Summer Heights High star Chris Lilley signs 10-show deal with Netflix
The writer and star of classic Australian comedy Summer Heights High is set to return with a new show.
Comic Chris Lilley will be back on fans’ screens after signing a new 10-show deal with Netflix.
The Aussie star developed a cult following with his schoolgirl character Ja’mie and teacher Mr G.
The over-the-top, camp characters both attended Summer Heights High, a fictional Australian school that was the subject of a parody fly-on-the-wall documentary.
Now Lilley is set to bring some of his most popular characters into a new setting with his comeback show.
The new series will be filmed in Lilley’s native Australia and is expected to bring $6m to the local economy, according to producers.
Annastacia Palaszczuk, Premier of the Queensland territory, said: “I am delighted to have enticed Chris Lilley and producer Laura Waters to Queensland.
“The series will employ up to 250 Queensland cast and extras, plus around 100 Queensland crew.
“The project will also support two local screen practitioners, who will have the opportunity to work on the series to further develop their professional skills.”
Despite the success, his in-your-face characters haven’t been without criticism.
He was forced to apologise last year after he re-posted a spoof music video to his Instagram account which included a racial slur and showed Lilley in blackface.
The clip was taken from his spin-off show Angry Boys.
Lilley later deleted the post and apologised, saying: “My social media pages are run for me to give fans nostalgic pics or clips from previous TV shows.
“I apologise for any hurt caused by this misinterpretation.”
