New seasons of the popular series War on Waste (ABC) and Go Back To Where You Came From (SBS) are among seven documentary projects to be funded by Screen Australia. Others include a two-part special, The Royals Down Under (ABC), which charts the political and emotional history of Australia's relationship with the British monarchy; Attention Wars, examining the claim that Big Tech is monopolising our focus; Little Joe, a short online series based on the true stories of a debt collector; The Antarctica Experience, which uses virtual reality to give viewers unprecedented access to the coldest place on earth; and The Coming Back Out Ball, about older LGBTQI Australians.

More from Gervais

Netflix has ordered a new comedy series from Ricky Gervais. Called After Life, it follows his character Tony, who decides to punish the world for his wife's sudden death by saying and doing whatever he likes. But when his friends try to save him, things get complicated. Gervais' most recent Netflix program was the stand-up comedy special Humanity.

Family Feud axed

Channel Ten will "rest" its struggling game show Family Feud, after it finishes airing later this year. Host Grant Denyer made the announcement on breakfast radio, telling 2Day FM, "We only thought we'd ever get two years out of it ... It did good things, but we're probably guilty, if anything, of driving it into the ground a little too early." At one point, the program was broadcast twice daily – six days a week.

Ten renews Hughesy

In better news for Ten, the network has renewed its Beauty and the Beast-inspired panel program Hughesy, We Have a Problem (hosted by Dave Hughes) and comedic film review Show Me the Movie! (which marked the return of Rove McManus to TV). Though neither set the ratings on fire, they have punched above their weight with the younger viewers Ten needs.

Fans fight for favourite

US sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine, airing locally on SBS Viceland, has been axed by Fox. But the outpouring of anger from fans did not go unnoticed by NBC, which promptly commissioned a sixth season. "You guys did this!" said cast member Melissa Fumero, addressing viewers on social media. "You got loud and you were heard and we are forever grateful to you for doing so."

Far out, Fargo

Settle in, Fargo fans: it's going to be a long wait. The US black comedy-drama, broadcast locally on SBS, was slated to return next year. Now, it appears the fourth season will debut in 2020, according to Entertainment Weekly. "The plan would be to go into production and start shooting in the fall of 2019," said executive producer Warren Littlefield.