
24 11 2022 - Media release Matt Okine and Denise Scott starring in reimagining of Mother and Son
Mother and Son's Matt Okine (Arthur) and Denise Scott (Maggie)
Screen Australia, ABC and Screen NSW today confirmed they are delighted to be bringing an all-new Mother and Son to Australian screens, in a charming and hilarious eight-part series starring two of the country's most-loved comedians, Denise Scott and Matt Okine.
Produced by Wooden Horse and re-created by Okine with collaborators Sarah Walker, Tristram Baumber and the show's original creator, Geoffrey Atherden, Mother and Son will screen on ABC TV and ABC iview in 2023.
When his widowed mum, Maggie (Denise Scott), sets fire to the kitchen, recently-single Arthur Gbeme (Matt Okine) moves back in to the family home. As he tells it, he has put his life on hold to care for his mum, but the truth is, there isn't much to put on hold.
A former nurse, Maggie used to be a firebrand a free-thinking renegade of the 60s. But since the death of her husband, Maggie has been... a little off.
Screen Australia's Head of Content Grainne Brunsdon says, This hilarious and relatable series is sure to capture the hearts of Australians as it playfully brings this classic story into a modern Australian setting. With such a strong creative team behind the production, I've no doubt Mother and Son will charm a new generation when Maggie and Arthur return to the ABC in 2023.
(Re)Creator, Writer and Star, Matt Okine says "The idea to re-create Mother and Son first came to me back in 2013 when I was touring Hong Kong alongside Denise. It was a staple of the Okine family TV when I was growing up; a beautiful snapshot of 1980s Australian suburbia, made hilariously unforgettable by its co-stars Ruth Cracknell and Garry McDonald. Ten years in the making, it feels like a dream come true to have this idea brought back to life. Denise and I have huge shoes to fill but with my hairline going the way it is, I feel like I was born to play a 2023 version of Arthur!".
ABC Head of Comedy Todd Abbott says I honestly thought Matt and the team were joking when they suggested revisiting this classic series, but the more excited they got, the more it became clear we absolutely had to make it. Australia has changed a lot in 40 years, and this cheeky, fired-up, laugh-out-loud series reflects that beautifully. And for anyone who needs any more convincing, I have two words: Denise Scott!
This warm and funny reimagining of Mother and Son is the perfect antidote to the doom and gloom of the last few years. The pandemic forced many of us to reconnect with family and this series will resonate all the more as a result. A beautiful mix of comedy and pathos superbly crafted by Matt Okine, Sarah Walker and Tristram Baumber, Mother and Son shines a timely lens on an ageing population and modern family life in a contemporary, multicultural Australia. With the blessing of Mother and Son's original creator, Geoffrey Atherden, we are thrilled to bring this hilarious and provocative reimagining to the ABC and audiences the world over, said Jude Troy and Richard Finlayson, Producers and joint CEOs, Wooden Horse.
Head of Screen NSW Kyas Hepworth says Screen NSW is thrilled to support Wooden Horse and the talented team of Matt Okine, Sarah Walker and Tristram Baumber to bring the revamped Mother and Son to Australia and beyond. This iconic Australian series was hugely successful during its original run on the ABC, and I am confident it will leverage the success of the original series and attract new audiences with a modern take.
With rich, warm characters that could be drawn right from your own family, Mother and Son offers hilarious, poignant, and utterly relatable observations on modern family life.
Production credit: Mother and Son is a Wooden Horse production for the ABC. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with the ABC. Financed with support from Screen NSW. Produced by Jude Troy and Richard Finlayson. Associate Producer Alexandra Cameron. Executive Producer / Creator / Writer Matt Okine. ABC Executive Producers Todd Abbott and Louise Smith. International Sales: ABC Commercial.
MEDIA ENQUIRIES Tracey Taylor | ABC
(03) 8646 2313 / [email protected]
Media enquiries Maddie Walsh | Publicist
61 2 8113 5915 | [email protected]
Lidia Williams | Senior Publicist
61 2 8113 1091 | 61 468 784 170 | [email protected]
All other general/non-media enquiries
Sydney 61 2 8113 5800 | Melbourne 61 3 8682 1900 | [email protected]
More from Screen Aus
01/05/2025
01 05 2025 - Media release Screen Australia empowers 100 distinctive Australian narratives
All The Boys Are Here writer/director Goran Stolevski and It s All...
09/04/2025
09 04 2025 - Media release Screen Australia and ACTF Kids IP Incubator Initiative enters next phase
Kids IP Incubator recipients in Melbourne for the workshop...
01/04/2025
01 04 2025 - Media release Bus Stop Films' first feature Boss Cat to begin production in June
Boss Cat cast (L-R): Olivia Hargroder, Penny Downie and Juli...
06/03/2025
06 03 2025 - Media release Powerhouse Speakers named for Untapped 2025
Top (L-R): Jet Wilkinson, Michael Shanks. Bottom (L-R): Ryan O Connell, Megan Park.
Au...
20/02/2025
18 02 2025 - Media release Feisty Feminist Murder Mystery He Had It Coming Announced
Stars of He Had It Coming, Lydia West, Natasha Liu Bordizzo and Liv Hewso...
20/02/2025
18 02 2025 - Media release Screen Australia and Stan Announce New Comedy-Horror Series Gnomes
Gnomes writers Tegan Higginbotham and Paul Verhoeven, and creato...
05/02/2025
04 02 2025 - Media release Sanctuary Pictures Unveils Punk-Horror Feature Penny Lane Is Dead
Writer/Director of Penny Lane Is Dead, Mia'Kate Russell
Sanc...
12/12/2024
12 12 2024 - Media release Screen Australia, ABC and NITV announce Proper Loved Up Short Film Initiative
Short Film Last Drinks at Fridas from Pitch Short Bla...
21/11/2024
21 11 2024 - Media release Much-loved series Austin returns for a second season
Austin season 2: Ingrid (Sally Phillips), Julian (Ben Miller), Austin (Michael...
21/11/2024
21 11 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce new documentary series Eat The Invaders
Eat The Invaders: Tony Armstrong, Kirsha Kaechele and Vin...
21/11/2024
21 11 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce drama series The Family Next Door
Teresa Palmer as Isabelle in The Family Next Door. Photo credit...
20/11/2024
20 11 2024 - Media release Screen Australia, SBS and NITV unveil Digital Originals shortlist for 2024
Digital Originals recipients with Screen Australia, SBS ...
31/10/2024
30 10 2024 - Media release SBS, NITV and Screen Australia announce documentary series 2.6 Seconds
2.6 Seconds. Photo credit: Jesse Marlow.
SBS, NITV and Scr...
10/10/2024
10 10 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces $8.1 million of production funding for 15 projects
L-R: Love Adjacent director Louise Alston, Watching Y...
17/09/2024
16 09 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Paramount Announce New Murder M...
11/09/2024
10 09 2024 - Media release Endemol Shine Australia and Screen Australia announce...
04/09/2024
04 09 2024 - Media release Screen Australia invests over $2 million in Australian Games Industry
Zodiac Mountain
Screen Australia has announced over $2 milli...
28/08/2024
28 08 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce four new children's programs
Andy Lee at Richmond Primary School with his nephews Freddy Mile...
22/08/2024
22 08 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces $3 million for 13 documentaries
We Are Jeni
Screen Australia has announced 11 documentaries through the...
19/08/2024
19 08 2024 - Media release Production starts on RFDS season three
RFDS cast. Photo Credit John Platt.
Pre-production on the third season of the Seven Network...
15/08/2024
15 08 2024 - Media release Maggie and Arthur return to the ABC for a second season of Mother and Son
Denise Scott and Matt Okine in Mother and Son
Fans of t...
06/08/2024
06 08 2024 - Media release Bruce Beresford's Film Overture starts production in Western Australia
Overture cast (L-R) Susie Porter, Luke Bracey and Bryan ...
17/07/2024
17 07 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and YouTube Australia announce Onlin...
12/07/2024
12 07 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce new comedy series Optics
Optics. Photo credit: Joel Pratley
ABC and Screen Australia have annou...
10/07/2024
10 07 2024 - Media release Shipwreck Hunters Australia back on the water for Season 2
Shipwreck Hunters Australia
Screen Australia and The Walt Disney Compan...
09/07/2024
09 07 2024 - Media release Applications Open for Digital Originals, and three new dramas coming to screens
(L-R) Moonbird director, co-creator and co-writer N...
30/05/2024
30 05 2024 - Media release Screen Australia, Australians in Film and VicScreen announce FUTURE VISION
Lee Sung Jin and Joanna Calo
Australians in Film, Scree...
08/05/2024
08 05 2024 - Media release Olivia Colman and John Lithgow Star in Sophie Hyde's New Project JIMPA
Olivia Colman and John Lithgow in JIMPA. Photo credit: M...
29/04/2024
29 04 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces James J. Robinson's debut feature First Light
First Light
Principal Photography is underway on Firs...
24/04/2024
24 04 2024 - Media release Screen Australia celebrates Australian projects bound...
18/04/2024
18 04 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Dynamic Television announce new Scripted Initiative
Savage River
Screen Australia and Los Angeles-based telev...
11/04/2024
11 04 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Meta launch fourth year of First...
10/04/2024
10 04 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $2.3 million for nine documentaries
Guardians of the River
Screen Australia has announced nine doc...
21/03/2024
21 03 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $1.6 million in support of the games industry
Which Way Up: Galaxy Games
Screen Australia has anno...
18/03/2024
18 03 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and VicScreen launch new Screen Careers initiative
LTR Denise Eriksen, Esther Coleman Hawkins, Caroline Pitcher, K...
15/03/2024
15 03 2024 - Media release The Creators 2024 Participants Announced
The Creators program recipients. L-R Thomas Duncan-Watt, Vanessa Gazy, Sarah Lambert, Lea...
13/03/2024
13 03 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces dramas Critical Incident and Sunny Nights for Stan
Critical Incident: Akshay Khanna and Zoe Boe. Photo c...
28/02/2024
28 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $810,000 in development funding for 29 projects
Willy
Screen Australia has announced 23 feature fi...
27/02/2024
27 02 2024 - Media release Michael Ebeid AM appointed as new Screen Australia Chair
Michael Ebeid AM and Megan Brownlow
The Hon. Minister for the Arts, Tony...
21/02/2024
21 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Australians in Film Announce App...
15/02/2024
15 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $560,000 for crew and gamemaker skills programs
Liz Keogh Palmer (Australian Production Design Guil...
13/02/2024
22 01 2024 - Media release Six Australian projects bound for South by Southwest Festival in the US
Audrey, Birdeater, The Moogai
Six Australian screen projec...
12/02/2024
12 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and YouTube Australia Launch Skip Ahead 9
Uncovering Street Dance: Australia from Skip Ahead 8. Photographed by Ry...
08/02/2024
08 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce Bay of Fires is back for season two
Marta Dusseldorp as Stella in Bay of Fires
ABC, Screen Austr...
22/01/2024
22 01 2024 - Media release Five Australian projects bound for South by Southwest Festival in the US
Audrey, Birdeater, The Moogai
Five Australian screen proj...
17/01/2024
17 01 2024 - Media release Brendan Cowell and Asher Keddie star in Screen Austra...
14/12/2023
14 12 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $6.9 million of produ...
12/12/2023
22 04 2025 - Media release Applications Open for the Creators Program
The Creators program
Screen Australia and the Australian Writers Guild (AWG) have annou...
11/12/2023
11 12 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces Talent USA: New York recipients 2023
Enoch Mailangi, Noora Niasari, Hannah Carroll Chapman
Screen Austr...
30/11/2023
30 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces 14 placements through BTL: Next Step Stage 2
Image courtesy: Screen Warriors
Screen Australia has annou...