BBC One acquires hit Australian drama The Heights
David Farnor | On 07, Jun 2020
BBC One has acquired Australian drama The Heights.
At a time when schedules need filling and productions are preparing to resume filming, the Beeb is looking overseas to keep its daytime schedules filled. It has bagged the rights to the first two seasons of The Heights.
Produced by NBCUniversal International Studios’ Matchbox Pictures, in association with For Pete’s Sake Productions it explores the relationships, work and hurdles faced by six families living in a tower block in a rapidly gentrifying inner-city district.
The show transports viewers into the inner-city neighbourhood of Arcadia Heights following an urban community trying to protect its way of life against the backdrop of the gentrification of its neighbourhood. It also features a medley of characters with different cultures and backgrounds from the tower community, who stick together when the chips are down.
The Heights was created at Matchbox Pictures by Warren Clarke (Mustangs FC), who also serves as Showrunner, and Co-Creator Que Minh Luu. The show is produced by Peta Astbury-Bulsara (The Marriage of Figaro) and executive produced by Debbie Lee for Matchbox Pictures and Sally Riley and Que Minh Luu for the ABC.
Carla-Maria Lawson, Head of BBC Daytime and Early Peak, says: “This slice of life from the melting pot that is urban Australia is loaded with humour and drama and quickly draws you into the very diverse lives of its characters. Daytime viewers love drama with compelling story telling at its heart and The Heights does that brilliantly.”
Alastair McKinnon, Managing Director, Matchbox Pictures, adds: “Australian viewers have taken the diverse mix of families living in Arcadia Heights to their hearts and we are enormously proud of the show. With British viewers’ undoubted enthusiasm for Australian soap operas, we feel very excited about the potential for The Heights on BBC One.”
The Heights will premiere its first season on 15th June, with the second season to air later this year.