You Can't Ask That - Director and Co-creator
You Can't Ask That
Director and Co-creator
Created by Kirk Docker, Aaron Smith and Jon Casimir, You Can’t Ask That first premiered in 2015. Since then, it has aired for 7 seasons and received worldwide critical acclaim. You Can’t Ask That won the Rose d’Or for Best Reality or Factual Entertainment in 2017. It also won 3 UN Media Awards and was nominated for a Logie for Most Outstanding Factual or Documentary Program.
Created by Kirk Docker, Aaron Smith and Jon Casimir, You Can’t Ask That first premiered in 2015. Since then, it has aired for 7 seasons and received worldwide critical acclaim. You Can’t Ask That won the Rose d’Or for Best Reality or Factual Entertainment in 2017. It also won 3 UN Media Awards and was nominated for a Logie for Most Outstanding Factual or Documentary Program.
‘You Can’t Ask That’ emerged as a reaction to the rise of the concept of “political correctness” in 2015. Far too often, people with big voices, such as politicians or celebrities, explain how everyone should or shouldn’t behave. Rather than avoiding the big conversations, Kirk and his team wanted to tackle sensitive topics head-on. The show does this by passing the microphone to people directly affected by negative stereotypes or perceptions, allowing them to tell their story on their own terms.
‘You Can’t Ask That’ emerged as a reaction to the rise of the concept of “political correctness” in 2015. Far too often, people with big voices, such as politicians or celebrities, explain how everyone should or shouldn’t behave. Rather than avoiding the big conversations, Kirk and his team wanted to tackle sensitive topics head-on. The show does this by passing the microphone to people directly affected by negative stereotypes or perceptions, allowing them to tell their story on their own terms.
It sounds high risk, and in the wrong hands it could be…
David Anderson
Managing director abc
The show gives people who face stereotypes and ignorance a chance to own their story. Each episode takes a group that lives with a label (Transgender, Suicide Attempt Survivors, Schizophrenics, etc.). Kirk guides them through the often crudely honest questions submitted by the public. For example, an amputee might be asked “do you let people fuck your stump?”, while a question for a priest could be something like “why are there so many pedophiles?” At the heart of ‘You Can’t Ask That’ is a sense of playfulness and humour, however, while the questions asked are blunt, offensive or rude, they often lead to a deeper understanding of the subject and the marginalised group they’re a part of.
‘You Can’t Ask That’ has become the most successful ABC format in history. There are now around 35 seasons of the show that have been created around the world in over 9 different language. Each of these renditions utilise the same concepts and formula that Kirk established in 2015 to tell the stories of people who live on the fringes of their respective societies.
Watch 'you Can't Ask That'
You can watch every season of YCAT free on ABC iView!
Watch 'You Can't Ask That'
Watch 'you can't ask that'
You can watch every season of YCAT free on ABC iView!
