Airdate: Queen of Oz

I’m very happy to reveal that Catherine Tate’s brand new comedy series Queen of Oz will screen on ABC in two week’s time.

It premieres on Wednesday June 21, four days after its UK premiere.

The series, silmed in Australia, sees Catherine Tate as Princess Georgiana, the spare to the British throne whose party girl lifestyle and constant public scandals threaten the monarchy’s future.

In an effort to get her as far away from London as possible, and at the same time, hoping to prevent Australia from leaving the Commonwealth, Georgie’s parents send her off to Australia to become their Queen, along with her new staff – Director of Communications Zoe, Private Secretary Bernard, Head of Security Officer Marc, Personal Assistant Matthew, Lady In Waiting Anabel, Master of the Household Weiwei.

“She’s a reluctant Queen as she really thought she was going to live out her life going to parties, not do much of anything or have any responsibility,” says Tate.

“So she gets a very rude awakening getting shipped off to Australia as their newly-crowned Queen. She’s very difficult, very hard to work for and doesn’t make it easy for anyone. She’s spoilt, entitled and deeply unpleasant which of course makes her a great character to play.  She does evolve somewhat over the series but at her core she’s fun and she’s anarchic. I think when you’re playing someone like that, you don’t need people to love her, you don’t really need anyone to like her even, you just need them to laugh at her.”

The cast also includes Rob Collins, Anthony Brandon-Wong, Robert Coleby and Daniel Lapaine.

The series written by Tate and Jeff Gutheim is produced by Lingo Pictures in association with The Development Partnership.

9:35pm Wednesday June 21 on ABC.