About Austin
Austin is an Australian comedy-drama produced for ABC and developed by a creative team including Ben Miller, Darren Ashton, Kala Ellis, Joe Tucker and Lloyd Woolf. The series premiered in June 2024 and follows Julian Hartswood, a celebrated but deeply self-absorbed British children's-book author whose career suddenly implodes when an ill-judged public misstep turns him into a target for cancellation. With his reputation in freefall in the middle of an Australian book tour, Julian arrives in Canberra hoping to ride out the storm, only to have his life upended in a way he never anticipated.
In Canberra, Julian is approached by Austin, a warm and forthright 28-year-old autistic man who introduces himself as Julian's biological son, the result of a brief relationship decades earlier in London. Initially viewing Austin as little more than a convenient public-relations opportunity to rehabilitate his image, Julian gradually finds his cynicism worn down by Austin's sincerity. As father and son spend more time together, a genuine and frequently funny bond begins to form, complicated by the arrival of Julian's wife and longtime illustrator, Ingrid, and by Austin's protective family.
Anchored by Michael Theo's breakout lead performance, Austin earned praise for its warmth and for portraying an autistic central character whose autism informs the story without becoming its only subject. The show balances sharp comedy about ego, fame and reinvention with an earnest exploration of family, belonging and second chances. Filmed in and around Canberra for its early seasons, it returned for a second season in 2025 and was renewed for further episodes, building a loyal audience drawn to its heartfelt, character-driven storytelling.
