BBC Studios to Produce Ray Martin: The Last Goodbye

The original series Ray Martin: The Last Goodbye is to be produced by BBC Studios’ Australian production arm for SBS.

In the three-parter, set to air on SBS in 2024, journalist Ray Martin plans his own funeral, uncovering how Australia says goodbye to the dead. Martin explores the trends, cultural rituals, methods and emerging technology surrounding death.

This is the second original series from BBC Studios Productions Australia for SBS, following the earlier commission of The Matchmakers, also scheduled to air next year.

Kylie Washington, general manager and creative director for BBC Studios Productions Australia, said: “This is a fascinating exploration of Australians’ relationship with death, there are so many different ways that we choose to farewell life, from the deeply spiritual to the wholly pragmatic, and this series gives an insight into what draws people to those choices.”

Bethan Arwel-Lewis, commissioning editor of factual for SBS, added: “Death is one of the certainties of life; it transcends age, culture and religion. Yet even today, it’s one of the last taboos in society. As a network with a strong track record of making content that’s provocative with a purpose, this is a perfect subject for us to tackle. And if there’s one man that can get the nation talking, thinking and even laughing about death, that’s Ray Martin.”