The AACTA Award for Best Television Drama Series is a television award handed out by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). It was previously awarded by the Australian Film Institute (AFI), from 1991 to 2010, and will continue to be presented by the Academy. It is awarded to a dramatic television series of no fewer than five episodes. It can be a series of self-contained stories which can be screened in any order or a number of interweaving and overlapping plots continuing from one episode to the next.
Between 1991 and 2001, only individual episodes were awarded. The award has changed its name several times, and between 1993 and 2001, it became two separate categories; from 1991 to 1992, the award was called Best Episode in a Television Drama, Series or Serial; from 1993 to 2001 the award was split into Best Episode in a Television Drama Series and Best Episode in a Television Drama Serial and; from 1998 to 2001 Best Episode in a Drama Serial was changed to Best Episode in a Television Drama Series (Long). In 2002 the awards was combined to make Best Drama Series.
The award is usually presented to the producer(s) of a series, but between 1991 and 2001, the award went to the producer of a specific episode. Over the years, ABC have won sixteen of twenty-nine awards. Home and Away have won four awards, more than any other television programme. If the Best Episode categories aren't taken into account, then Home and Away's wins are discounted and Love My Way would have the record of three.
Rules Potential nominees must submit two episodes from a drama series, which will be judged as a single entry, and a fee of A$1,125. The television program must be produced and broadcast in Australia for free-to-air or subscription television channels, but excludes broadcasts on community television.
Winners and nominees
Best Episode in a Television Drama Series or Serial (1991–1992) Year Program Network Episode Producer(s) 1991(34th) Embassy (series 2) ABC Episode 1: "A Human Dimension" Alan Hardy Police Rescue (season 1) ABC Episode 2: "Angel After Hours" Sandra Levy and John Edwards Police Rescue (season 1) ABC Episode 13: "By The Book" Sandra Levy and John Edwards Boys from the Bush (season 1) Seven Network Episode 8 Jane Scott and Verity Lambert 1992(35th) Phoenix (season 1) ABC Episode 13:"Hard Ball" Bill Hughes Police Rescue (season 2) ABC Episode 2: "Off The Track" Sandra Levy and John Edwards Embassy (season 3) ABC Episode 10: "Crisis of Confidence" Mark Callan Phoenix (season 1) ABC Episode 8: "Fond Memories" Bill Hughes
Best Episode in a Television Drama Series (1993–2001) Year Program Network Episode Producer(s) 1993(36th) Phoenix ABC "Under Siege" Bill HughesPolice RescueABC"Whirlwind"Sandra Levy, John EdwardsG.P.ABC"Exposed"Bruce BestPolice RescueABC"Lifeline"Sandra Levy, John Edwards 1994(37th) The Damnation of Harvey McHugh ABC "Hey St Jude" Sue Masters Heartland ABC "Episode 7" Bruce Best, Penny Chapman, Phaedon VassG.P.ABC"Double Bind"Peter AndrikidisPolice RescueABC"Double Illusion"Sandra Levy, John Edwards 1995(38th) Frontline ABC "The Siege" Rob Sitch, Santo Cilauro, Jane Kennedy, Tom GleisnerFrontlineABC"The Art of Gentle Persuasion"Rob Sitch, Santo Cilauro, Jane Kennedy, Tom GleisnerJanusABC"Not On The Merits"Bill HughesJanusABC"Without Consent"Bill Hughes 1996(39th) Frontline ABC "Keeping Up Appearances" Rob Sitch, Santo Cilauro, Jane Kennedy, Tom GleisnerG.P.ABC"Ceremony Of Innocence"Peter AndrikidisG.P.ABC"Sing Me A Lullaby"Peter AndrikidisPolice RescueABC"Tomorrow Never Knows"John Edward 1997(40th) Frontline ABC "Epitaph" Rob Sitch, Santo Cilauro, Jane Kennedy, Tom Gleisner Frontline ABC "The Shadow We Cast" Rob Sitch, Santo Cilauro, Jane Kennedy, Tom Gleisner Good Guys Bad Guys Nine Network "One Point Eight Million Reasons to Change Your Name: Part 1" Roger Le Mesurier, Roger SimpsonRos Tatarka Good Guys Bad Guys Nine Network "One Point Eight Million Reasons to Change Your Name: Part 2" Roger Le Mesurier, Roger Simpson, Ros Tatarka 1998(41st) Wildside ABC "Episode 16" Steve Knapman Blue Heelers Seven Network "Collateral Damage" Ricardo Pillizzeri Good Guys, Bad Guys Nine Network "Dog People" Roger Le Mesurier, Roger Simpson, John Wild SeaChange ABC "Stormy Weather" Sally Ayre-Smith 1999(42nd) Wildside ABC "Episode 59" Steve Knapman SeaChange ABC "Law and Order" Sally Ayre-Smith SeaChange ABC "Manna From Heaven" Sally Ayre-Smith SeaChange ABC "Playing With Fire" Sally Ayre-Smith 2000(43rd) Grass Roots ABC "The Whole Year" John Eastway Grass Roots ABC "Late July 4.00pm to 10.30pm" John Eastway Grass Roots ABC "Late September" John Eastway SeaChange ABC "Hungi Jury" Sally Ayre-Smith 2001(44th) SeaChange ABC "I Name Thee Bay of Pearls" Sally Ayre-Smith The Games ABC "Solar" John Clarke, Ross Stevenson, Mark Ruse Love Is a Four Letter Word ABC "Split" Rosemary Blight, Tim Pye SeaChange ABC "Half Life" Sally Ayre-Smith The Secret Life of Us Network Ten "The Butterfly Effect" John Edwards, Amanda Higgs
Best Episode in a Television Drama Serial (1993–2001) Year Program Network Episode Producer(s)1993(36th)Home and AwaySeven Network"Episode #1222"Andrew HowieHome And AwaySeven NetworkEpisode 1252 (Seven Network)Andrew HowieNeighboursNetwork TenEpisode 1859Margaret Slarke, Sally-Anne KerrHome And AwaySeven NetworkEpisode 1251Andrew Howie1995(38th)Home and AwaySeven Network"Episode #1705"Andrew Howie, Russell WebbEcho PointNetwork TenEpisode 29 Sandra Levy, John EdwardsHome And AwaySeven NetworkEpisode 1683John Holmes, Russell Webb1997(40th)NeighboursNetwork Ten"Episode #2842"Peter DoddsHome and AwaySeven Network "The Earthquake"Russell WebbNeighboursNetwork Ten "Episode #2911"Peter Dodds1998(41st)Home and AwaySeven Network"Episode #2197"Russell WebbAll SaintsSeven Network "Give and Take"Jo PorterAll SaintsSeven Network "Revelations"Jo PorterHome and AwaySeven Network "Episode #2413"Russell Webb1999(42nd)All SaintsSeven Network"Head to Head"Jo PorterHome and AwaySeven Network "Episode #2646"Russell WebbNeighboursNetwork Ten "Episode #3388 "Peter DoddsNeighboursNetwork Ten "Episode #3389 "Peter Dodds2000(43rd)All SaintsSeven Network"Valley of the Shadows: Part 1"Jo PorterAll SaintsSeven Network "Dead on Time"Jo PorterSomething in the AirABC "Movers and Shakers"Roger Le Mesurier, Roger Simpson, Ros TatarkaSomething in the AirABC "We Will Remember Them"Roger Le Mesurier, Roger Simpson, Ros Tatarka2001(44th)Something in the AirABC"That One Defining Moment"Roger Le Mesurier, Roger Simpson, Alan HardyAll SaintsSeven Network "The Sign"Di DrewSomething in the AirABC "Into Thy Hands" Roger Le Mesurier, Roger Simpson, Alan HardySomething in the AirABC "Living in the Past" Roger Le Mesurier, Roger Simpson, Alan Hardy
Best Television Drama Series (2002-current) Year Program Network Producer(s) 2002(45th) Kath & Kim (series 1) ABC Mark Ruse All Saints (season 5) Seven Network Di Drew MDA (series 1) ABC Greg Haddrick The Secret Life of Us Network Ten John Edwards and Amanda Higgs 2003(46th) MDA (series 2) ABC Denny Lawrence Grass Roots (series 2) ABC John Eastway Stingers (series 6) Nine Network Roger Le Mesurier, Roger Simpson and John Wild The Secret Life of Us (series 3) Network Ten Amanda Higgs 2004(47th) Stingers (series 8) Nine Network Roger Le Mesurier, Roger Simpson and John Wild McLeod's Daughters (season 4) Nine Network Susan Bower and Posie Graeme-Evans MDA ABC Denny Lawrence White Collar Blue (series 2) Network Ten Steve Knapman and Kris Wyld 2005(48th) Love My Way (series 1) Fox8 John Edwards and Claudia Karvan All Saints (season 8) Seven Network Maryanne Carroll Blue Heelers (season 12) Seven Network Gus Howard and David Clarke MDA (series 3) ABC Denny Lawrence 2006(49th) Love My Way (series 2) W John Edwards, Claudia Karvan and Jacquelin Perske All Saints (season 9) Seven Network MaryAnne Carroll Blue Heelers (season 13) Seven Network Gus Howard and David Clarke McLeod's Daughters (season 6) Nine Network Posie Graeme-Evans and Karl Zwicky 2007(50th) Love My Way (series 3) Showtime John Edwards and Claudia Karvan All Saints (season 10) Seven Network MaryAnne Carroll and Bill Hughes Dangerous Fox8 John Edwards and Imogen Banks 2008(51st) Underbelly Nine Network Greg Haddrick and Brenda Pam City Homicide (series 2) Seven Network MaryAnne Carroll Rush (series 1) Network Ten John Edwards and Mimi Butler Satisfaction (series 1) Showcase Andrew Walker and Roger Simpson 2009(52nd) East West 101 (season 2) SBS One Kristine Wyld and Steve Knapman Packed to the Rafters (season 1) Seven Network Jo Porter Satisfaction (season 2) Showcase John Edwards and Mimi Butler Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities Nine Network Greg Haddrick and Brenda Pam 2010(53rd) Rush (series 3) Network Ten John Edwards and Mimi Butler The Circuit (season 2) SBS Ross Hutchens and Colin South Spirited (series 1) W John Edwards, Claudia Karvan and Jacquelin Perske Tangle (season 2) Showcase John Edwards and Imogen Banks 2011(1st) East West 101 (season 3) SBS One Steve Knapman and Kris Wyld Offspring (season 2) Network Ten John Edwards and Imogen Banks Rake ABC1 Ian ColliePeter Duncan and Richard Roxburgh Spirited (series 2) W Claudia Karvan and Jacquelin Perske 2012(2nd) Puberty Blues Network Ten John Edwards and Imogen Banks Rake (season 2) ABC1 Ian Collie, Peter Duncan and Richard Roxburgh Redfern Now ABC1 Darren Dale and Miranda Dear Tangle (season 3) Showcase John Edwards and Imogen Banks 2013(3rd) Redfern Now (series 2) ABC1 Darren Dale and Miranda Dear Offspring (season 4) Network Ten John Edwards and Imogen Banks Serangoon Road ABC1 Paul Barron and Nick North Wentworth (series 1) Soho Jo Porter and Amanda Crittenden 2014(4th) The Code ABC Shelley Birse, David Maher and David Taylor Janet King ABC Karl Zwicky and Lisa Scott Puberty Blues (season 2) Network Ten John Edwards and Imogen Banks Rake (series 3) ABC Ian Collie, Peter Duncan and Richard Roxburgh 2015(5th) Glitch ABC Tony Ayres, Louise Fox and Ewan Burnett Love Child (season 2) Nine Network Tom Hoffie Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (series 3) ABC Deb Cox and Fiona Eagger Wentworth (season 3) SoHo Jo Porter and Amanda Crittenden 2016(6th) Wentworth (season 4)| SoHo| Pino Amenta and Jo Porter|- | The Code | ABC | David Maher, David Taylor, Shelley Birse and Diane Haddon |- | Jack Irish | ABC | Ian Collie and Andrew Knight |- | Rake | ABC | Ian Collie, Peter Duncan and Richard Roxburgh |- | rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" |2017(7th) |- style="background:#FAEB86"