First Contact returns to SBS with Dicko and David Oldfield

SBS’s Logie award-winning series First Contact returns for a brand new season next month, hosted again by Ray Martin.

Produced by Blackfella Films (Deep Water, Redfern Now, Mabo) with major production investment from Screen Australia, the first season of First Contact generated headlines and sparked debate across Australia in 2014 when Martin took six Australians into Aboriginal Australia for the first time.

This year, Martin takes a group of six well-known Australians with diverse, deeply entrenched preconceptions and opinions about our nation’s Indigenous people on the journey.

The participants are singer-songwriter Natalie Imbruglia, ex-One Nation politician David Oldfield, TV personality Ian "Dicko" Dickson, comedian Tom Ballard, former Miss Universe Australia Renae Ayris and actress Nicki Wendt.

SBS director of television and online content Marshall Heald said:

“First Contact season one gave Australians the chance to gain greater understanding and insight into one of our biggest social cohesion debates. Season two aims to once again get the nation talking and gives audiences the opportunity to delve deeper into this vital conversation. The challenges that the participants face, the moments that confront them, and the lessons they learn have never been more relevant for all Australians, and we are proud to be leading this discussion.”

Blackfella Films Executive Producer Darren Dale said:

“In such politically charged times where division and race relations are dominating the headlines, it is more important than ever for us to reflect on who we are as Australians and consider what we want to be as a nation – First Contact pushes us to confront the questions.”

Broadcast simultaneously on SBS and NITV over three consecutive nights from 29 November, First Contact will be complemented by additional programming, stories and analysis across SBS’s online, radio and television network, giving audiences the chance to engage even more with the program.