Sally Phillips, star of the BBC comedy drama Austin, has publicly criticised the show's late-night scheduling, describing the 10.40pm Friday slot as the 'graveyard shift'. The series, which also features Ben Miller, originally aired in 2024 and received widespread acclaim, but its second series has been moved to a post-watershed time that Phillips argues is inappropriate for the show's tone.
Series Background and Cast
Austin follows Julian Hartswood (Ben Miller), a beloved children's author whose career, along with that of his illustrator wife Ingrid (Sally Phillips), is threatened after he inadvertently triggers a social media storm and is 'cancelled'. The series is filmed in Canberra, Australia, and the UK, and produced by Northern Pictures and Lincoln Pictures. It launched on BBC One in 2024.
Phillips, known for co-creating Smack The Pony and starring in Miranda, also highlighted the inclusion of Michael Theo, an autistic actor who gained fame on Love on the Spectrum. She told Radio Times: 'It's series two, and it's a sitcom starring, obviously, me and Ben Miller, but also Michael Theo, an autistic actor who captured the hearts of Australians in Love on the Spectrum.'
Critical and Audience Reception
The show has been praised by critics and audiences alike. The Guardian called it 'a very funny and sharply executed comedy series' with 'a big heart', while The West Australian declared it a 'laugh out loud must-see'. Mediaweek described it as 'a fantastic new Aussie comedy that nails it from the first episode', and the Irish Independent noted it is 'funny, spiky and packed with laugh out loud moments, but it's also warm and big-hearted'.
Sue Deeks, head of BBC programme acquisition, called the series 'irresistibly charming, humorous and heart-warming'. Catherine Nebauer, head of scripted at Northern Pictures, said: 'BBC is the perfect platform for Austin and we have no doubts its viewers will appreciate the clever blend of British and Australian humour.'
Scheduling Controversy
Phillips questioned the decision to air the show at 10.40pm on a Friday, stating: 'We've done one series and got a really good response from the public, but series two has been shoved in the graveyard shift, like 10.40pm on a Friday. It's really a pre-watershed show.' She noted that the first series, which aired two years ago, received a 'really good' reaction, making the late slot for the second series puzzling.
The actor's comments highlight a broader debate about scheduling decisions for comedy dramas that appeal to a wide audience. Austin continues to air on BBC One on Friday evenings.
