BBC to produce a second series of hit drama "The Newsreader"

The BBC has acquired the second series of the Australian drama "The Newsreader."“Following the great success of series one, we couldn’t be more excited to welcome back the News at Six team and watch Helen and Dale navigate their ever more complicated personal lives whilst dealing with the pressures of covering the big news events of 1987," Sue Deeks, Head of Programme Acquisition for the BBC, said.

"The Newsreader" series one is available to stream now in full on BBC iplayer. Created, written and produced by award-winning writer Michael Lucas, and directed by Emma Freeman, the six-part series will air on BBC Two and iPlayer later this autumn. The series was acquired from Entertainment One (eOne). It is produced by multi-award-winning Werner Film Productions, for ABC in Australia in association with eOne. Produced by Joanna Werner, the series is directed by Emma Freeman and the executive producers are Joanna Werner, Stuart Menzies and Emma Freeman with ABC executive producers Brett Sleigh and Sally Riley.

Starring Anna Torv and Sam Reid, as well as new cast members Daniel Gillies and Rory Fleck Byrne, "The Newsreader" features series one actors returning alongside Anna Torv and Sam Reid, such as Robert Taylor, Stephen Peacocke, William McInnes, Chum Ehelepola, Michelle Lim Davidson, Chai Hansen and Marg Downey. Philippa Northeast will also be joining the cast for series two.

A year on from the events of series one, audiences once again meet Helen Norville and Dale Jennings, who are now established as "The Golden Couple of News." To the outside world, they present a glowing image of success and romance. But the truth is more complex… Dale, although still honing his craft, has proved himself a steady and reliable co-anchor to Helen which impresses the new young CEO, Charlie Tate, who has a very clear vision of the style of news he would like to see at ‘News at Six’. Conversely, Helen’s mission to pursue and champion hard-hitting, uncompromising interviews has her at loggerheads with the new CEO…and she isn’t afraid to tell him what she thinks of his plans for the program. As 1987 rolls along, global stocks will soar and crash, Australia will prepare to celebrate its Bicentennial year, and Helen and Dale grapple with who they really want to be in life – and whether that path can be together.