Offspring's fate in the balance
The future of much-loved show Offspring seems up in the air, with the Ten series' producer refusing to confirm whether it will return next year.
Though the drama has been a ratings winner for the network and has earned star Asher Keddie a host of Logie nominations, season five will be over in just six weeks and no renewal has been announced.
Offspring has now reached its 65th episode, a milestone that sees shows lose their tax rebate and production costs shoot up by 30 per cent - something that has spelt disaster for series such as Rush and Dance Academy.
Producer John Edwards hinted the mounting costs were a big factor in whether Offspring would continue.
"I think the show is going extremely well," he told TV Tonight.
"But there are all sorts of problems. It costs 30 per cent more because we're over 65 episodes.
"So it (costs more) already and there are uplifts on the cast.
"There are significant difficulties and there are scheduling difficulties."
But Ten's chief programming officer Beverley McGarvey remains hopeful that the series will proceed with a sixth series.
"(Producers) Imogen Banks and John Edwards are the best in the business and we’re obviously very proud of everything that Offspring has achieved. Network Ten would, of course, like to proceed with series 6 and we are in discussions with the producers now," McGarvey said.
