Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery
ABC, Wednesday, 9pm
IT may be in its third season now, but there is still something fresh an interesting and slightly unpredictable about Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery on the ABC on a Wednesday night.
It’s not the usual concept for a television series is it?
Pick a celebrity up in a car and drive them to their old schools, homes and neighbourhoods. It often ends up being a very personal and poignant piece of television – kind of Who Do You Think You Are without the world travel, dramatic music and Mark Strong voiceover.
Of course unlike WDYTYA, it’s also sometimes intentionally funny – thanks to the quick wit of the talented Zemiro and her intelligent choice of guest.
The second episode of this series with the talented Matt Lucas – ticked all those boxes. You got the poignant story behind one of the funniest men in the world, but you were also treated to his natural comedic talent and a real glimpse into what made him who he was (including a quick chat with his mother and step-mother). This is reality television and celebrity interviews at its best and at its quirkiest.
And even after three seasons, you still feel like you’re sitting in the back of the car driving down the road with Zemiro and listening to your front seat passenger.
The nice thing about this series is the mix of Australian and International talent in that passenger seat. Lucas was followed by the ABC’s own Leigh Sales, and this week we have British comedian and QI regular Alan Davis sitting in that passenger seat.
But no matter who it is, the nice thing is Zemiro’s almost but not quite “girl next door” persona (maybe girl next door with a bit of a wild past?) that allows this to be a sweet but not saccharine little show in ABC’s usually over-the-top comedic Wednesday night line-up.
– Tania Phillips
