The comeback Summer Heights High fans had been waiting for is not actually happening.
Last week comedian Chris Lilley, who wrote and starred in the hit 2007 comedy series, teased that his iconic character Mr G would be making a return.
Written by and starring comedian Chris Lilley, the show focused on a high school in the outer suburbs of Sydney and followed three main characters – ‘Director of Performing Arts’ Mr G, private-school exchange student Ja’mie King and disruptive student Jonah Takalua.
Summer Heights High was a massive success for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, winning a Logie Award for most popular light entertainment/ comedy program, being sold internationally and later airing in the UK, US and Canada.
Following the response, Lilley went on to develop spin-off shows – Jai’mie: Private School Girl in 2013 and Jonah from Tonga the following year.
However, a few days on his announcement about the project has left many disappointed.
Instead of Mr G starring in his own TV show, he’s instead hosting a new podcast.
Launching on April 23, Mr G’s Room will see Chris in character, with the synopsis for the show teasing: ‘Drama teacher Greg Gregson AKA Mr G’s weekly podcast. All the behind-the-scenes gossip from his iconic documentary Summer Heights High, Drama Masterclasses for anyone wanting to crack the entertainment industry, songs from his past musicals and so much more.’
Although he’s turned off comments on the official announcement on Instagram, fans have expressed their disappointment on social media.
‘Bye who wants a Chris Lilley podcast not me I want a TV show,’ Shannon posted on X.
‘Please can someone get Chris Lilley out of the podcast studio and back on TV,’ Darren shared.
‘So, Chris Lilley is bringing Mr G back but not as a series but a podcast. Ugh thought we was going to have another series, but I’ll still listen to the podcast as he is so damn funny,’ Newt added.
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Meanwhile Peter explained: ‘I’m actually fuming to find out that Mr G is only coming back for a podcast, not a new TV series. Half the fun of Chris Lilley is seeing his ridiculous characters brought to life on screen, so listening to a podcast is a big letdown. We deserve better!’
Despite only airing for eight episodes, many viewers can still quote countless lines from the show, with Mr G offering many memorable moments.
One of the most notable was him creating a musical in honour of a student called Annabel who died of a drug overdose, creating a song with the lyrics: ‘Ecstasy. Ecstasy. E. E. E. E. Ecstasy. She’s a party girl with a bad habit. A bad habit for drugs.’
Fans of the series have called it ‘satirical genius’, ‘undeniably hilarious’ and even ‘the funniest show on TV’.
After years of speculation, Lilley last week confirmed the beloved (and at times controversial) character was returning.
He announced the news by sharing a series of clips on social media that sent fans into a frenzy.
The first showed a pink exercise ball (a prop regularly used in his classroom) rolling across a room, the second presented the legs of a man dancing, while the third saw a man doing up his tie, sitting on a chair and bouncing on the ball while a piano played in the background.
It then ended with the update: ‘Mr G is back’.
While he turned comments on the confirmation post, many had expressed their excitement on the previous ones.
‘OMG PLEASE TELL ME YOURE WELCOMING US TO MR G’S ROOM,’ Madeleine commented.
‘Do not play with us Mr Lilley. We’ve been waiting for Mr G’s star moment for YEARS,’ Marcus shared.
‘THE MOMENT WE HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR!!! THIS HAS TO BE MR G,’ Mark added.
Despite Summer Heights High having a legion of fans, it did come under fire when it aired, as well as in the years since.
It was slammed by some for its portrayal of such issues as mental disabilities, homophobia, sexual abuse, and racism.
The family of a teenage girl called Annabel, who died after taking drugs at a music festival, also complained the series had used her death as a storyline.
Some of Mr G’s most memorable quotes
‘Welcome to Mr. G’s room, G’s room, G’s room. Welcome to Mr. G’s room, come inside…and take your shoes off, find a spot on the floor.’
‘That’s one of our staff who has cancer. She’s been dead for ages.’
‘I’m director of performing arts. Spread it.’
‘The staff is really excited too. Everybody’s giving me a little eyebrow raise when I’m walking up the corridor, when usually they look away.’
‘I can’t think of a better way to commemorate a student’s life than to write a musical about them!’
‘I think for some kids it’s better that they know now than find out later in life that they’ve got no talent. I always say that they’ll thank me one day.’
‘Just a little bit of poo on the floor and they’d shut us down.’
Although the ABC said it was purely coincidental – and that filming had been finished weeks before her death – it then added a message at the start of each episode stating there was no link between the characters and people in real life.
It was also later one of several series created by Lilley that was removed by Netflix due to the use of blackface and brownface, a move done in response to the George Floyd protests in 2020.
Speaking to UniLad in 2023, Lilley said Mr G was ‘definitely a character who I’d love to bring back’.
‘It’s just circumstances at the moment. I think people think I have some sort of strategy or plan but it all just happens pretty randomly. Also, you move around different networks and they always want something unique to them so you’re a bit bound by that.
‘But I could find a way – he could come back. There are literally scripts sitting on shelves for him.’
He went on to address the controversy surrounding his show, saying he ‘wouldn’t change a thing’.
‘I’m so proud of all my work, and I almost wish I could push the boundaries further,’ he said.
Referencing Mr G, he added: ‘I just think if your intention is to be funny and point out a really crazy, narcissistic character that’s being inappropriate in front of kids, it’s like, that’s the joke. I wish I took it further. And if he does come back, I will.’
A version of this article was originally published on April 9, 2025.
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