This hilarious satire sitcom followed a Lebanese Australian family who won big in a lottery and moved from the Western Sydney suburb of Lakemba to the swanky, and certainly less ethnically diverse Eastern Sydney suburb of Vaucluse.
What followed was a brilliant comedy of errors as the Habib family attempted to adapt to their new surroundings and ‘fit in’ with their posh neighbours.
Over two seasons at seven episodes apiece, Australia laughed, cried and cringed with second hand embarrassment at the hijinks of the Habib family who brought with them a fresh comic perspective to multicultural Australia.
Vauclause wasn’t prepared when the Habib family came knocking!
(IMAGE: Channel Nine)Unfortunately, Here Comes the Habibs! (2016-2017) was not renewed for a third season, but that doesn’t mean we don’t regularly tune back in and revisit our favourite family.
.png?resize=380%2C285)
More than five years on from the last episode airing, TV Week thought we would take a trip down memory lane and catch up with the cast today.
Scroll on, nostalgia awaits…
Helen Dallimore as Olivia O’Neill
Helen is also a world famous musical theatre performer, originating the role of Glinda in the West End production of Wicked the Musical.
(IMAGE: Channel Nine)This veteran actress has kept relatively quiet in the years since Here Come the Habibs! Finished airing with guest roles in short film Remembering Agatha (2017), movies a Suburban Love Story (2018) and Two Heads Creek (2019) and as Ms Crapper/Ms Blapper in ABC series Hardball (2019 – 2021).
She has however continued to perform in numerous musical theatre productions, most recently as Mrs Burke in Girl from the North Country in 2022 as part of Sydney Festival.
Darren Gilshenan as Jack O’Neill
Who could argue with that face?
(IMAGE: Channel Nine)After stepping out of the shoes of snobby Jack, Darren has appeared in the likes of True Story with Hamish & Andy (2017), No Activity (2015 – 2018), Stateless (2020) and more notably with starring roles in Harrow (2018 – 2021), How to Stay Married (2018-2021).
His most recent on-screen appearances were alongside Tim Minchin and House of Dragon star Milly Alcock in Upright (2022) and in Binge original series Colin from Accounts (2022).
Michael Denkha as Fou Fou Habib
Michaels’ character Fou Fou couldn’t believe his families good fortune!
(IMAGE: Channel Nine)Following Here Come the Habibs! Michael went on to star in several local television series in a guest or supporting capacity including alongside former castmate Darren Gilshenan in Rake and How to Stay Married.
His most recent on-screen appearance was in Stan original series Wolf Like Me (2022).
Kat Hoyos as Layla Habib
This Aussie actress describes herself as a ”triple threat.”
(IMAGE: Channel Nine)This actress describes herself as a ”triple threat” and has been hard at work securing guest roles on a handful of Australia productions, most recently in Amazing Grace (2021).
She’s gone on to work as a backup dancer for the likes of Guy Sebastian, Paulini and Natalie Bassingthwaighte as well as performing at both the MTV and Aria Awards just to name a handful of events.
Kat is also celebrated for her choreography and has collaboration with numerous companies on shoots, performances and product launches.
She is also performing routinely in stage and musical theatre productions in her home base of Sydney as well as teaching improv skills at a number of major performing arts school including NIDA.
Rob Shehadie as Jahesh
As well as acting in the show, Rob also wrote and created it.
(IMAGE: Channel Nine)Whilst on screen appearances have been few and far between for Rob, he has been busy performing in live theatre, touring the country with several comedy shows, most recently in the Once Upon a Time in Lebanon stage show.
According to his website, he is currently open to work as a brand ambassador, writer, MC, comedian and actor.
He also appeared as a contestant on the fifth season of The Celebrity Apprentice Australia in 2021.
