PLAY TELEVISION PAIR KEEP THE SURPRISES COMING

joy of the unexpected is the common thread that binds all of Hamish Blake and Andy Lee’s television, radio and podcast projects.

On Hamish and Andy’s Gap Year the pair would travel the world looking for spontaneous fun with just a rough itinerary.

The challenge with True Story with Hamish and Andy is to bring the same level of mischief to the reimagining of other people’s tales. The formula is simple. As Blake and Lee hear an ordinary Aussie tell a strange- but- true story for the first time, viewers see a dramatic recreation of events.

“If you’re going to do something in a more scripted environment, how do you still have that unexpected moment,” Blake says. “That is why the heart of the show is us not hearing the stories ( in advance). We fiercely protect that. I think we pretty much spend our careers trying to find moments where we laugh so much that we grab each other.”

This year’s 10- episode season features famous faces including Essie Davis, Rob Sitch, Sam Pang, Pia Miranda, Michaela Banas, Luke McGregor, Dave Hughes and Brian Mannix. There is Carol’s poetry story, Alan’s cat story, Sarah’s waitress story, Phil’s barbecue story, Scott’s drive- by story and more.

“When we talk about projects we have to love them,” Lee says. “The best things are made when people are obsessed by them.”

The first season of True Story was certainly a ratings triumph with episodes averaging around two million viewers. The concept has also been a winner internationally with format sales to Germany and Israel. TRUE STORY PREMIERES ON CHANNEL 9, TUESDAY, AUGUST 7 AT 8.40PM