This year The Amazing Race Australia has a new location and a new air time, but executive producers are confident the shake-up will work in the show’s favour.
Ten’s reality series, which usually takes viewers on a fast-paced trip around the world, will instead see 14 teams travel around Australia to complete their challenges, confined within our borders due to the pandemic.
However, Network 10 executive producer Cathie Scott and Eureka head of entertainment Sophia Mogford say that the home-based show, which recently wrapped up filming, still found ways to reach locations to engage viewers.
“The team at Eureka did an amazing job pre-production,” Scott tells AdNews.
“They had a number of different routes planned and we had to basically respond to the current climate with border closures, et cetera. For example, we were a couple of weeks into filming when there were some border restrictions eased and we were able to get into Tasmania, which when we started filming we weren't able to. So we had to be quite nimble with our creative.
“We all think 'we know what Australia is'. So we aimed to really uncover things that you didn't expect to see - new places, and new adventures. I would imagine that viewers are going to get out and see more of Australia after they watch the series.”
The duo added that filming in Australia had to much to offer that they would be open to another Australian-based show if international borders remain shut.
Another big test for The Amazing Race Australia is its new air time. The show was pushed back from the second half of 2020 due to COVID-19, and will kick off February 1, broadcasting Monday-Wednesday 7.30pm.
The series will also come up against The Australian Open, which begins on Nine in its second week.
“The show has a really solid fan base, and rightly so. I don’t think any of us are really concerned about that,” Mogford tells AdNews on the series competing with the tennis for viewers.
“It's just a joy this one. It was an absolute joy to film. It was full of surprises both for production and for the people who were on screen as well. And I think that all plays out on screen.”
TV shows across the networks have had to shuffle their scheduling due to the pandemic. Nine’s hit show Married at First Sight is expected to begin following The Australian Open final on February 21. Seven’s mini-golf series Holey Moley, which was also delayed due to the pandemic, will premiere February 1 alongside The Amazing Race Australia.
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