A decade of political satire is coming to an end, with the ABC confirming that the 15th season of Shaun Micallef’s show Mad As Hell, beginning next week, will be the last.
After unconfirmed and half-accurate reports late last week the show had been “axed” and its host had “jumped ship”, an ABC spokesperson confirmed on Monday that Micallef had decided to leave.
“After 10 years and 15 seasons, Shaun Micallef has decided to take some time away from Mad As Hell at the end of the upcoming season,” the ABC statement said.
“The ABC and Shaun maintain a great working relationship and we look forward to continuing to work together. Shaun will be back with the new season of Mad As Hell which starts on Wednesday 20 July and will also appear on the ABC as part of other projects next year.”
As the rumours were reported late last week, Micallef posted on Twitter that his political comedy show, which first aired in mid-2012 and has collected two Aacta awards and a Logie in its 10-year history, had not been “axed”.
He later added a clarification: “Okay, it is true we’ll not be returning next year, BUT this is entirely down to me, okay? After 11 years and 15 seasons, I just felt it was time for someone younger to take advantage of the resources and opportunities on offer. I’m turning 60 in a week for fuck’s sake.”
He subsequently suggested Mad as Hell could return in 2023, but with a different host at the helm, writing that “the ABC and I are continuing to talk about evolving the show with someone else in the chair or maybe making different shows using our very talented cast and crew … or maybe I’ll come back after a few years like Sidse Babett Knudsen did in Borgen. You never know …”
PPS Okay, it is true we'll not be returning next year, BUT this is entirely down to me, okay? After 11 years and 15 seasons, I just felt it was time for someone younger to take advantage of the resources and opportunities on offer. I’m turning 60 in a week for fuck’s sake.
— Shaun Micallef (@shaunmicallef) July 10, 2022
PPPS And by the way, the ABC and I are continuing to talk about evolving the show with someone else in the chair or maybe making different shows using our very talented cast and crew.
— Shaun Micallef (@shaunmicallef) July 10, 2022
PPPPS Or maybe I’ll come back after a few years like Sidse Babett Knudsen did in Borgen. You never know...
— Shaun Micallef (@shaunmicallef) July 10, 2022
The ABC spokesperson would not confirm the suggestion the public broadcaster was considering retaining the show with a new host, saying: “Discussions about the future of Mad As Hell are ongoing.”
David Mott, the CEO of ITV Studios Australia, which produces Mad as Hell, said that while “we are all incredibly disappointed that Mad As Hell will be taking a break after this upcoming season, we completely understand Shaun’s decision.”
The final season of Micallef’s Mad as Hell begins on 20 July, the same night his new quizshow, Brain Eisteddfod, debuts on Channel 10.
