800 Words
800 Words is a comedy-drama television series, co-produced by South Pacific Pictures and Seven Productions for the Seven Network.
Premise
George Turner is a popular columnist for a top-selling Sydney newspaper, writing a weekly column which he insists must be exactly 800 words. After his wife dies, he buys a home in a small New Zealand seaside town called Weld, where his parents took him on holiday as a child. He then has to break the news to his two teenage children, Shay and Arlo. But the colourful and inquisitive locals in Weld ensure Turner's dream of a fresh start does not go exactly to plan.Cast
Main
- Erik Thomson as George Turner
- Melina Vidler as Shay Turner
- Benson Jack Anthony as Arlo Turner
- Rick Donald as Jeff "Woody" Woodson, an Australian expat builder who moved to Weld for the surf
- Bridie Carter as Jan, George's former boss and editor in Sydney
- Emma Leonard as Tracey Dennis, an Australian expat and Shay and Arlo's form teacher at Weld High School
- Michelle Langstone as Fiona, the owner-operator of the Weld Boat Club and a volunteer ambulance driver
- Anna Jullienne as Katie Bell, a part-Maori artist and owner of the Weld arts and crafts gallery
- Cian Elyse White as Hannah, a surfer who works part-time at the Weld Boat Club and the local surf shop
Recurring
- Jonathan Brugh as Monty McNamara, a real estate agent who sold George his new home in Weld and is a volunteer firefighter
- Peter Elliott as Bill "Big Mac" McNamara, the financial kingpin of Weld and father to Bill Jr., Monty, and Robbie
- Paul Glover as Bill McNamara Jr., father to Lindsay and Jared
- Manon Blackman as Lindsay McNamara, Bill Jr.'s daughter.
- Matt Holden as Jared McNamara, Bill Jr.'s son
- Olivia Tennet as Siouxsie McNamara, Monty's daughter and secretary
- John Leigh as Constable Tom, Weld's local police officer and photographer
- Alex Tarrant as Ike, one of Zac's children and love interest of Shay
- Reon Bell as Billy, Katie and Zac's son
- Rob Kipa-Williams as Zac, Katie's ex-partner and father to Ike, Hannah, and Billy
- Renee Lyons as Brenda, runs the supermarket
- Jesse Griffin as Sean, works for the local council
- Henry Beasley as Ollie, works at the petrol station, has a crush on Shay
- David Fane as Smiler
- Tandi Wright as Laura Turner, deceased wife of George and mother to Shay and Arlo
- Elizabeth Hawthorne as Trish, Laura's mother
- Peter Hayden as Roger, Laura's father
- Jackie van Beek as Gloria, production manager of the local newspaper, News of the Weld
- Millen Baird as Robert "Robbie" McNamara, Fiona's ex
- Ditch Davey as Terry Turner, George's younger brother, a chef
- Jamaica Vaughan as Emma, Fiona's niece and summer love interest of Arlo
- Jessica Redmayne as Poppy, Woody's 16-year-old daughter
- Rachael Carpani as Mary, Woody's ex and mother to Poppy
- Miriama Smith as Ngahuia, Zac's ex and mother to Ike
Production
On 19 October 2015, the Seven Network and South Pacific Pictures renewed the show for a second season. It premiered on 23 August 2016 in Australia. On 24 January 2017, the Seven Network announced that the series had been renewed for a third season. It screened from 12 September 2017 with a mid-season finale after eight episodes.
On 17 August 2018 Seven Network cancelled the series after three seasons.