by FIlmInk Staff
The ABC is proud to announce a heartwarming new four-part documentary series Choir of Hard Knocks: A New Chorus has commenced production in Melbourne.
20 years after they first captured the heart of the nation, the Choir of Hard Knocks returns for its most ambitious challenge yet: a star-studded gala concert celebrating the choir’s remarkable legacy while welcoming a new generation of people into its ranks.
As members confront disadvantage, homelessness, mental illness, social isolation, disability and addiction, this uplifting documentary series follows their journey towards an unforgettable performance.
ABC Head Arts, Music and Events Kath Earle and Head of Documentary & Specialist Susie Jones said: “In 2007 the ABC premiered the original Choir of Hard Knocks series. Two decades later, this new series celebrates the Choir’s ongoing legacy and its role as a safe place for some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Audiences will reconnect with original Choir members, meet new faces, and be uplifted by the power of music. Culminating in a huge musical event featuring the Choir of Hard Knocks with guest performances by Australian music royalty, this series will be an unmissable television experience”.
Eureka CEO Rikkie Proost said: “Twenty years ago, the Choir of Hard Knocks captured the hearts of Australians by showing the extraordinary power of music to create connection, purpose and hope. This new series is a powerful reminder of what can happen when people are given the opportunity to be seen, heard and supported. We’re incredibly proud to bring audiences the next chapter of this remarkable journey and to celebrate the resilience, talent and spirit of a group that continues to inspire”.
VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher said, “The Choir of Hard Knocks was much more than a TV documentary; it was a landmark Victorian series that gave voice to some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged members of our community and revealed the life-changing power of music. We’re proud to support the long-awaited follow-up, Choir of Hard Knocks: A New Chorus, and we can’t wait to meet the new members of the choir and catch up with familiar faces twenty years on.”
Heartwarming, hopeful and deeply moving, Choir of Hard Knocks: A New Chorus is a celebration of resilience, belonging and the enduring ability of music to change lives.
Choir of Hard Knocks: A New Chorus will premiere on ABC TV and ABC iview in 2026.
Production credits: Choir of Hard Knocks: A New Chorus is produced by Eureka Productions, a Fremantle company, for the ABC. Financed by the ABC in association with VicScreen. Post, digital and visual effects supported by Screen NSW. Executive Producer: Gemma Murphy. Series Director: Natalie Cattach. Eureka Chief Content Officer: Sonya Wilkes. ABC Executive Producer: Rachel Robinson. ABC Head of Arts, Music & Events: Kath Earle. ABC Head of Documentary & Specialist: Susie Jones.
