Foxtel plans broader diversity of female characters across 2016 line-up

THE female revolution will be televised, with Foxtel supercharging its 2016 programming with some of Australia’s most talented leading ladies.

THE female revolution will be televised, with Foxtel supercharging its 2016 programming with some of Australia’s most talented leading ladies.

Industry legend Sigrid Thornton, small screen regular Danielle Cormack, recently returned Anna Torv, the acclaimed Marta Dusseldorp and Hollywood export Jacki Weaver are just some of the female actors who will dominate the subscription TV giant’s channels next year.

AACTA nominee Thornton will guest star in the new season of Wentworth, it was announced on Thursday, and joined her new co-star Cormack in celebrating the growing opportunities for women on the local small screen.

“We’re following a global trend that does seem to be introducing a lot more strong female characters into the mix with TV,” Thornton, 56, said.

“The Danes are doing it, the Americans are doing it very well … women of different age groups as well, and that’s a healthy thing to see because it reflects our society as it is.”

The acclaimed performer will guest star in the hit prison drama as inmate Sonia Stevens, a cosmetics business owner and socialite.

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While she was tight-lipped about the storyline, Thornton admitted she was “confronted with the intensity of the show, which is quite violent at times”.

The special appearance marks Thornton’s second stint behind fictional bars. She filmed 26 episodes of the original series, Prisoner, as a teenage murderer — just before her breakthrough film role in George Miller’s The Man From Snowy River.

Next year’s schedule will ­include a new chapter of the ­acclaimed period drama A Place To Call Home.

Celebrity chef Donna Hay. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Jordan and Zac Stenmark and Cheyenne Tozzi from Australia's Next Top Model. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Fox Sports presenters Dan Ewing, Barry Hall and Braith Anasta. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Abby Earl returns in A Place To Call Home.

The third season is currently airing and has been a ratings hit for the subscription TV giant, which stepped in to save the production from Channel 7’s scrapheap.

“The numbers are incredible. We’re beating sport (broadcasts), which is just remarkable, so that tells me it’s resonating,” Dusseldorp, star of the series, said.

The actor, who’s been busy this year with back-to-back roles in the miniseries Jack Irish as well as the legal drama Janet King, is looking forward to starting work on APTCH’s fourth season early next year.

“I’m really excited to see where each of the characters end up,” she said.

Foxtel’s drama slate will also include political thriller Secret City, with Torv leading an all-star ensemble cast that includes Weaver.

“The story is incredible,” Torv said. “I read the script and couldn’t put it down. And the cast is so impressive. I think people will love the story.”

On the reality front, a raft of fan favourites will return, including Australia’s Next Top Model, The Real Housewives Of Melbourne, Gogglebox Australia, Selling Houses Australia,River Cottageand The Recruit.

FOXTEL’S LINE-UP IN SUMMARY

New local shows

Secret City

The Kettering Incident

Donna Hay — Basics to Brilliance

I Own Australia’s Best Home

Tiny House World: Australia

Deadline Design

Returning local shows

Wentworth

A Place To Call Home

Australia’s Next Top Model

The Real Housewives of Melbourne

The Recruit

The Great Australian Bake Off

Gogglebox Australia

Selling Houses Australia

River Cottage Australia

Grand Designs Australia

New overseas shows

Westworld

Vinyl

War and Peace

The Night Manager

Outcast

Returning overseas shows

Game of Thrones

The Walking Dead

Fear The Walking Dead

Ballers

Luther

Ray Donovan

Girls

VEEP

Vera

Arrow

Outlander

Suits

Inside Amy Schumer

The Flash

Call The Midwife

Kingdom