Australian hit Offspring returns from cancellation

Actress Asher Keddie will return as Nina Proudman in the Australian series Offspring.

Top-rating Australian drama Offspring will return for a sixth season next year, despite seemingly coming to an end last year.

Channel Ten has revealed that the show, which stars Asher Keddie as Nina Proudman, has been renewed for a new season. Keddie will return alongside Kat Stewart as her sister Billie, though no other cast has been confirmed.

Offspring premiered as a tele-movie in 2010. Its success led to a full series order, and it screened for five seasons. The show won seven Logie Awards during its run, including a Gold Logie for Keddie.

However, in October last year, following the fifth season finale, it was reported the show would not be returning. It was attributed to a lack of money at Channel Ten and the show's producers working on a new show. The show is 20 per cent more expensive to make as it no longer qualifies for a tax rebate from Screen Australia.

In a press release, the channel's chief programming officer Beverley McGarvey said it was no secret they wanted the show to return.

"There are so many more chapters left in Nina's life. We paused her story just as she had bravely navigated motherhood as a single parent rediscovering the joy and romance of life, while dealing with her fabulously messy family as they went about their unpredictable daily lives.

"The strength and appeal of Offspring lies in the ability of its producers and writers to marry conventional narrative drama with flashbacks and fantasy sequences. We can't wait to start production on the sixth season."

But one key player has revealed she won't be involved when the show returns. Series creator and head writer Debra Oswald revealed on Twitter she won't be a part of the new season.

I'm happy with where we took the story by the end of #offspring 5, so I've chosen not to be part of S6. I hope fans enjoy the new series.

— Debra Oswald (@DebraOswald1) September 20, 2015

Several New Zealand actors featured on Offspring during its run, including Ido Drent, Ben Barrington, Jay Ryan and Caren Pistorius.

The would-be series finale aired on TV One earlier this year. A TVNZ spokesperson has confirmed to the Herald that TV One will continue to be the New Zealand home of Offspring.

The new season will air on Australian screens in 2016.

- nzherald.co.nz