BBC & ABC Co-Commission The Spooky Files

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the BBC have jointly commissioned the new comedy series The Spooky Files, which is being financed with production investment from Screen Australia and support from VicScreen.

The show comes from Tony Ayres Productions (TAP) and Megaboom Pictures, the creative teams behind breakout successes Nowhere Boys and Hardball. The 10×24-minute series is a fun, spooky and adventure-filled look at the universal experience of childhood fears.

The Spooky Files was created by International Emmy Award-winning writers and directors Guy Edmonds and Matt Zeremes. Production is expected to begin in early November 2022, shooting in Victoria. It will air in Australia on ABC ME in 2023 and in the U.K. on CBBC and BBC iPlayer.

NBCUniversal Global Distribution will manage international sales.

Libbie Doherty, ABC’s head of children’s, said, “We’re enormously proud to revisit our creative alliance with the BBC to partner with industry-leading creatives from Tony Ayres Productions. This brilliant Australian creative team has another hilarious hit on their hands that demonstrates their understanding of the tween audience, their humor, their hang-ups and how to squeeze the funny out of every moment on screen. We know this one is going to be BIG! A huge thank you to Screen Australia and VicScreen for their dedication in supporting Australian productions and supporting the ABC to deliver exceptional quality children’s content to Aussie kids.”

Andrea Denholm, executive producer at TAP, said, “When Guy and Matt brought The Spooky Files to TAP at the concept stage, we jumped at the chance to work with this incredibly talented team. From the creators of Hardball and the creator of Nowhere Boys, The Spooky Files is filled with humor, heart and mystery and is destined to find a huge and loyal audience. We are thrilled to have the support of ABC ME, CBBC and Universal International Studios in bringing this delightful series to children all over the world.”

Grainne Brunsdon, Screen Australia’s head of content, said, “It’s vital that Australian children can see themselves reflected on screen, and we are pleased to support this exciting new series that will represent the diversity of the Australian playground. The team behind the widely loved Hardball have proven their ability to connect with young viewers around the world, and The Spooky Files is a fresh, clever comedy that is set to entertain and thrill audiences on ABC and BBC.”

Patricia Hidalgo, BBC’s director of children’s and education, said, “We are really excited to team up with ABC Australia, a renowned broadcaster with creativity that we admire. This is a great opportunity for us to forge a new working relationship with ABC that will result in brilliant new content for our audience, and we look forward to bringing The Spooky Files to CBBC next year.”

Victorian Minister for Creative Industries, Steve Dimopoulos, said, “Through our $191.5 million VicScreen strategy, we’re attracting more local productions than ever before, creating more jobs and supporting more businesses. Victoria offers some of the most exceptional filming destinations coupled with a dynamic and driven workforce, providing production companies with compelling opportunities to shoot within Victoria.”