedy aside, there will be several strong new factual series, including two from the popular Four Corners reporter Sarah Ferguson. Ferguson will front an examination of the Labor years under Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard as well as a two-part series on domestic violence called No Excuses!
Ferguson said: “What makes Australian men so aggressive towards their wives, girlfriends, sisters and daughters? Why do some women feel unable to leave violent partners? Can the legal system protect them, and what services are there to offer help to women in such desperate need?”
New Australian dramas include The Secret River, a screen adaptation of Kate Grenville’s classic novel; Hiding, about a family in witness protection; and The Beautiful Lie, a contemporary take on Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina. Redfern Now: Promise Me, a 90-minute telemovie, is the final offering in the acclaimed Redern Now drama series.
There is a raft of Anzac commemorative programming, including the TV debut of the political journalist George Megalogenis, who sits down with our last six prime ministers to explore the Australian success story for a series called Making Australia Great.
The ABC will start to generate new revenue next year when it opens up its archive as well as current programming for purchase and download through iView, its popular catch-up TV platform.
“We will release our ‘link to buy’ within iView because our audience says they want to be able to find shows that are outside the free 14-day window,” Finlayson said. “The vast majority of ABC shows are available in iTunes but now you’ll be able to buy them on iView.”
Shows which have not yet been recommissioned but may still return include Kitchen Cabinet, Reality Check, The Code and The Chaser.
