Settle into the sofa these are the biggest TV shows coming to our screens in 2021

Back To The Rafters, Amazon Prime

More than seven years since Australia last saw the Rafters, the much-loved family finally return – and a lot has been happening in their lives. For starters, little Ruby Rafter is now nine years old and politically active.

Erik Thomson, who returns as dad Dave in Back To The Rafters, says it’s like catching up with old mates.

“That’s the great thing about it for us too, that we find out what happened next,” he tells TV WEEK.
“We received the script and it was like, ‘Oh, what’s going on? Oh, that’s where they are!’ and I think it’ll be the same experience for the audience.”

The sixth season of Packed To The Rafters ended with Dave and Julie (Rebecca Gibney), along with baby Ruby, heading off in the panel van for a trip around Australia. When the story picks up, Dave and Julie have created a new life in the country town they fell in love with, Buradeena.

“The series explores the desire for a tree change many of us have felt at one time or another,” series producer Chris Martin-Jones explains.

Chris says the “feisty” Ruby is aware of the challenges the world is facing.

“She becomes politically active and sets off a chain of events that surprise the family.”

As for Dave and Julie’s three older children, Rachel (Georgina Haig), Ben (Hugh Sheridan) and Nathan (Angus McLaren), they’re living their own lives in the city.

“Nathan’s son Edward is now seven years old and we see the struggle Nathan faces as a single parent.”

As well as Willow Speers as Ruby and Kaspar Frost as Edward, other new cast members include acting legend Bruce Spence as Ruby’s artist mentor Charles Whiteman and Haiha Le as Cassie Rafter.

“The gorgeous Haiha Le brings to life a story of love and loss which many people will be able to relate to,” Chris adds.

Erik, 53, says Rafters has been a “very, very big part” of his life.

“It was very nice to get back into those shoes and spend some time in that world again,” he says. “I’m really hoping that people are going to enjoy it.”

The First Inventors, 10/NITV

Actor Rob Collins turns presenter for this four-part doco that looks at brilliant innovations and breakthroughs made here in Australia between 70,000 and 120,000 years ago.

Rob will be talking to First Nations authorities who have been researching ancient Indigenous civilisation.
They’ve made discoveries about everything from tools to art to irrigation that show just how clever the First Nations people were.

Expect to be wowed by Indigenous ingenuity and to get a better understanding of the country we live in.

Dancing With The Stars: All Stars, Channel Seven

The beloved reality dancing series is back and at a new home on Channel Seven.

The network picked up the popular series and is reviving it with an extra special All Star series.

We’re hoping for a recreation of this iconic moment from Tom Williams.

Making It Australia, 10

Who will reign supreme when the most skilled craft enthusiasts in Australia face off against each other?

In a wholesome new show from executive producers (and Parks And Recreation stars) Nick Offerman andAmy Poehler (both below), contestants, or “makers”, compete in themeddesign challenges to test their skills.

With one contestant eliminated every week, the winner, or Master Maker,will walk away with a hefty $100,000.
Combining light-hearted fun and a lotof laughs, Making It brings the good vibes we need for 2021.

Married At First Sight, Channel Nine

With only two couples from MAFS lasting the test of time, the experiment doesn’t have the best track record for everlasting love.

With the inclusion of Alessandra Rampolla, a certified clinical sexologist with over 20 years’ experience joining the experts in 2021, hope is not lost!

Replacing Dr Trisha Stratford, Alessandra won’t shy away from the topics of sex and intimacy, believing that a good sexual relationship is paramount for a life partner.

“Sexuality is an important aspect of the relationship,” says Alessandra, “I’m excited to help open up this conversation.”

With Alessandra on board, expert Mel Shilling believes this season is the most raw and honest yet.

“More than ever, I think you are going to see yourself in our participants…”Mel says.

“Whether you are single or loved up, their authenticity and honest disclosure is something you’ll appreciate and eventually treasure. I certainly do.”

Outlander (S5), Foxtel

Throughout four seasons, time traveller Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe) and her Scottish Highlander husband, Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) have been through a lot, time zones included.

Now, the couple are residing in America, fighting to retain their home at Fraser’s Ridge while the American Revolutionary War looms over the horizon. Meanwhile, Claire and Jamie’s daughter, Brianna (Sophie Skelton) is pregnant by either her partner, Roger Mackenzie (Richard Rankin) or her rapist, Steven Bonnet (Ed Speelers).
While Roger and Brianna have had a tumultuous relationship, which saw Jamie sell him to the Mohawk Tribe after a case of mistaken identity, they’re now back together.

With time travel on the cards, the world truly is full of opportunity for the family.

Spicks And Specks, ABC

Not so much a quiz show as an institution in Aussie music and comedy, Spicks And Specks is back for a full season in 2021 – or, at least, a season of 10 episodes.

The show, hosted by Adam Hills, with Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough as team leaders, ran from 2005 to 2011, but since then, fans have had to make do with occasional specials, because Adam’s career has taken off in such a big way in the UK.

The new season of Spicks And Specks promises to keep to the same formula that has kept viewers hooked, even in repeats, for so many years. As always, it will feature a bunch of great Aussie comedians, including Luke McGregor and Tom Ballard.

To bring the show into the 2020s, Myf, 47, promises there will also be “loads of young, amazing performers”. Look out for G Flip and Alex Lahey

MasterChef Australia, 10

After a huge season featuring returning favourites, MasterChef Australia is back with unknown home cooks. But fans can be sure that this 13th season will have plenty of the two things that make it a hit: incredible food and lots of tears.

Melissa Leong, who’s again judging alongside Andy Allen and Jock Zonfrillo, says MasterChef 2021 is shaping up “spectacularly”.

“The skill level in this year’s class of contestants is not only huge, but so are their hearts,” she tells TV WEEK. “If the audience feel even a fraction of how we’ve felt so far, then we’re in for an amazing ride.”

Aftertaste, ABC

Move over, Gordon Ramsay – here comes Easton West. In new comedy series Aftertaste, Erik Thomson plays a very famous, very angry chef, whose international career implodes when he blows his top onetoo many times.

“He’s kind of cancelled,” Erik, 53, explains to TV WEEK.

“He has nowhere else to go but to his alcoholic hoarder of a father in the Adelaide Hills and stay in his childhood bedroom.”

Easton runs into his niece Diana (Natalie Abbott),a talented pastry chef, and decides he could use herto resurrect his career. The wealthy Margot (Rachel Griffiths) is also part of his plans. But nothing unfolds the way he expects it to.

“Rachel was so fantastic,” Erik adds. “She knew exactly what she was doing.”

For Erik, it’s a very different role from the ones he played in Packed To The Rafters and 800 Words.

“It just appealed to meto do something a littlebit irreverent,” he says.

The Voice, Channel Seven

After making the leap from the Nine Network to Channel Seven, The Voice returns with former host Sonia Kruger back at the helm. But that isn’t the only change in 2021.

After nine years, coach Delta Goodrem will be leaving the show, along with Boy George and Kelly Rowland.

The new-look coach line-up is (from far left) UK pop star Rita Ora, Guy Sebastian, Keith Urban and Jessica Mauboy.

“I know first-hand exactly how life-changing a show like this can be,” Jessica, 31, says. “I’m honoured to be

part of such an experienced team of coaches.”

How will the new coaches compare to the last bunch? We’ll just have to wait and see.

Total Control, ABC

The sight of two of Australia’s greatest actresses – Deborah Mailman and Rachel Griffiths – in one drama trading verbal blows was every bit as good as we had hoped in this totally awesome drama.

In the first series, Rachel’s character, Prime Minister Rachel Anderson used the death of a senator to install newcomer to the political scene, Alex Irving (Deb) as a kind of stunt. But she got more than she bargained for with the flawed but very capable Alex.

While Alex may have been able to unseat Rachel she must now face the judgement of the Australian people at the polls. Does she have what it takes?

The Block, Nine Network

After the biggest build in the series’ history, then a production hit by Covid-19 hit, you might think Scott Cam would be looking for an easy time on The Block 2021.

Think again.

The carpenter-turned TV host is taking his renovation competition into the suburbs this season, with five teams from around the country taking on full-size family homes and backyards, with all the challenges that can bring.

“The Block 2020 was bigger and more challenging than we could ever have imagined!” Cam tells TV Week. “I’m looking forward to a more normal Block this year, but what is normal on The Block?”

Moving the series into a cul-de-sac in the upscale Melbourne Bayside suburb of Hampton is something Cam says he’s wanted to do for years, but don’t expect these houses to be simple fixer-uppers.

“Sorry Australia, but yet again, this will be a big one!” he says.

New Gold Mountain, SBS

This is SBS’s first period drama, and it’s going to be an epic one. Set on the Victorian goldfields in the 1850s, it’s the story of the gold rush told from the Chinese miners’ point of view, wrapped around a murder mystery.

New Gold Mountain stars Mulan’s Yoson An as Leung Wei Shing, the headman of the Chinese digging camp, and Vikings’ Alyssa Sutherland as the gutsy Belle Roberts.

The four-part series was shot partly at Ballarat’s historic Sovereign Hill.

The Bachelor/The Bachelorette, 10

The pursuit of love is eternal…and so is The Bachelor and The Bachelorette Australia!

This year will see another Bachelor and Bachelorette step into the Mansion to find their one true love. And while love may not be guaranteed, drama certainly is.

After surprising us with two Bachelorettes in sisters Elly and Becky Miles last year, we’re convinced host Osher Günsberg (above) will usher in more juicy twists and turns.

For the HUGE, full list of shows to look forward to pick up this week’s issue of TV WEEK in stores NOW!