After a year of waiting the Ten Network has given Offspring fans the news they were desperately waiting to hear with confirmation the show will return for a sixth season in 2016.
Offspring went in to hibernation at the end of 2015 with many expecting it would never return. Existing storylines had all been wrapped up. Producer John Edwards declared he wanted to move on with other projects, while the shows star Asher Keddie took a break to have a Baby.
However with the program being the only successful drama in Ten’s line-up, and with a significant social media campaign demanding Offspring’s return, Ten’s program chief Beverley McGarvey has never given up on returning the show.
“It was no secret that we wanted to continue Nina’s adventures and we are thrilled to announce that Offspring will return to Ten for a sixth season in 2016.” said McGarvey.
“There are so many more chapters left in Nina’s life. We paused her story just as she had bravely navigated motherhood as a single parent rediscovering the joy and romance of life, while dealing with her fabulously messy family as they went about their unpredictable daily lives.
“The strength and appeal of Offspring lies in the ability of its producers and writers to marry conventional narrative drama with flashbacks and fantasy sequences. We can’t wait to start production on the sixth season,” she said.
It is understood producers are hopeful of reuniting the entire cast for the new season, including Patrick Brammell who played Nina’s love interest in season 5, Leo.
“I feel really energised by the story ideas — there are some rippers,” Asher Keddie tells News Limited, “It (relationship with Leo) was another stage in Nina’s life … but I never felt 100 per cent sure that it was the be-all and end-all.”
The resurrection of Offspring comes at a time when Ten has little other drama in production. Wonderland was a massive flop that has since been axed while the Melbourne based political drama Party Tricks, which also feature Asher Keddie failed to engage viewers.
The sixth season of Offspring will be a more costly program for Ten to produce. Australian Tax Rules allow for a 30% rebate for TV Drama programs, however this ends after 65 episodes have been produced. Offspring hit that limit at the end of season 5.
Seasons 4 and 5 of Offspring were commissioned by Ten at the same time allowing series writers the flexibility to create a strong arc for the characters. The character of ‘Patrick’ was killed off at the end of season 4, while season 5 focused on Nina getting her life back together.
It is understood Ten has only commissioned one more season of Offspring at this stage. An exact number of episodes is yet to be confirmed. Season 6 of Offspring will likely air on Ten in the second half of 2016.
