Binge has announced the commission of a new original comedic documentary, SOLD! Who Broke the Australian Dream? – a one-hour special ‘exploring Australia’s very topical housing crisis’.
With production investment from Screen Australia, in association with Screen NSW, the Binge original follows self-confessed, C-grade celeb, Mark Humphries, a comedian on his own personal journey to uncover why so many Australians are struggling to secure home ownership.
In the show, Mark dives headfirst into Australia’s complex housing debate, looking at the current house prices, soaring rent, and the Australian Dream that feels more out of reach than ever.
A Binge spokesperson said the documentary will ‘take audiences on a rollercoaster of revelations, exploring the pressures on renters and what needs to change in Australia’s housing landscape.
‘By tackling an important issue in a humorous and engaging way, Executive Producer and Writer, Craig Reucassel, has drawn on inspiration from his own laugh-out-loud investigative show Big Deal to combine humour and expert insight to the series.’
Howard Myers-Rifai, Head of Unscripted Originals said: ‘We are excited to bring SOLD! Who Broke the Australian Dream? to Binge. The housing crisis is something we all experience, whether as renters or homeowners, and Mark’s journey provides a highly relevant and timely take on an issue that is affecting millions of Australians.
‘We look forward to sharing this unique show with our audience, combining important conversations with much-needed laughter.’
Filming for SOLD! Who Broke the Australian Dream? is already underway and will feature locations from around Australia, showcasing a range of the nation’s housing crisis. The series will premiere on 21 July at 8:30pm on FOX8 on Foxtel and on BINGE from 12:00pm.
SOLD! Who Broke the Australian Dream? is a Wedge-Tail Pictures production for Binge. Principal production funding from Screen Australia in association with Screen NSW. Financed with support from Henley Homes, Landcom, Housing Industry Association and City of Sydney.
Developed and financed with the assistance of Screen NSW through the Development Fund, Production Finance Fund and Regional Filming Fund.
Binge: May streaming highlights
Spit (30 May)
Film (2025). In this dark comedy, an ex-con returns to Australia after 20 years, gets detained. He faces old enemies, makes new friends in detention, and teaches his version of Australian mateship while staying ahead. Starring David Wenham, Sami Afuni and Kenaan Ali. Watch the trailer.
From ScreenHub’s review of Spit:
Released back in 2003, Gettin’ Square is not a classic Aussie crime film. It’s no Chopper or Two Hands or the original Mystery Road movies; if you watched The Square by mistake you’d have seen a much grittier film. But it is a reasonably entertaining romp heavily influenced by the Guy Ritchie style of frantic plotting and pushy characters, with one big drawcard: Johnny ‘Spit’ Spiteri (David Wenham).
In Gettin’ Square, Spit is a supporting character who runs riot, all but taking over the film thanks to an extremely committed performance from Wenham as a junkie who in real life would be annoying as hell. Fortunately, in the film he’s mostly gumming up the schemes of a bunch of low-rent criminals we like even less.
With his whiny voice, sweaty demeanour and circular ‘logic’ bubbling up every time he starts talking (and he never stops), he’s that guy hanging around the local mall you never, ever want to run into. And now he’s got his own movie. Read more …
Strife Season 2 (8 May)
Digital publisher Evelyn is set to take Eve Life, Australia’s first women’s website, to new heights with a fancy new office and some fresh faces on the team. But a rival site, relentless online trolls and the chaos of her personal life have her second-guessing everything. Navigating a cutthroat digital landscape isn’t getting any easier. Starring Asher Keddie.
