13 10 2022 - Media release
'Spooktacular' new series The Spooky Files commissioned by ABC and BBC
(From top left): Guy Edmonds, Matt Zeremes, Paul Watters, Andrea Denholm, Tony Ayres
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) are excited to announce the co-commission of The Spooky Files, a new comedy series from Tony Ayres Productions (TAP) and Megaboom Pictures, the teams behind breakout successes, Nowhere Boys and Hardball. The series is financed with major production investment from Screen Australia and support from VicScreen.
Created by International Emmy award winning writers and directors Guy Edmonds and Matt Zeremes, the 10 x 24 min series is a fun, spooky, adventure-filled look at the universal experience of childhood fears. With an irresistible blend of contemporary characters and retro delights from the 80s and 90s, The Spooky Files will appeal to today's savvy audience who love a big mystery, lots of laughs and just the right amount of scary!
Guy Edmonds & Matt Zeremes are the lead writers and the series is produced by Paul Watters with Executive Producers, Tony Ayres and Andrea Denholm for TAP, which is part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group.
Production is expected to commence in early November 2022, shooting in Victoria. It will air on ABC ME in 2023 and in the UK on CBBC and BBC iPlayer.
Libbie Doherty, ABC Head of Children's, said "We're enormously proud to revisit our creative alliance with the BBC to partner with industry leading creatives from Tony Ayres Productions. This brilliant Australian creative team has another hilarious hit on their hands that demonstrates their understanding of the tween audience, their humour, their hang-ups and how to squeeze the funny out of every moment on screen. We know this one is going to be BIG! A huge thank you to Screen Australia and VicScreen for their dedication in supporting Australian productions and supporting the ABC to deliver exceptional quality Children's content to Aussie kids."
Andrea Denholm, Executive Producer, Tony Ayres Productions (TAP), said, "When Guy and Matt brought The Spooky Files to TAP at concept stage, we jumped at the chance to work with this incredibly talented team. From the creators of Hardball and the creator of Nowhere Boys, The Spooky Files is filled with humour, heart, mystery and is destined to find a huge and loyal audience. We are thrilled to have the support of ABC ME, CBBC and Universal International Studios in bringing this delightful series to children all over the world."
Grainne Brunsdon, Screen Australia's Head of Content said, "It's vital that Australian children can see themselves reflected on screen, and we are pleased to support this exciting new series that will represent the diversity of the Australian playground. The team behind the widely loved Hardball have proven their ability to connect with young viewers around the world, and The Spooky Files is a fresh, clever comedy that is set to entertain and thrill audiences on ABC and BBC."
Patricia Hidalgo, BBC's Director Children's and Education, said, "We are really excited to team up with ABC Australia, a renowned broadcaster with creativity that we admire. This is a great opportunity for us to forge a new working relationship with ABC that will result in brilliant new content for our audience and we look forward to bringing The Spooky Files to CBBC next year."
Victorian Minister for Creative Industries, Steve Dimopoulos, said, "Through our $191.5 million VicScreen strategy we're attracting more local productions than ever before, creating more jobs and supporting more businesses. Victoria offers some of the most exceptional filming destinations coupled with a dynamic and driven workforce, providing production companies with compelling opportunities to shoot within Victoria."
Production Credits: The Spooky Files is a Tony Ayres Productions (TAP) and Megaboom Pictures production for ABC ME and BBC. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with the ABC. Financed with support from VicScreen and BBC. NBCUniversal Global Distribution will manage international sales. TAP is part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group.
