Season 1
Jonah from Tonga is an Australian mockumentary television series created and written by Chris Lilley which follows Jonah Takalua, a 14-year-old rebellious schoolboy, his family, friends and the crew of teachers and counsellors who are exhaustively trying to help him channel his seemingly limitless energy into bigger and brighter things.
After being expelled from Summer Heights High, Jonah's father, Rocky, banished him to the island of Tongapatu to spend time with his extended family and get his life back together.
After serving his time in Tonga, his father and aunty decide to start a brand-new life for the boy with 'angel eyes' at Holy Cross - a Catholic high school in Sydney's western suburbs.
Jonah might be in a brand-new school but he's quick to mark his familiar territory and establishes a gang of like-minded kids who are friendly with all except 'The Rangas'. Under the watchful eye of his teachers and the school's youth worker, Jonah finds it harder to rebel, but he is never one to shy away from a challenge.
It's not long until he's up to his old tricks and the Tongan troublemaker once again finds himself in plenty of hot water. With stacks of fights, frenemies, break-dancing and law-breaking, Jonah from Tonga is definitely one big wild ride.
Australia's Chris Lilley, creator of Summer Heights High and Ja'mie: Private School Girl, brings back one of his groundbreaking characters, the rebellious 14-year-old Jonah, in the six-episode comedy series Jonah from Tonga. Lilley created, wrote and stars in the title role of the new show.
Jonah from Tonga is produced by Lilley and his producing partner, Laura Waters, who previously produced Summer Heights High (where the character of Jonah was introduced) and Angry Boys, and co-produced by HBO and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in association with the BBC.
Broadcast Notes
Although the series premiered on ABC1 in Australia on Wednesday 7 May 2014, it was first made available on the broadcaster's online player iview from 2-6 May.