The Heights on BBC1 - Start date, plot and everything you need to know

The Heights BBC One

We've got Neighbours and Home and Away, but now there is a new Australian soap on the way... who's excited?!

There is great news for soap fans, because BBC One has acquired the first two series of Australian serial drama, The Heights.

This critically acclaimed serial drama has been a huge hit with Australian viewers and is produced by NBC Universal International Studios' Matchbox Pictures in association with For Pete's Sake Productions.

Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming series...

What is The Heights on BBC1 about?

The Heights BBC

The Heights starts on BBC One on 15th June (Picture: BBC/Matchbox Productions/Screenwest (Australia)/Ben King) (Image credit: BBC/Matchbox Productions/Screenwest (Australia)/Ben King)

The Heights follows an urban community all living a fictional inner-city suburb of Perth, Australia, against the backdrop of the gentrification of its neighbourhood.

Set in a city tower block called Arcadia Heights, this soap will see a huge variety of working-class characters from different backgrounds and cultures, all living side by side through the drama of day-to-day life. But as always with soaps, when the going gets tough, the community sticks together.

Carla-Maria Lawson, Head of BBC Daytime and Early Peak, says: "This slice of life from the melting pot that is urban Australia is loaded with humour and drama and quickly draws you into the very diverse lives of its characters.

"Daytime viewers love drama with compelling story telling at its heart and The Heights does that brilliantly."

Alastair McKinnon, Managing Director, Matchbox Pictures, adds: "Australian viewers have taken the diverse mix of families living in Arcadia Heights to their hearts and we are enormously proud of the show.

"With British viewers’ undoubted enthusiasm for Australian soap operas, we feel very excited about the potential for The Heights on BBC1."

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Who stars in the new series?

The Heights BBC

Former Neighbours favourites Saskia Hempele and Dan Paris star in The Heights (Picture: BBC/Matchbox Productions/Screenwest (Australia)/Ben King) (Image credit: BBC/Matchbox Productions/Screenwest (Australia)/Ben King)

There will be a few familiar faces for soap fans in The Heights.

Former Neighbours favourite Dan Paris, who is better known as Ramsay Street's Drew Kirk, will star as Mark Davies, while Saskia Hampele, who played Erinsborough's Georgia Brooks from 2012 - 2015 will star as Renee Davies.

Other stars include Marcus Graham (known as a teenage heartthrob in the 90s and for his role in Australian soap E Street) who will take one of the lead roles as Pav, while actress Roz Hammond stars as Claudia Rosso.

When can we watch The Heights on BBC1?

The Heights BBC

Roz Hammond and Marcus Graham star as Claudia and Pav (Picture: BBC/Matchbox Productions/Screenwest (Australia)/Bohdan Warchomij) (Image credit: BBC/Matchbox Productions/Screenwest (Australia)/Bohdan Warchomij)

The first series of The Heights will air on BBC1 on 15th June, with the second series following later in the year.

The soap will be airing in the lunchtime slot of 1.45 - 2.15, meaning it will be taking on Neighbours in the scheduling by airing at the same time.

Is there a trailer?

https://youtu.be/t2veH8RP3TM

The trailer for the new soap shows the residents of Arcadia Heights facing the battles that come with every day life living in a working-class social housing development.

But there is plenty of love and laughter to be seen as well, so make sure you tune in on the 15th of June.

Watch The Heights every weekday on BBC1 at 1.45 pm from Monday 15th June. 

Claire Crick
Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch

Claire is Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch and has been a journalist for over 15 years, writing about everything from soaps and TV to beauty, entertainment, and even the Royal Family. After starting her career at a soap magazine, she ended up staying for 13 years, and over that time she’s pulled pints in the Rovers Return, sung karaoke in the Emmerdale village hall, taken a stroll around Albert Square, and visited Summer Bay Surf Club in sunny Australia. 

After learning some tricks of the trade at websites Digital Spy, Entertainment Daily, and Woman & Home, Claire landed a role at What’s On TV and whattowatch.com writing about all things TV and film, with a particular love for Aussie soaps, Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off

She’s interviewed everyone from June Brown — AKA Dot Cotton — to Michelle Keegan, swapped cooking tips with baking legend Mary Berry backstage at the NTAs, and danced the night away with soap stars at countless awards bashes. There’s not a lot she doesn’t know about soaps and TV and can be very handy when a soapy question comes up in a pub quiz! 

As well as all things soap-related, Claire also loves running, spa breaks, days out with her kids, and getting lost in a good book.