Seven orders another 800 Words

7Productions and South Pacific Pictures’ copro 800 Words

Australia’s Seven Network has commissioned a third season of a comedy-drama starring Erik Thomson (Packed to the Rafters).

800 Words is about an Australian newspaper columnist who moves to a sleepy coastal town in New Zealand with his teenage son and daughter after his wife dies.

A coproduction from 7Productions and All3Media Kiwi prodco South Pacific Pictures, 800 Words also stars Melina Vidler and Benson Jack Anthony.

Co-commissioned by New Zealand pubcaster TVNZ, the show was created by James Griffin and Maxine Fleming and launched in 2015.

Seven aired the first eight episodes of season two last year, the premiere drawing more than 1.5 million viewers nationally.

The second batch of eight episodes launches on Seven at 21.00 on January 31. Production of the new series begins in New Zealand next month.

Brad Lyons, Seven’s director of production, said: “We feel the Turner family’s story is only just beginning. There is so much more in store and we can’t wait to share it with Australia, which has embraced this series with such a charming cast and brilliant production team.”

800 Words is available on iTunes in Australia and has been licensed to SVoD service Acorn TV in the US. It is distributed by All3Media International.