BBC is about to release comedy praised as an ‘absolute gem’

A comedy series that left viewers ‘pleasantly surprised’ is about to drop in full in the UK.

Released in Australia last year, the eight-part series Austin follows English children’s author Julian (Ben Miller) who while on a book tour Down Under discovers he has an adult son that was conceived when he cheated on his now-wife Ingrid (Sally Phillips) in the early days of their relationship.

Love on the Spectrum’s break-out star Michael Theo, who was diagnosed with autism as a child, features in the titular role with Gia Carides (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) playing his mum Mel and Roy Billing (Underbelly) is his grandfather Bill, while Billie Piper also makes a cameo appearance as herself.

It’s been teased of the show: ‘When much-loved children’s author Julian Hartswood inadvertently causes a social media storm (when reposting a tweet from a white supremacist), his career and that of his illustrator wife Ingrid appears to be over.

‘That is until Austin, the neurodivergent son that Julian never knew existed, turns up out of the blue. Could embracing this modern nuclear family be Julian’s route back from cancellation? Will Ingrid ever forgive him? One thing is for certain: if Julian thinks Austin is going to be a pushover, he’s in for a rude awakening.’

The series was a hit when it first aired.

‘This very funny and sharply executed comedy series has a big heart, underneath a thick layer of dry, cheeky humour. Another season please,’ The Guardian said in its review.

‘In an age when so much television feels like recycled concepts or stuff we’ve seen before, it’s refreshing to discover a show that is so absolutely of itself, it’s impossible to compare it to anything else. This is a truly obscure concept for a series and in lesser hands could easily have been woefully unfunny. But this is ridiculously good fun…this is a laugh-out-loud must-see,’ The West Australian wrote.

‘The authenticity, warmth and humour that made him so beloved in Love on the Spectrum is on display as the neurodivergent, optimistic son, with the awkward one-liners… Theo nails his scenes alongside more experienced performers, with all the required comic timing,’ TV Tonight added of Michael’s performance.

Meanwhile viewers said it was an ‘absolute gem’, ‘astonishingly brilliant’ and ‘10/10’.

When announcing the series would be coming to the UK, BBC’s head of programme acquisitions Sue Deeks said the show was ‘irresistibly charming, humorous and heart-warming and a sheer delight from start to finish’.

Speaking to the BBC Ben explained how the idea for the show came about.

‘Darren Ashton, the director, is an old friend of mine. We worked on a film in Australia called Razzle Dazzle in 2007 and we’d been looking for something to do ever since. A few years ago, he was staying with me in the UK, and he showed me Love on the Spectrum, which I absolutely loved, and I was completely blown away by Michael Theo in it,’ he said.

‘I thought he was extraordinary and such a fascinating person in the show and on screen. After bingeing the entire series, I asked Darren “Do you think Michael could act? I get the feeling he could” and Darren agreed. We said, “Do you think we could try and come up with some kind of show where Michael was the central character?” and that was the beginning of it.’

Meanwhile Sally shared: ‘I’ve got a disabled child, and I can see what a difference it makes to him seeing people like him represented on screen.’

Before starring in Austin, Michael was living with his parents in suburban Wollongong and working sanding doors at a kitchen cabinet factory but had dreams of becoming an actor.

However, when he heard about Love on the Spectrum he decided to try his luck and see if the show might help him meet his future wife. Although unsuccessful, he endeared himself to viewers with his straight-talking approach and hilarious one-liners, going on to be invited onto The Ellen Show and starting his own podcast, Mr A+.

Reflecting on his role in Austin, Michael said he wanted people to ‘see that I’m more than just Michael from Love on the Spectrum’.

‘That show is always going to be an important pillar of my life, but Austin is a new pillar,’ he said.

In November last year it was also announced Austin had been renewed for a second season.

Austin stars tomorrow at 9.30pm on BBC One.

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