The first season of The Real Housewives of Melbourne, an Australian reality television series, was broadcast on Arena. It aired from 23 February 2014, until 11 May 2014, and was primarily filmed in Melbourne, Victoria. Its executive producers are Kylie Washington and Lisa Potasz.
The Real Housewives of Melbourne focuses on the lives of Jackie Gillies, Chyka Keebaugh, Gina Liano, Andrea Moss, Janet Roach, and Lydia Schiavello; It consisted of twelve episodes.
Production and crew
The Real Housewives of Melbourne was first announced by Matchbox Pictures as The Real Housewives of Australia and was set to air in 2013. On 28 July 2013 it was announced that the series had been renamed to The Real Housewives of Melbourne, along with the full cast. The six women featured on the first season were handpicked by the producers, from over one-hundred women during an eight-month process. Filming for the season began in July 2013. The official cast photo and premiere date for the series was announced on 21 January 2014. The series at the time was the second biggest local series launch following SoHo's Wentworth. The two-part reunion, hosted by Alex Perry, was filmed late March 2014.
The series premiere "First Impressions" was aired on 23 February 2014, while the tenth episode "Here's to Happy Endings" served as the season finale, and was aired on 27 April 2014. It was followed by a two-part reunion which marked the conclusion of the season and was broadcast on 4 May and 11 May 2014.
Kylie Washington and Lisa Potasz are recognized as the series' executive producers, and Euan Jones, Virginia Hodgson, Philippa Rubira are recognized as series' producers. It is produced by Matchbox Pictures, and distributed by NBCUniversal International Television Production.
Cast and synopsis
Six housewives are featured during the first season of The Real Housewives of Melbourne, who are described as "sophisticated and affluent" women "who love to indulge in the finer things in life as well as high end drama." The six wives featured during the first season are Jackie Gillies, Chyka Keebaugh, Gina Liano, Andrea Moss, Janet Roach, and Lydia Schiavello.
Gillies is described as someone who is opinionated, spiritual and confident. The Croatian-born housewife is youngest of the housewives and has recently moved from Newcastle with her husband, Ben Gillies. Gillies had met her husband, the drummer of the Australian rock band Silverchair when she was fifteen years of age. The couple reconnected after their fourteen years of meeting and married in 2010, and since then the couple have endeavored to launch their own alcohol line, La Máscara. The pair own many properties across Australia, as well as along the coast in Croatia. Gillies is a professional psychic of which she has many clients including celebrities.
Keebaugh is a mother, businesswoman and socialite who is described as one of Melbourne's most liked and well-connected women as well as being known for being go-getter and having a positive outlook on life. Keebaugh and her husband, Bruce have been married for twenty-two years and together they have two children; a daughter named Chrissy, 19 and a son named BJ, 18. The two not only raised their kids together, they have also created and built one of the largest privately owned catering and event companies, The Big Group. With such success, the couple are now expanding their business across to more location in Melbourne. With such busy schedules the couple make sure they meet up at least once a week to connect and discuss which events they'll attend.
Liano is a divorced single mother of two teenage boys, as well her beloved poodle, Ninja, who has survived cancer. Although Liano loves fashion, she followed in her own footsteps and entered law, whereas her sisters, Teresa and Bettina Liano, are renowned fashion designers. Liano has been in law for fourteen years and now works as a criminal barrister, preferring to fight for the little guy. Liano not only knows about fashion and law, she also works as a property developer and is and a qualified art gallery curator. Away from raising her two sons and working, Liano spends her time looking for a home to live in as her apartment is currently under construction.