The Fresh Blood scheme is the ABC’s long running program to foster new comedy talent. So it’s probably not a good sign that to date it hasn’t actually led to any comedy careers on the ABC. In fact, the only entrants who did manage to get a sitcom this decade – Aunty Donna, with 2022’s Aunty Donna’s Coffee Café – saw it axed after one season.
Aside from the recently completed dramedy Optics and the possible return of Mother & Son later in the year, the ABC doesn’t have any local half-hour comedies lined up for 2025 (a second season of Austin is also planned, but calling a show half filmed in the UK and with two UK leads ‘local’ is a bit of a stretch). So if you’re looking for fresh comedy faces on the ABC, this is pretty much it.
