800 Words


800 Words is an Australian–New Zealand comedy-drama television series, co-produced by South Pacific Pictures and Seven Productions for the Seven Network.

Production

The series was first announced on 29 October 2014 with the Channel Seven 2015 highlights. The CEO of South Pacific Pictures, Kelly Martin said "Seven loved the scripts from the start and we're thrilled to have this project underway. It enables South Pacific Pictures to broaden our horizons and it'll open up some great opportunities for our local actors and crew." Of the series' tone, the Program Chief of Seven, Tim Ross stated, "If you think this show has a bit of the same feel and vibe as Packed to the Rafters, you're dead right—and we make no apologies for that." Filming for the series began on 2 March 2015.
On 19 October 2015, the Seven Network and South Pacific Pictures renewed the show for a second season. It premiered on 23 August 2016 in Australia. On January 24, 2017, the Seven Network announced that the series had been renewed for a third season. It screened from 12 September 2017 with a mid-season finale after 8 episodes.
On 17 August 2018 Seven Network cancelled the series after three seasons.

Plot summary

George Turner is a popular columnist for a top-selling Sydney newspaper, writing a weekly column which he insists must be exactly 800 words. After his wife dies, he buys a new home in a small New Zealand seaside town called Weld, where his parents took him on holiday as a child. He then has to break the news to his two teenage children, Shay and Arlo. But the colourful and inquisitive locals in Weld ensure Turner's dream of a fresh start does not go exactly to plan.

Cast

Series overview

Season 1 (2015)

Season 2 (2016–2017)

Season 3 (2017–2018)

Release

Broadcast

The series premiered in Australia on 15 September 2015 on the Seven Network and premiered in New Zealand on 5 November 2015 on TVNZ 1. In the United States, the series premiered on Acorn TV in 2016 and PBS in March 2017. UPtv acquired the series and will air it later this year. The series premiered in Finland on YLE TV1 in June 2017. In the UK, the first two series were broadcast on BBC One in April and May 2018. The third series started airing in the UK on BBC One Monday 29 July 2019.

Home media

Season one along with part one and two of season two are available on iTunes in Australia.

Compilations

Viewership

Season 1 (2015)

Season 2 (2016–2017)

Season 3 (2017–2018)

Remake

On 8 January 2018, Zomer in Zeeland premiered on the Dutch channel SBS6. The show stars Daniël Boissevain as Sjors Mulder, Pip Pellens as his daughter Fenna Mulder and Tonko Bossen as his son Jurgen Mulder. The remake follows the same storyline, but changes the setting to the Dutch province of Zeeland, after which the country of New Zealand was named.