Boy Swallows Universe claims 11 Logies nominations

The TV hit based on Trent Dalton’s Boy Swallows Universe has claimed 11 Logies nominations, with the awards night to return to Sydney for the second time in 37 years.

2024 Gold Logie Award nominees Sonia Kruger, Tony Armstrong, Andy Lee, Robert Irwin, Larry Emdur and Julia Morris. Picture: Richard Dobson

Trent Dalton wowed the world with debut novel Boy Swallows Universe, and he and the gang behind the TV hit based on his book are on the cusp of Logies glory.

Dalton on Sunday said he was bouncing with pride and joy after the Netflix adaptation of his novel swept up a staggering 11 nominations, as our top TV awards night is set to return to Sydney for only the second time in 37 years.

Boy Swallows Universe takes on season two of Binge smash hit Love Me and Amazon’s Hollywood-led first foray into Australian drama, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, in the Silver Logie race.

Nine mornings host Sonia Kruger will vie for her second, back-to-back, Gold Logie win against comedy staple Andy Lee, TV royalty Robert Irwin and ABC sports presenter Tony Armstrong.

Felix Cameron and Phoebe Tonkin in Boy Swallows Universe.

Boy Swallows Universe, based on the semi-autobiographical novel by Dalton, is the story of a Brisbane boy with a family of junkies and a brother who can tell the future. It garnered 3.75 million views worldwide within days of its release and was the fifth-most watched Netflix show globally.

Dalton told The Australian on Sunday the avalanche of nods showed Australian viewers are willing, and wanting, to embrace great, complex and sometimes dark drama.

“I’m so truly touched by the number of nominations Boy Swallows Universe has received. This extraordinary ensemble of actors did things that kinda showed me why I wrote that book in the first place,” he said.

“I’m not just talking about their individual talents … I mean their heart and strength to carry really deep and sometimes troubling material and turn it into something the people of Australia have so wholeheartedly embraced … Dark stuff as well as the light stuff. That’s a big deal.”

Trent Dalton. Picture: Josh Woning

The TV series’ young lead, Felix Cameron, heads the nominations with nods in the most popular new talent and best actor categories.

Cameron is facing off with his on-screen dad, Simon Baker, in the best lead actor race and psychic brother Lee Tiger Halley in the most popular young talent line-up. Halley is also in the race for best supporting actor alongside Boy Swallows Universe co-stars Bryan Brown and Travis Fimmel.

Boy Swallows Universe’s Phoebe Tonkin is up for best lead actress and Sophie Wilde for best supporting actress.

Other Gold Logies contenders include I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! host Julia Morris, Seven Network compere Larry Emdur and actor Asher Keddie.

Nine star Kruger wants to have fun this time around after saying last week her controversial acceptance speech last year – where she made jokes about Lee’s professional other half, Hamish Blake – sent her into therapy.

“I feel I can go and have a great night,” she said.

Comedian Sam Pang will host the Logies at The Star Casino in Sydney on August 18.