THE NEWSREADER S3 - thur&fri 9pm bbc 2 - TV PACE. NO SPOILERS

[Blondeshavemorefun]

The ABC's award-winning series The Newsreader is back for a third (and reportedly final) season, taking us behind the scenes of the fictional News At Six newsroom once again.

Not only have the first two seasons been great entertainment, they've also been a surprisingly accurate look back at the 80s and some significant moments in Australian and world history.

As with seasons one (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-16/the-newsreader-bases-its-drama-on-historical-events/100358880) and two (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-11/fact-checking-the-newsreader-season-2/102832660)

Anna Torv and Sam Reid are back for a final season of the award-winning drama, as Helen and Dale go head to head in the shifting news landscape of 1989

Wit’s a new season of The Newsreader comes the return of Australia’s favourite fictional TV presenters. Don’t worry Mike Moore ( we still love you, but Helen and Dale are where it’s at now.

The former co-news anchors – played by Anna Torv and Sam Reid – were once in a “will they or won’t they” relationship that very much culminated in they did.

Things have changed, however, and by the time the third season begins they’ve parted ways, and are now working for different networks.

Although some things remain the same: namely their work ethic, each tenaciously furthering their careers while – continuing the show’s now-familiar format – real-life events provide dramatic scaffolding.

Deploying newsrooms as central settings allows the screenwriters (Michael Lucas, Christine Bartlett, Adrian Russell Wills and Niki Aken) to incorporate past events – including, this season, the Exxon Valdez oil spill (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/blog/2014/mar/24/exxon-valdez-oil-spill-disaster-arctic) and the Tiananmen Square massacre (https://www.theguardian.com/world/tiananmen-square-protests-1989) – while depicting how they were reported and narrativised; how history itself was made.

Dale and Helen will both be hosting shows during the plum 6pm time slot, thus placed in direct competition.

This is a surprise for Dale, though he takes the news almost annoyingly well – I wanted drama, conflict! – and the pair remain friends.

Dale continuing to explore his bisexuality and Helen seeking professional support for her mental health

Dale (https://the-newsreader-tvshow.fandom.com/wiki/Dale_Jennings) is now considered News at Six's (https://the-newsreader-tvshow.fandom.com/wiki/News_at_Six) 'King of News', with Helen's international reporting having been met with great acclaim, but as a cynical network move sees the two former lovers pitted in direct competition, their kinship will be tested as never before.

Over the course of 1989, Helen and Dale will compete to cover a cascade of historical events from the Exxon Valdez oil spill, to the boycotts of South Africa's Apartheid, and the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Season

S1

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/telly_addicts/4596727-the-newsreader-bbc2-sunday-9pm-tv-pace-only-no-spoilers

S2

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/telly_addicts/4935511-the-newsreader-s2-thur-9pm-bbc-2-tv-pace-no-spoilers

George Michael came out as gay in 1998, that seems very late - but i guess he had a huge female fanbase
so another few years for Dale i reckon.

And, to be fair, George Michael had his coming out forced upon him. More recently than that we have pop stars being 'advised' to hide their sexuality - Will Young whilst on Pop Idol springs to mind.

Honestly I don’t get the big deal

who they love /date etc

Homophobia is still a thing, though. I think there's a danger that 'historical' perspectives make us feel those attitudes are from a bygone age. Sadly not.

But it was a very big deal back in the day. Hollywood stars had marriages to women so the public wouldn't know they were gay.

I have amale friend who lives in London. He's never said he's gay but I'm sure he is

When he comes back "home" the guy whom I presume is his partner is introduced as his friend as he still has elderly relatives who wouldn't approve.

So sad x

Oh that’s so sad. When I was 18 back in the 80s, my parents had some friends whose son came out as gay. I don’t think they took it too well to start with. But eventually they realised that Pete (not his real name!) was still Pete, their son. The only thing that changed was their assumptions about his private life and relationships.

A bit late to the party but just binge watched all 3 series of the newsreader and loved it!! Anyone seen Anna Torv on mind hunter? Another brilliant series :)

I loved Anna in Fringe but have tried a couple times with mind hunter and can’t get into it

If you have Netflix, I can recommend Secret City which is a political thriller set in Canberra, and Anna plays another journalist!

Glad you enjoyed. It’s a very clever and original Series
just a shame they didn’t do s4 and 80/90 and gay acceptance

@ButterPiesAreGreat oooo I’ll look that up….thank you :)

I must say I was bored until episode 5. I only persisted because because there were only 6 episodes. I didn't really have much sympathy for Dale and then they made him likeable in the last minute. The actor who played Rob also played Brax in Home and Away for a few years. He's reprising the role soon for a few special episodes.

I'm catching up on the first 2 seasons on Netflix, I usually catch it here and there late at night on rte can't wait to watch the last season