BINGE, DAZN’s entertainment streaming platform, today announced that production has commenced in Sydney on Tough Love, a new Australian original comedy series about a family confronting the possibility of life without their mother and three very unprepared children.
Created by and starring Rick Donald (Population 11, Educators), Tough Love also stars acclaimed Australian actress Miranda Otto (The Lord Of The Rings, Talk To Me) as Kerry Hart, mother to 39-year-old Shane played by Donald, Liz Kingsman (F1: The Movie, Project Hail Mary) as daughter Steph, Hugo Johnston-Burt (Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Return To Paradise) as middle son Rodney, and Jay Ryan (North of North, Territory) as Steph’s partner Mick.
The series will be directed by Trent O’Donnell (Hacks, Sunny Nights) and Madeleine Dyer (Ghosts Australia), the directing team behind the award-winning BINGE Original Colin from Accounts.
Set within the chaos of a suburban Australian family, Tough Love follows Kerry as she receives a cancer diagnosis. Her immediate crisis isn’t her own mortality: it’s the terrifying realisation that all her adult children are totally incapable of surviving the world without her. Through the chaos, Tough Love explores the complicated bonds of family, the fear of losing someone you love and the messy, often hilarious struggle to become self-sufficient.
Rick Donald, Creator, Writer and Actor, said: “Tough Love draws on my observations of family, and the strange, funny and often difficult ways we look after the people we love. I wanted to explore what happens when a family is forced to confront something they’d rather not think about, while finding the humour in the chaos along the way.”
Hamish Lewis, Head of Scripted, Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia, said: “Rick Donald has built a world that is dangerously edgy, funny, honest and full of heart, alongside a brilliant cast that have decided to join us to bring these complicated characters to life. We are stoked to be working with BINGE, Screen Australia, Screen NSW and FOX Entertainment Global on the series and can’t wait to bring it to screens soon.”
Foxtel Group Executive Director, Entertainment Content, Daniel Monaghan, said: “Tough Love continues BINGE and DAZN’s commitment to delivering distinctive, premium Australian comedy, following the success of originals like Colin from Accounts. We were immediately drawn to Rick Donald’s sharp, heartfelt comedy about the messiness of family and being forced to grow up. With an outstanding cast led by Miranda Otto, Tough Love upholds our investment in authentic local storytelling, supported by our strong partnership with Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia, Screen NSW and Screen Australia.”
Screen Australia Director of Narrative Content, Louise Gough, said: “Trent O’Donnell and Madeleine Dyer have a remarkable ability to find humour and heart in life’s most complicated moments. Combined with Rick Donald’s sharply funny writing, Tough Love captures the chaos of family life with brutal honesty and wit. The series explores universal themes of love, loss, dependence and resilience that will resonate with audiences not just in Australia, but around the world.”
Screen NSW Executive Director, Kylie Munnich, said: “Screen NSW is proud to support Tough Love, which promises to be a fresh, original series that navigates the weight of a cancer diagnosis and suburban family dysfunction with real humour. I’m thrilled to welcome Tough Love to NSW, with filming taking place across Sydney. I look forward to the eight-part series joining an exciting slate of Australian projects available on BINGE, including The Twelve and Colin from Accounts.”
Tough Love continues BINGE’s and DAZN’s commitment to delivering premium Australian content that resonates globally, and shines a spotlight on Australian culture, landscapes and stories.
Tough Love is a Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia production for DAZN’s Foxtel Group. Principal production funding from Foxtel and Screen Australia, in association with Screen NSW. Local distribution by Foxtel.
The series is produced by Hamish Lewis and Xanthe Heubel. Executive Producers are Michael Brooks and Rick Donald. Executive Producers for the Foxtel Group are Daniel Monaghan, Lana Greenhalgh and Joshua Longhurst. The series is Created and Written by Rick Donald. Directed by Trent O’Donnell and Madeleine Dyer.
