The ABC has commissioned a high-concept genre drama titled Cleverman, about a group of "non-humans, battling for survival in a world where humans feel increasingly inferior to them and want to silence, exploit and kill them".

Game of Thrones' Iain Glen, The Missing's Frances O'Connor and The Sapphires' Deborah Mailman will star. The project is a co-production between the ABC, Goalpost Pictures and Pukeko Pictures. The series' directors include Wayne Blair and Leah Purcell; the script is based on an original concept by Ryan Griffen.

Sam Frost to star in The Bachelorette

Sam Frost, who came to The Bachelor Australia in 2014 as a contestant only to win, and then see the groom run off with another contestant, will be the star of The Bachelorette Australia. "Australia was captivated by Sam in last year's season of The Bachelor Australia and we are delighted to welcome her back for our very first The Bachelorette," Ten's chief programming officer Beverley McGarvey said. The series, produced by Shine Australia and hosted by Osher Günsberg, returns to Ten later this year.

Y&R and DOOL share honours as best daytime drama

Two iconic US soaps – The Young and the Restless and Days of our Lives – have tied for best drama at the 42nd annual Daytime Emmy Awards. A third, The Bold and the Beautiful, took out Emmys for best writing team and best directing team. And a fourth, General Hospital, best actor and actress. Other winners included Donna Mills (General Hospital), Fred Willard (The Bold and the Beautiful) and Ray Wise (The Young and the Restless). Y&R and DOOL – as they are known – air on Foxtel; Bold airs on Ten.

Swan and Denyer to host spelling bee series

The Ten Network has named Chrissie Swan and Grant Denyer as hosts of a new format, The Great Australian Spelling Bee. "This show is heaven for me," Swan, who has just returned from Ten's I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, said. "I'll be there all the way, supporting the clever kids and their parents." Auditions are already under way across Australia for the series, which will go into production under the flag of Shine Australia later this year. Ten has not announced an airdate.

Bassingthwaighte quits The X Factor

Seven's talent flagship The X Factor is set for what looks to be a complete overhaul, following confirmation that judge Natalie Bassingthwaighte will leave the series, following Ronan Keating who has already announced his departure. Bassingthwaighte announced her departure via social media. "I won't be returning," she said. "I am enjoying my time on [The] X Factor NZ and I am super excited about the future." Bassingthwaighte added she had "some exciting things in the pipeline".

Homeland to be shot in Germany

The critically acclaimed drama Homeland is heading to Germany to film its fifth season. The move follows a successful fourth season which was filmed on location in South Africa. The move makes the series the first American drama to shoot a full season in Germany. The US channel Showtime has commissioned 12 one-hour episodes for the show's fifth season, and has announced it will pick up the story two years after the events of the fourth season. Showtime has confirmed Clare Danes will return. No airdate has been set.