The ABC today announced its 2020 programming slate at a mini upfronts in Sydney yesterday afternoon.

“In a world overrun by global media giants, Australian stories have never been more important. Equally, the ABC has never been more essential to the Australian people,” said Michael Carrington, ABC director entertainment and specialist.

“In 2020, the ABC will be the engine room of Australian creativity, putting more Australian faces, voices and stories on screen than any other broadcaster.

“The stories we share will speak to and for all Australians, firing their imagination through bold content and creativity. We will engage new audiences by increasing the diversity of our programs and people, on and off screen, sparking meaningful change in how we see ourselves and each other.”

Highlights revealed today include new series Fight for Planet A: The Climate Challenge and Big Weather (and how to survive it) both fronted by Craig Reucassel (main photo); we explore the culture of outrage with Reputation Rehab and Australia’s relationship with alcohol in Shaun Micallef’s On the Sauce. Outback Ringer and Australia’s Ocean Highway take us into the secret world of Australia’s top end and the ocean’s depths.

Two-parter Dark Emu, with author Bruce Pascoe, and feature-length documentaries Firestarter: The Story of Bangarraand The Australian Dream, share the voices of Indigenous Australia and explore broader themes of race, identity and belonging.

Revelation, the new documentary series from award-winning ABC journalist Sarah Ferguson, unpeels layers of cover-up to expose the full, shocking picture of clergy abuse in Australia.

Among returning series, Gardening Australia, Catalyst and Compass will help people navigate and find joy in their world and the ABC is proud to again showcase regional Australian stories in Back Roads and Landline.

The ABC is delighted to announce that Hamish Macdonald will join the ABC as the new host of weekly flagship discussion program Q&A and as a senior presenter across television and radio.

In drama, newcomers Stateless and Fallout and returning favourites Mystery Road, Harrow and The Heights will continue to tell remarkable stories in ways that are entertaining, relatable and uniquely Australian.

The eye-opening and award-winning You Can’t Ask That, as well as Annabel Crabb and the Ferrone family who will travel even Further Back in Time for Dinner.

A new series of Australia’s most popular kids show, Bluey, is coming to ABC KIDS. Since its launch in October 2018 Bluey has become the nation’s most-watched children’s program with a total of 152 million program plays and a VPM series rating of 2.3Million. Kids will also love Are You Tougher Than Your Ancestors? and fast-paced action thriller Itch.

Our Wednesday night line-up is back with new series of Gruen, The Weekly with Charlie Pickering, Anh’s Brush with Fame, Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell and Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery.

Fresh from his TV Week Gold Logie win, Tom Gleeson returns to screens with another series of Hard Quiz, and laugh along with new series of Rosehaven and Black Comedy.

The ABC would like to thank our production partners and our state and federal funding partners for their continued support, particularly Screen Australia, Screen NSW, Screenwest, Screen Queensland, Screen Canberra, Screen Tasmania, Film Victoria, South Australian Film Corporation and Screen Territory.

ABC Radio will be announcing its program and presenter line-ups for 2020 in early December and stay tuned for more comedy announcements to coincide with the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in early 2020.