The series also stars Sally Phillips, with Love on the Spectrum‘s Michael Theo in his first acting role. 

The BBC has acquired Austin, a new eight-part comedy starring Ben Miller (Professor T), Sally Phillips (Veep), and Michael Theo (Love on the Spectrum).

The show, co-created by Darren Ashton (Spreadsheet) and Ben Miller, tell the story of a cancelled children’s author who suddenly discovers he has an neurodivergent Australian son.

Here’s the setup for Austin

When much-loved children’s author Julian Hartswood (Ben Miller) inadvertently causes a social media storm, his career and that of his illustrator wife Ingrid (Sally Phillips) appears to be over. That is until Austin (Michael Theo), the neurodivergent son that Julian never knew existed, turns up out of the blue. Could embracing this modern nuclear family be Julian’s route back from cancellation? Will Ingrid ever forgive him? One thing is for certain: if Julian thinks Austin is going to be a pushover, he’s in for a rude awakening.

Gia Carides (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) and Roy Billing (Underbelly) also star.

The show has enjoyed positive press from its Australian airing, with The Guardian saying: “This very funny and sharply executed comedy series has a big heart… Another season, please!”

While there’s no BBC trailer yet, ABC iView have kindly obliged…

The eight-part Austin comes from Northern Pictures and Lincoln Pictures, in association with Screen Australia, Screen Canberra and ITV Studios.

The writing team for Austin includes Lloyd Woolf and Joe Tucker (Black Ops), Adam Zwar (Squinters) and Kala Ellis (Spreadsheet). The directors are Darren Ashton and Madeleine Dyer (Colin From Accounts).

Austin has been picked up for both BBC iPlayer and a linear airing – we’ll keep you posted.