I Was Actually There is an Australian TV documentary series created by ABC Television which first premiered on 9 July 2024.
Description The documentary series explores major moments in our recent history through the eyes, ears and voices of those who were directly involved.
Production The series was created by the creators of You Can't Ask That, Kirk Docker, Aaron Smith and Jon Casimir. It is produced by Docker Media for the ABC. Docker is also the director and executive producer of the series, while Loni Cooper, Josh Schmidt and Jess Skinner serve as producers. A second series will premiere on 7 October 2025.
Podcast A companion podcast with the same name also aired on 9 July 2024, hosted by Kirk Docker and will give an in depth interview with an individual that appears on the TV series.
Season overview SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired Season premiere Season finale 1 6 9 July 2024 13 August 2024 2 7 October 2025 11 November 2025
Episodes
Season 1 (2024) No. in series No. in season Title Original airdate 1 1 "Port Arthur massacre: 28 April 1996" 9 July 2024 2 2 "Boxing Day tsunami: 26 December 2004" 16 July 2024 3 3 "AFL footballer Nicky Winmar’s stand against racism: 17 April 1993" 23 July 2024 4 4 "The Beatles’ world record-breaking Adelaide visit: 12 June 1964" 30 July 2024 5 5 "Woomera Detention Centre breakout: 29 March 2002" 6 August 2024 6 6 "Beaconsfield mine rescue: 9 May 2006" 13 August 2024
Season 2 (2025) No. in series No. in season Title Original airdate 7 1 "Black Saturday bushfires: 7 February 2009" 7 October 2025 8 2 "September 11 Terroists Attack: 11 September 2001" 14 October 2025 9 3 "The Dismissal: 11 November 1975" 21 October 2025 10 4 "Cronulla Riots: 11 December 2005" 28 October 2025 11 5 "Fairlie Arrow Abduction Hoax: 1991" 4 November 2025 12 6 "Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race Tragedy: 27 December 1998" 11 November 2025
Reception Graeme Blundell of The Australian wrote, "Docker has again created a kind of hybrid form, a marriage of the art of storytelling and the art of journalism, an entertaining attempt to make drama out of the observable world of real people, real places and real events.", about the series being created by Kirk Docker in a hybrid form.
References