New TV series for Aunty Donna

Cult sketch trio move into sitcom

Comedy trio Aunty Donna are to make a new series for Australian broadcaster ABC.

In the half-hour sitcom, Mark Samual Bonanno, Broden Kelly, and Zachary Ruane will play three mates running a trendy cafe in one of Melbourne’s laneways.

The show, called Aunty Donna’s Untitled Project, starts filming next week in the Victorian capital and is expected to hit screens in 2023.

Todd Abbott, ABC’s head of comedy, said: ‘ABC audiences first got a taste of Aunty Donna in 2014 in Fresh Blood, so we couldn’t be more excited to have them back where they belong and to be the home of their first narrative comedy series. Strap yourselves in… this is going to be a wild ride.’

And the trio said only: ‘We make show, you will love.’

The news follows the trio’s cult Netflix sketch series Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House of Fun, which was released in 2020.

The new series is being part financed by Screen Australia. It’s head of online content, Lee Naimo said: ‘We’ve been proud to support Aunty Donna throughout their career as they’ve gone from strength… So naturally we’re delighted to support their first foray into a sitcom format bringing along their trademark absurdity. We’re confident this series will be a hit with devoted fans and newcomer audiences alike.’

There is no news yet on whether the show will find a UK outlet.