Shaun Micallef to leave Mad As Hell after latest season
• Micallef cleared up rumours about the show being axed in a series of tweets.
After 15 seasons, Shaun Micallef has confirmed he will be taking a break from ABC's Mad As Hell after next season.
The latest season is set to kick off on Wednesday, July 20, with the only current change to the program being the time slot.
Micallef took to Twitter on July 10 to clear up rumours about the show being axed. In a series of tweets, he wrote, "PS Also, I haven’t jumped ship to a commercial network. I enjoy a great working relationship with the ABC and have done for many years. Sometimes I make shows for other stations, that’s all. The ABC is cool with this."
He continued, "PPS Okay, it is true we'll not be returning next year, BUT this is entirely down to me, okay? After 11 years and 15 seasons, I just felt it was time for someone younger to take advantage of the resources and opportunities on offer. I’m turning 60 in a week for fuck’s sake."
PPPS And by the way, the ABC and I are continuing to talk about evolving the show with someone else in the chair or maybe making different shows using our very talented cast and crew.
— Shaun Micallef (@shaunmicallef) July 10, 2022
In response to the recent media coverage on the program, ITV Studios Australia CEO & managing director, David Mott, said: "Whilst we are all incredibly disappointed that Mad As Hell will be taking a break after this upcoming season, we completely understand Shaun's decision.
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I am incredibly grateful to Shaun and the entire cast and crew for delivering 15 magnificent series.
With conversations continuing about the future of the show, stay home Canberra as Shaun, more than ever, will not miss you in this next season of Mad As Hell - whether you're blue, red, green or teal."
Earlier this year, Mediaweek spoke to Shaun Micallef about celebrating 10 years on air.
“I think people like the disregard that we have for politics – and it has become a more political show than it was when it started out. When it started out it was really just about media and news programs, we were making as much fun of the way news is delivered as what was being delivered. Then over time, we ran out of those parody jokes and started looking at the news properly, and started trying to make jokes out of the news. That’s all we’re doing," he said.
