ABC iview – quick links
ABC iview: new this week
Judi Dench: Shakespeare, My Family and Me – 5 January
Documentary (2025). Dame Judi Dench turns historical detective to solve the greatest mystery of her past: did one of her ancestors actually meet her hero, William Shakespeare?
Having played nearly every key female role in the Bard’s canon, the Oscar-winning actress also looks back on the special place the words and worlds of Shakespeare have had in her luminous career on stage and screen. Watch the trailer.
The Tree of Wisdom – 5 January
Series. A music-filled, laugh-out-loud adventure from the world of The Wiggles, this new spin-off series homes in on the Wiggles’ much-loved new offsider – The Tree of Wisdom – a viral sensation and loved across generations. The lovable leaf-covered larrikin and his sapling-sized sidekick have ‘tree-mendous’ fun across 18 five-minute episodes, throwing energetic dance parties and proving that learning can be as fun as a ‘Bush Doof’!
Disease X: Hunting the Next Pandemic – 5 January
Documentary (2025). In this new BBC production, virologist Dr Chris Van Tulleken embarks on a global investigation into the most urgent science story of our time: the hunt for the pathogen that could trigger the next pandemic. Known only as ‘Disease X’, it is shrouded in uncertainty. Its origin is unknown, but its impact could be much more severe than Covid-19.
Dr Karl’s How Things Work Season 2 – 6 January
Documentary series. Dr Karl heads to eight new factories to find out how some of Australia’s best-known products are made. With an access all areas pass to see how everyday items like books, guitars, and chips are made, he’ll discover the secrets of modern manufacturing.
Human – 6 January
Documentary series (2025). Around 300,000 years ago, Homo sapiens appeared in Africa. Today, they’re the only remaining human species left on the planet. How did this happen? This new BBC/PBS series is hosted by paleoanthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi and delves into the deep historical past of Homo sapiens to discover how humans became the most dominant animal on Earth.
Hard Quiz Season 11 – 7 January
Series. Tom Gleeson is back with a fresh batch of experts for Australia’s wildest quiz show, ready to award the Big Brass Mug to whichever expert best answers his Hard Quiz questions on their expert topic.
Grand Designs Transformations Season 2 – 8 January
Series. Australia’s boldest and most daring home renovators return in the new series of Grand Designs Transformations. They risk their sanity and savings to reinvent worn, tired spaces and prove that resourcefulness and creativity matter most when tackling renovations during Australia’s housing and cost-of-living crisis.
Richard Osman’s House of Games Night Season 1-2 – 10 January
Series. In BBC One’s primetime spin-off of Richard Osman’s House of Games, four famous faces go head-to-head to test their general knowledge in a variety of fun trivia-based games.
Fun, witty, and full of surprises, Richard Osman’s cross-examination of the celebs provides an entertaining watch for all the family as the level of competitiveness and camaraderie grows. And of course, this warm, feel-good quiz is perfect to play along with at home.
Portrait Artist of the Year UK Seasons 1-8 – 11 January
Series. Did you enjoy watching Aussie artists compete to create celebrity portraits with live sitters in the ABC’s Portrait Artist of the Year? Well, now you can binge all eight seasons of the original UK series, where the capital cities of the British Isles play host to competitions to find the UK and Ireland’s most talented portrait artists and celebrate the art of portraiture.
ABC iview: recently added
Goolagong – 4 January
Limited Series. Filmed in Victoria in 2025, this three-part mini-series is based on the inspiring true story of world champion tennis player Evonne Goolagong, one of Australia’s most loved female sporting heroes. With a powerhouse team of First Nations creatives behind the camera, Goolagong was developed in close collaboration with Goolagong herself and her husband Roger Cawley, who are both attached as associate producers.
Rising star Lila McGuire (The Twelve) leads the cast as Evonne, joined by Marton Csokas (Equalizer) as coach Vic Edwards, Felix Mallard (Ginny & Georgia) as Roger Cawley, and Luke Carroll (Mystery Road: Origin) as Evonne’s brother, Kenny Goolagong.
