australian television information archive

Episode 2.01 (9)

Sunday, July 27, 2025 (ABC, 7:30p)
Written by Joe Tucker and Lloyd Woolf
Directed by Darren Ashton

With Austin now bonded with his long-lost father and spent time with him in the UK does he feel like his journey of discovery is over or only just begun?

Austin grapples with sudden literary fame when his novel is picked up by an international publisher. Meanwhile his previously estranged father Julian and stepmother Ingrid, sell their beloved Big Bear series to Australian TV.

Starring: Ben Miller as Julian Hartswood, Sally Phillips as Ingrid Hartswood, Michael Theo as Austin Hogan, Roy Billing as Bill Hogan, Gia Carides as Mel Hogan

Guest Starring: Ellie McKay as Florence Hartswood, Tony Way, Lewis Santer, Myles Harvey Rattigan, Imogen Wilde as [policewoman], Neil D'Souza as Connor Webster, Seeta Indrani, Aaron Garland

Episode 2.02 (10)

Sunday, August 03, 2025
Written by Adam Zwar
Directed by Darren Ashton

Julian is dropped from Big Bear's TV deal due to his "reputation", while Ingrid is named creative lead. Austin searches for a British backstory worthy of a book deal.

Guest Starring: Phil Davis as Mike, Ruth Sheen as Elaine, Kate Elliott as Heidi, Claire Lovering as Greta, Katrina Milosevic as Agatha

Episode 2.03 (11)

Sunday, August 10, 2025
Written by Joe Tucker and Lloyd Woolf
Directed by Darren Ashton

Austin thinks he's on a date. Greta thinks it's a meeting. Julian goes rogue at the publisher's office, and Ingrid quietly edges toward a Big Bear deal without him.

Guest Starring: Kate Elliott as Heidi, Claire Lovering as Greta, Zahra Newman as Monica, Iggy Wong as Phillipe, Dannielle Woodward as Braai Waiter

Episode 2.04 (12)

Sunday, August 17, 2025
Written by Adam Zwar
Directed by Rebecca O'Brien

Austin fakes pop culture tastes to sell books. Ingrid starts her job as creative director of the new Big Bear show and is confronted by the star, Rodger Corser, wanting to change things. Julian bonds with Rodger and ruins everything.

Guest Starring: Rodger Corser as Rodger Corser, Rob Collins as Foreign Minister, Claire Lovering as Greta, Katrina Milosevic as Agatha, Natalie Abbott as Haley, Benjamin Scott, Trystan Go as Marnus, Benjamin Coultas-Roberts, Toshiro Glenn, Nabil Kanengoni

Episode 2.05 (13)

Sunday, August 24, 2025
Written by Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil
Directed by Rebecca O'Brien

Austin bombs his press conference and book signing, Mel's romance is vetted by the government, and Julian's secret identity as a young queer bee-saving writer is exposed.

Guest Starring: Rob Collins as Foreign Minister, Claire Lovering as Greta, Katrina Milosevic as Agatha, Natalie Abbott as Haley, Catherine Van-Davies as Erin, Rick Davies as Eric, Kate Skinner as Journalist

Episode 2.06 (14)

Sunday, August 31, 2025
Written by Amy Stewart
Additional material by Andy Ryan and Kevin Cecil, Adam Zwar
Directed by Madeleine Dyer

After appearing on a controversial podcast and getting Haley fired, Austin faces a family intervention. Meanwhile, Ingrid is auditioning the whole of Canberra to find an actor to play Big Bear before she loses the show.

Guest Starring: Janet Fielding as Janet Fielding, Rob Collins as Foreign Minister, Claire Lovering as Greta, Katrina Milosevic as Agatha, Natalie Abbott as Haley, Stephen Curry as Cobb Harper, Michael Logo as [security guard], Jack Bridges as [actor], Ashi Singh as [waitress]

Episode 2.07 (15)

Sunday, September 07, 2025
Written by Emma Jane Unsworth
Directed by Madeleine Dyer

Austin follows a rom-com manual to woo Haley, Ingrid flirts with Big Bear, and a kiss leads to disaster when the bear head comes off — literally.

Guest Starring: Kate Elliott as Heidi, Claire Lovering as Greta, Katrina Milosevic as Agatha, Natalie Abbott as Haley, Catherine Van-Davies as Erin, Scout Boxall as Odin, Finn Gough as [Snowy puppeteer], Trystan Go as Marnus, Yaraman Thorne as [waiter]

Episode 2.08 (16)

Sunday, September 14, 2025
Written by Andy Ryan and Kevin Cecil
Directed by Madeleine Dyer

Ingrid quits Big Bear, Austin cancels fame, Mel races to stop a resignation, and Haley might be The One. All roads lead to Thunder Thursday — and one gloriously chaotic Canberra bus ride.

Guest Starring: Rob Collins as Foreign Minister, Ellie McKay as Florence Hartswood, Katrina Milosevic as Agatha, Natalie Abbott as Haley, Catherine Van-Davies as Erin, Adam Golledge as James, Jacqui Duncan as [reporter], Zane Menegazzo as [reporter]