Big dose of reality to lift Ten ratings

The Ten Network is hoping a reality-heavy schedule featuring new and updated versions of international franchises will help lift it out of the ratings doldrums next year.

Bondi Vet and The Living Room presenter Chris Brown and comedian and actress Julia Morris will host the local version of British hit I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here! while Boost Juice founder Janine Allis and Sydney property expert John McGrath are among five business leaders who have signed up for Shark Tank, the competitive entrepreneurial series based on the UK hit Dragon’s Den.

Water cooler and social media favourite The Bachelor Australia will be back, as well as spin-off The Bachelorette.

MasterChef Australia returns, along with The Biggest Loser as TBL Families.

Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Guy Pearce will reflect on their beginnings in Ramsay Street to help Neighbours celebrate its 30th anniversary in March.

But it’s bad news for Offspring fans. While Wednesday night drama Wonderland will be back, a sixth season of the much-loved Asher Keddie show was noticeably absent from Ten’s 2015 plans.

Mary: The Making of a Princess will dramatise the fairytale story of Mary Donaldson, while The Peter Brock Story will be an account of one of Australia’s greatest and most complex sporting heroes.

Ten also has The First Anzacs, a series of mini- documentaries that will bring to life the diaries and letters from Australian heroes and heroines. It features Kat Stewart, Rodger Corser, Brooke Satchwell, Shane Jacobson and more.

Overseas acquisitions include the CSI spin-off CSI: Cyber starring Patricia Arquette and the remake of The Odd Couple with Matthew Perry as Oscar Madison.

In recent weeks the embattled network has again been the subject of takeover talk, with US media giant Time Warner suggested as the latest potential buyer.

While Ten has posted gains in the 25-54 age group, it has lagged behind Seven, Nine and even the ABC in total viewers.

“In 2015, our viewers’ favourite franchises will be back, bigger and better than before, ”Beverley McGarvey, Network Ten chief programming office said. She also said Ten would announce a new, multi-night entertainment show in the new year.

Ten launches its new season on December 18 with the T20 Big Bash League. I’m a Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here!, Shark Tank and Gogglebox, a joint-production with Foxtel about people’s viewing habits, follow early next year.