australian television information archive

Chris Lilley's Summer Heights High sold to HBO, BBC

MAN of many faces Chris Lilley has conquered Australia, now he's set his sights on the world, with Summer Heights High sold to the US and UK.

The hit show, in which Lilley plays multiple characters, will be screened by the HBO cable channel in the US and the BBC in Britain in two landmark deals.

Summer Heights High has broken Australian ratings and sales records on the ABC and DVD.

HBO plans to add Summer Heights High to its 2008 comedy line up, while in a separate deal, BBC 3 will screen it in the UK.

ABC Television executive head (content creation) Courtney Gibson hailed the deals: "We're over the moon that HBO and the BBC3 have picked up Summer Heights High.

"Mr G, Ja'mie and Jonah have been welcomed into the home of such immortals as Tony Soprano and Deadwood's Al Swearengen in the US, and the home of groundbreaking comedy in the UK. In terms of transatlantic TV sales, it just doesn't get any classier than this."

Summer Heights High broke DVD sales records, taking less than five months to become the biggest-selling TV series DVD in Australian history.

And it was a hit with Australian audiences when it screened on ABC in late 2007. Its peak episode captured over 40 per cent of the under-40 audience.

However Lilley's success has not been without controversy. He was accused late last year of stealing ideas for his show.

March 26, 2008
The Courier-Mail