The debut season of True Story With Hamish & Andy was a ratings hit last year on the Nine Network.
It’s part of the reason larrikin collaborators Hamish Blake and Andy Lee feel a certain pressure to live up to last year’s success.
“We don’t feel the [TV] ratings pressure, but we certainly feel pressure for everyone who has put so much effort into it,” Andy, 37, admits.
“We’d like it to go well and be as good as possible.”
Hamish and Andy’s production company, Radio Karate, devoted a huge amount of time to season two of True Story With Hamish & Andy.
Andy says finding the stories, writing the scripts, filming and editing can take more than 12 months. He’s directed a couple of episodes this season too.
Once again, they’ve called upon some of Australia’s most talented actors to be part of the show.
They include former TV WEEK Gold Logie Award nominee Essie Davis, Rob Sitch, Debra Lawrence, Kate Jenkinson, John Waters, Denise Scott and Michala Banas.
“There are 140-plus speaking roles,” Hamish, 36, says. “There are so many great actors who’ve come forward this time around.
“And we’ve also used some of our favourites from last year.”
When filming wrapped on season two, the boys were exhausted from months of work in television and radio.
“A bit of time off would be great,” Andy tells TV WEEK.
“Doing both the TV show and the drive show [which airs on Southern Cross Austereo radio] – we wouldn’t call it work, because it’s so much fun – last year meant we had a lot on our plate.
“We want to wrestle back a little bit of work/life balance.”
With so much time and effort put in to creating the second season, it seems the boys have nothing to worry about when it comes to pressure. It’s sure to be a smash hit!
Season two of True Story With Hamish & Andy premieres Tuesday 7th of August at 8:40pm on the Nine Network.
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