DOCTOR BLAKE provides the right tonic for the ABC on a Friday night
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February 14, 2014 – Itʼs been a big week for Doctor Blake. The premiere episode of The Doctor Blake Mysteries, last Friday night (8.30pm), notched up fantastic figures for a returning series on ABC1 and to cap that off the show has been named as a finalist in the drama category at the New York Festival Awards 2014. It is the only Australian drama to be nominated.
Series One of The Doctor Blake Mysteries has been nominated alongside some impressive dramas including Orphan Black (Canada), Black Mirror and Peaky Binders (UK), The Vikings (USA) and The Blue Rose (NZ). The 2014 Awards will be held inLas Vegas, in April.
In a week of noisy success for Australian TV drama The Doctor Blake Mysteries proved itself once again to be the quiet achiever for the ABC. Episode One attracted 1.399M (OZtam) viewers not including catch-up.
Producer George Adams said, “We have always been very confident about Blake but even we are amazed at the commitment and loyalty shown by our audience and to get this level of international acclaim on top is enormously satisfying for everyone involved in the show.”
Season One of The Doctor Blake Mysteries was a phenomenal success on ABC1 and was also screened in the UK on BBC1. Audiences have taken the show to heart embracing the maverick doctor (Craig McLachlan), his steadfast housekeeper Jean (Nadine Garner) and their world of medicine and mystery.
This weekʼs episode (Friday 14 February) we find ourselves in the world of Rock ʻnʼ Roll after a star collapses in the arms of his fans. The music is here to stay but not too many people in the quiet City of Ballarat are keen on this new fad. In contrast there is a touring religious road-show in town and that brings with it a “Billy Graham” like fervour. God versus the Devil has never been more clear-cut than this. Cameron Daddo is wonderful as the Evangelist. And look out for the fabulous scene with Dr Blake and housekeeper Jean by the piano as they try and get their heads around this new Rock ʼnʼ Roll craze.
The Doctor Blake Mysteries is a December Media Production in association with ABC TV, Screen Australia and Film Victoria. Producer George Adams and Executive Producer Tony Wright. ABC Executive Producers Christopher Gist and Carole Sklan.