SBS Reveals Factual Programming for 2023 Including ‘Asking For It’

Jess Hill on Asking For It
Courtesy of SBS

SBS has unveiled its factual programming slate for the year ahead.

Off the back of the success of “See What You Made Me Do”, investigative journalist Jess Hill (pictured above) will return to SBS with “Asking For It”, a documentary series exploring consent in Australia including the myths and misconceptions surrounding it and how it impacts people’s lives.

In addition, “Who the Bloody Hell Are We?” will be presented by John Safran, Cal Wilson and Adam Liaw. The show will be a satirical look at Australians’ hidden multicultural history, which says “It’s time to set the record straight by writing the vanished, the banished and the demonised back into our national story”.

Julia Zemiro also has a new role with SBS, with “Great Australian Walks”. The show will transport viewers across Australia exploring history, geography, science, travel and culture.

There will also be a three-part observational documentary series “The Matchmakers”, which will dive into the unique and private world of old traditions, religion, family values and culture through matchmaking. It will ask questions including: Is there such a thing as love at first sight? What does “happily ever after” mean? And what’s love got to do with it?

Another observational series will be “The Big School Swap”, a “world-first social experiment” which will see students from Australia’s biggest Islamic school embark on a school swap with students from mainstream high schools.

Returning series include “Who Do You Think You Are?” with Barry Humphries, Rhonda Burchmore and Derryn Hinch, and “Every Family Has a Secret”, fronted by Noni Hazlehurst.

In December this year, SBS’ Indigenous broadcaster NITV will also celebrate its 10th anniversary since it began beaming into every Australian household.

On Dec. 12, to mark the occasion, there will be a special live broadcast “From the Heart of our Nation, A Celebration”, which will take place in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park as the sun sets on Uluru.

A line-up of Australia’s best Indigenous artists from across Australia will perform in celebration of the strength, resilience and talent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples.

In 2023, actor Rob Collins will front “The First Inventors” on NITV and Network 10. The show will investigate the innovations, complex knowledge systems and scientific discoveries of Australia’s first peoples.

There will also be a documentary “Our Law”, which will follow Indigenous officers and cadets as they attempt to break the cycle of Indigenous incarceration and repair the deeply troubled Aboriginal-police relationship, while also giving voice to the communities being policed.

Indigenous current affairs program “Living Black”, presented by Karla Grant”, will celebrate its 20th year on air, and Ernie Dingo’s “Going Places” will also return.

Quiz shows “Celebrity Letters and Numbers” and “Mastermind” will also return to SBS in 2023, as will Richard Ayoade’s “Question Time” and new seasons of “8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown”, “Hypothetical” and “Patriot Brains”.