SBS has commissioned three new original drama series for 2023.
The first, “Safe Home”, is from Imogen Banks, the award-winning producer behind “Offspring”. It charts the story of Phoebe (Aisha Dee, pictured above), a woman whose life gets turned upside down when she’s embroiled in a violent murder.
“While the Men Are Away”, meanwhile, is described as a “sexy, queer, revisionist historical drama about a group of women finding their power while the men are away fighting WWII”.
“Erotic Stories” will be “an anthology of contemporary tales about lust, desire and longing”, which also promises “an SBS twist”.
In addition, SBS said it would be curating the best dramas from across the globe in 2023.
This includes the Australian premiere of “Rogue Heroes”, from the creator of “Peaky Blinders”. The show stars Dominic West, Alfie Allen and Connor Swindells and tells the story of how the world’s most famous Special Forces Unit, the SAS, was born.
SBS will also play host to Season 6 of “The Handmaid’s Tale”, its final installation, and historical thriller “The Doll Factory”, an adaptation of the Sunday Times’ bestselling novel of the same name.
In addition, there will be three new short-form dramas from Digital Originals, the joint initiative between Screen Australia, SBS and NITV supporting screen creatives currently under-represented in the sector.
The three shows – “Night Bloomers”, “Appetite” and “Latecomers” will premiere on SBS On Demand.
“Night Bloomers” is an anthology of horror stories from the Korean diaspora and will hit the platform in 2023.
“Appetite”, meanwhile, explores what happens when a food delivery rider dies on the streets of Sydney, and an unlikely trio of fellow riders get entangled in a mystery to uncover the truth.
“Latecomers” will premiere next month and tells the story of two strangers with cerebral palsy who are determined to explore their relationships with sex and each other after watching their carers hook up at a bar.
James Taylor, managing director of SBS, said: “The Australia you see when you walk out your door each morning is what you see in everything we do at SBS. Contemporary Australia shines through our storytelling, and through our storytellers. Our content offer is an open invitation to all Australians to feel a sense of belonging, and over the year ahead we’ll deliver more original content across our network than ever before.
“SBS is the media network for the Australia of today – and tomorrow – continuing to innovate our services for a rapidly evolving population. No other network connects with Australians like we do, and we’re proud to be reaching more people than ever before with a unique content offering, the best digital user experience as rated by audiences, and a compelling commercial proposition that positions brands in a trusted and sae environment.”
Kathryn Fink, director of television and online content, added: “2023 is set to be a bumper year across the network, with a record number of SBS Original dramas and documentaries that will entertain, inspire and break new ground. And before we get there, we’ve got all 64 matches of the world’s biggest sporting event, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, live and free to all Australians.
“SBS invests in award-winning content that speaks to who we are as a nation and can have real, meaningful impact. We’re also proud to be driving change and supporting a future for our industry where everyone belongs. We want the stories we see on screen – not just on SBS – to truly represent Australia, and we invest in more than a dozen initiatives that break down barriers and support career pathways and progression for the storytellers that will lift our entire sector to new heights.”
The announcement formed part of SBS’ Upfronts event which also saw the broadcaster reveal the location of “Alone Australia”.