Australian Story

Celeste Barber has amassed a global fanbase of 9.6 million for her parodies of celebrities and influencers on social media, where she reminds women not to buy into unattainable beauty standards. But while humour has been key to her phenomenal rise, Celeste's own story is one of struggle and self-doubt. Her formative years were damaged by undiagnosed ADHD, resulting in Celeste being badly bullied in her early teens. While her neurodiversity was the genesis of her stage and screen success, it remains an ongoing battle for the celebrated performer.

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price is popular, polarising and outspoken — a rising star in Coalition ranks who helped steer the No campaign to victory in the Voice referendum. Within the Indigenous community, her critics feel betrayed by her controversial comments about colonisation, culture and violence; her supporters say she's brave and bold. With the election imminent, questions are being asked about what it would mean should she become the next Minister for Indigenous Australians. In this episode, the former singer and children's television presenter responds to her critics and speaks for the first time about her drug use and the deeply personal experiences that have shaped her political views.

This insightful reflection on grief and love ponders the thorny question, when is an appropriate time is to re-partner after loss? Col and Laura both lost their cherished spouses to sudden cardiac arrest. Consumed by grief, neither was looking for love. But after a chance encounter in an online group for young widows and widowers, one thing led to another. And now, together as a new couple, there’s another surprise in store.

From his colourful outfits to his incisive writing, Bharat Sundaresan has taken the Australian cricket world by storm. But this sense of belonging has been a lifetime in the making. Born and raised in India, Bharat grew up unable to express himself, desperate for affection and punished for standing out. When forced to conform, Bharat spiralled into addiction. Cricket saved his life. His reporting on the sport has seen him internationally renowned with millions of followers, but it’s in Australia that he’s building a stunning second innings.

When acclaimed portrait artist Vincent Fantauzzo first appeared on Australian Story in 2019 to talk about his dyslexia, he wasn’t able to reveal the full extent of his story. But the death of his father prompted Vincent to face the dark truths of his childhood, and cemented his commitment to stop the cycle of dysfunction. After finally finding the role model he longed for in actor Heath Ledger’s father Kim, Vincent is giving his own sons an upbringing that is vastly different to his own.

Dave Hughes is one of the country’s most hardworking and successful comedians, winning over audiences for 30 years with his hilarious and brutally honest revelations about his life. In this program, he channels that same honesty, revealing terrifying moments from his childhood, why he gave up alcohol and the toll his obsession with work and fame has taken on his family life.

Australians love an underdog and in May 1983, the entire nation cheered on an unlikely sporting hero – 61-year-old potato farmer Cliff Young. When Cliff won the inaugural Sydney to Melbourne ultramarathon, he shuffled his way into the Australian folklore. Songs were written about him; a movie was made. More than 40 years on from his astonishing run, friends and fellow runners look back at a simple man who showed you’re never too old to fulfil a dream.

Looking back at Race Around the World, the edgy documentary competition series that launched a generation of filmmakers and became one of the 90s unlikeliest TV hits. Contestants, judges and producers share previously untold stories from behind the scenes of the show, in which eight aspiring filmmakers travelled the world, making 10 films over 100 days. They risked life and limb but captivated audiences and created a new style of visual storytelling in the process.

Murat Dizdar is the Secretary of the NSW Department of Education, responsible for more than 2200 public schools and almost 800,000 students. And the proudly working-class Turkish migrant is on a deeply personal mission to win back students from the private education system.

Bob Katter is about to turn 80, an age when most people are long retired. But the maverick Queensland MP — a colourful character in state and federal parliaments for 50 years — now finds himself in the spotlight once again. Not only is he getting the rare honour of an official portrait, Katter is a key crossbencher whose support may be pivotal in the event of a hung parliament. Australian Story secured unprecedented access to Bob Katter filming him in Canberra with his exasperated staffers, across his sprawling electorate where the TikTok sensation is mobbed by young fans, and at home with his long-suffering wife. Think you know everything there is to know about Bob Katter? Think again.

In an encore screening, rock legend Nick Cave talks candidly about grief, addiction, religion and why he's still making challenging music in his 60s.

She thought she was travelling to Japan for her 'happily ever after' but when customs officers discovered two kilograms of methamphetamine in Donna Nelson's suitcase, the West Australian grandmother's dreams were shattered. Her future husband was nothing more than a sophisticated con artist. Donna spent almost two years in solitary confinement before her trial, when she finally got to see her five daughters. And after a shock guilty verdict, those daughters continue to fight for her freedom.

Australian Story was updating its episode on identical twins Paula and Bridgette Powers when they became a global sensation due to an interview they gave about a carjacker. Because they speak in unison, parodies of them flooded the internet but the Twinnies are unfazed by the attention. Their life purpose is to rehabilitate seabirds at their sanctuary on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. But all that was under threat until a mystery benefactor came along.

Actor Samuel Johnson has just celebrated a milestone he never dreamed he'd reach. Love Your Sister, the charity he founded with his late sister Connie, recently hit the target of $20 million raised for cancer research. It's one of many remarkable feats Samuel has pulled off in his rollercoaster life. The actor-turned-advocate has broken the world unicycling record, won a Gold Logie playing music legend Molly Meldrum and more recently, survived a near-fatal road accident. Sam shot to fame at the age of 21 in the hit TV series The Secret Life of Us but his 20s and 30s were turbulent years. He lost loved ones to illness and suicide and battled mental illness and addiction. Now he's found new purpose in his work raising money for cancer research. We go on the road with Sam as he travels to halls, clubs and campsites from Queensland to Queanbeyan, raising money and speaking candidly about grief, love and self-acceptance.