Gallipoli productions will form the battle front for 2015 ratings war, writes Holly Byrnes

WITH no less than four productions inspired by the nation’s most iconic battle set to hit our screens this year, it is expected Gallipoli will dominate the ratings battle.

AS the Australian television industry prepares to return to the trenches for another year of ratings war, the centenary of the nation’s most iconic battle, Gallipoli, is poised to dominate the 2015 drama slate.

With no less than four productions inspired by the historical conflict, it is expected Channel 9 will be the first to fire off its eight-hour epic.

More than two years in the making, the Endemol production assembled a dream team including director Glendyn Ivin (Beaconsfield, Howzat), producers John Edwards, Imogen Banks and Robert Connolly and arguably this country’s best screenwriter, Christopher Lee (Paper Giants, Love My Way).

While the four lead roles will make stars of young actors including Kodi Smit-McPhee and Harry Greenwood, elder statesmen like Logie-winner Lachy Hulme, Justine Clarke and Matt Nable add depth to this extraordinary roll call of local talent.

For Hulme, who plays British secretary of war Lord Kitchener, reuniting with director Ivin (pictured, on set with Smit-McPhee) was “an absolute thrill”.

Lachy Hulme plays Lord Kitchener in Nine's drama epic, Gallipoli.

It was over a meal with Ivin, Edwards and Lee two years ago that the courtship of the Howzat, Power Games and Offspring star began.

“Kitchener was probably the most famous man in the world at that time (1915) ... more famous than the King of England and Glendyn said to me, ‘look, we want you to play the most famous guy in the world because you’re one of the most famous guys in the country right now.’ That was all about massaging my ego and clearly it worked, “ Hulme joked. “He can play me like a violin.”

Having been approached to appear in rival Gallipoli projects, Hulme rated this “the only game in town”.

“What Glendyn’s done, visually, is capture a lyrical beauty to the horror. He did it with Beaconsfield and this is the biggest TV project ever undertaken by one director in this country. It’s masterful.”

 

KITCHEN CLASH OVER MORAN

Chef Matt Moran is set to lead Kitchen Revolution.

SEVEN’S domination of the local reality TV genre is primed to continue this year, with Sydney restaurant supremo Matt Moran at the top of the network’s shopping list to anchor its new series, Kitchen Revolution.

The makeover program, which will see contestants compete to build their dream restaurant before it is open to the viewing public is like a template of Moran’s exhausting real work life.

With his ninth eatery now under construction, as part of James Packer’s Barangaroo development, Moran has turned the fickle world of food retail into an artform.

It is understood he is continuing talks with Seven, while Foxtel’s LifeStyle Food channel plans to use him in an upcoming series of specials.

Nine is expected to counter Seven’s kitchen capers with a food reality series of its own (linked to production company, Endemol), picking up on the renewed audience interest in Ten’s MasterChef and Seven’s home cooking juggernaut, My Kitchen Rules (back on air February 2).

 

TEARS TO FALL FOR TV FAREWELLS

Mad Men will wrap in 2015, starring Jon Hamm and Jessica Pare.

Stock up on the Kleenex and comfort food TV fans — with 2015 set to see audiences bid farewell to some of the small screen’s most beloved programs and stars — from Mad Men to David Letterman.

After a long goodbye, Letterman has confirmed his final show will air on May 22, with his Late Show replacement Stephen Colbert to then take his place behind the desk.

Fans of Don Draper (aka Jon Hamm) and his Sterling Cooper cohorts can look forward to more details about Mad Men’s seventh and final season this year, when the cast gather for their last international press conference as an ensemble in Los Angeles next week (with part two of the final season to air here express from the US on Foxtel’s showcase).

Ditto the “kids” of McKinley High who will finally graduate from pop culture phenomenon Glee, which begins warbling its goodbye to US audiences next week, while the series ender is poised to premiere here from February 13 on Eleven.

The seventh season of Nine’s US favourite The Mentalist, starring our own Simon Baker, has already begun airing overseas, with the final episode, White Orchids, to screen on February 18 (a local date is still to be confirmed).

After the tumultuous exit of its original star Charlie Sheen back in 2011, the Chuck Lorre-led sitcom Two And A Half Men will air its one-hour finale in the US, also on February 18 (with new leading man Ashton Kutcher hinting Sheen’s character Charlie Harper could make an unlikely cameo return despite being killed off).

Seven’s under-rated drama import Parenthood has also filmed its last, with the final season expected to air locally early in the ratings year.

While few will miss it, producers have also called last drinks on Cougar Town, starring Courteney Cox, which inexplicably survived six seasons, while the more likable, but low-rating Parks And Recreation will make good its exit with a final 13 episodes.

ONE TO WATCH Burns moves in to Ramsay St

Neighbours star Travis Burns plays Tyler Brennan.

AS Neighbours prepares to celebrate 30 years on air, a new generation of hot young talent is heading to Ramsay Street, led by Travis Burns. The 23-year-old began his creative career behind the lens, as a photography student, but his good looks quickly marked him as modelling material. On the acting fast track, he made his small screen debut on US television, in the CW Network’s action series SAFS. He’s moved to Erinsborough to play Tyler Brennan, the younger brother of Mark (Scott McGregor).

TV GOSSIP Bondi Vet stranded in paradise

Bondi Vet host Dr Chris Brown captured a recent trip to Christmas Island.

DR Chris Brown almost found himself stranded for Christmas on — where else? — Christmas Island. The Bondi Vet and his three-man crew were filming the island’s annual red crab migration when bad weather seemed to time its run to the arrival of their flight out to Perth. What to do but snorkel with sharks and explore picturesque limestone caves like this one (right). Oh, and endure some light-hearted ribbing from the locals who had caught on to Ten’s promotion for his other show, I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.

DON’T MISS Aden’s caged man sings again

Aden Young in the Sundance Channel original series Rectify.

IF it’s happy you want in 2015, then this is probably not the one for you. But for the welded-on fans of acclaimed US drama series Rectify, the show’s return could not come soon enough. The violent end to the perfectly formed launch season sets up new challenges for former death row prisoner Daniel Holden (Aden Young, right) who continues his struggle to understand his place in the world and his impact on those around him.

Rectify, Wednesday, 9.30pm, SBS