In a bid to shed light on the untold stories of Australia’s multicultural history, SBS is set to premiere its original three-part documentary series, Who the Bloody Hell Are We? on Wednesday, 19 July at 7:30pm.
Hosted by provocateur John Safran, comedian Cal Wilson, and chef Adam Liaw, the series explores the diverse cultural heritage of Australia and its impact on the national narrative.
The trio, who are of Jewish, Kiwi, and Chinese descent respectively, delve into the margins of Australian history to bring to the fore stories that have been previously overlooked or ignored.
Throughout the series, the hosts endeavour to answer a number of intriguing questions: Could the Jewish homeland of Israel have been established in Australia’s Top End? Did the actions of a Kiwi engineer unintentionally usher in multicultural Australia? Is one of Australia’s big four banks indebted to a Chinese tradesperson for its founding?
Aiming to fill the gaps in the Australian narrative, Safran, Wilson, and Liaw engage with first-hand witnesses, adept storytellers, and descendants of historical figures who have shaped Australia’s history in profound and surprising ways.
Among the stories featured are the Jewish single mother who became a crucial figure in the colony after being transported to Australia as a convict, the Māori athletes who rescued Australian rugby league from financial ruin, and a Chinese Australian Gallipoli sniper who honed his skills as a kangaroo shooter in Queensland.
John Safran said,
“This series not only covers history but makes it. For the first time on Australian soil, a holy Jewish mud creature known as a golem is created, using that very soil, and brought to life through Kabbalah prayer. All captured on film!”
The documentary series aims to present a nuanced and multifaceted view of Australia’s history, demonstrating that the narrative is far more complex and diverse than traditional depictions suggest.
Bernadine Lim, SBS Commissioning Editor for Documentaries, and Tony Jackson, Chemical Media Executive Producer, have spoken highly of the series, praising the hosts for their insightful and witty exploration of Australia’s history, while Alex West, Screen Australia Head of Documentary, expressed his eagerness to see the stories uncovered by the series.
“Who the Bloody Hell Are We?” is produced by Chemical Media for SBS, with significant production investment from Screen Australia in association with SBS and additional financial support from VicScreen.
All three episodes of Who The Bloody Hell Are We? will be available to stream on SBS On Demand from Wednesday 19 July.
Episode one will premiere on SBS on Wednesday 19 July at 7:30pm and continues weekly.
The series will feature subtitles in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean on SBS On Demand, as well as audio description for all episodes.
