Can of Worms (TV program)

Can of Worms
Company type	Television program
Industry	Television broadcasting
Founded	July 4, 2011; 15 years ago
Defunct	May 20, 2013
Headquarters	Sydney, Melbourne, Australia
Area served	Australia
Products	Talk show

Can of Worms is an Australian talk show that aired on Network Ten.

Producer Andrew Denton described the program as offering "a window into Australia's genuine views on contentious issues" by eliminating "the constraints of political correctness." The initial series' host, Ian "Dicko" Dickson, defined it as a blend of a talk show and a game-show format.

Production

Broadcasting ran from 4 July 2011 until 20 May 2013. The first season was hosted by Ian "Dicko" Dickson alongside Meshel Laurie. Early in production, several public figures opted out due to the show's concept, presenting challenges in securing guests. Dickson departed after the inaugural season.

The second season featured Chrissie Swan as host with 'man on the street' Dan Ilic, premiering on 20 August 2012 and concluding with two 'Best of Specials' in November. On 23 October 2012, Can of Worms received renewal for a third season, which was broadcast live across Australia. Swan and Ilic continued hosting the third run, which began on 11 February 2013. During Swan’s maternity leave, former contestant James Mathison stepped in as host.

Season 1 was recorded at Global Television Studios located within Sydney's Australian Technology Park. Production shifted to ABC Studios in Ultimo, Sydney for Season 2. Season 3 moved to Melbourne, utilizing ABC's Elsternwick studios.

Format

The show’s "worms" refer to yes/no questions addressing themes such as ethics, societal issues, parenting, religion, and race. Initially, each episode tackled two worms; by the third season, the format focused on a single main worm complemented by live audience interaction and social media integration.

Each episode assembles a panel of three public personalities who explore topics linked to political correctness and individual beliefs. Filmed live before a studio audience and aired the following evening, the program centers around these worms. After introducing three celebrity guests, the first worm is presented; guests respond with "Yes" or "No" and elaborate on their perspectives. Audience members then share personal experiences related to the worm before results from a Roy Morgan poll are revealed.

Following this is the "Moral Minefield" segment—a concise round where guests answer questions drawn from six categories, indicating whether their answers align with the majority opinion of the studio audience. The second worm segment follows a similar structure.

Social media played a significant role in viewer engagement. Audiences contributed opinions via Twitter (@CanofwormsTV) or Facebook, with selected posts displayed during discussions to foster real-time interaction.

Reception

Can of Worms premiered on 4 July 2011 attracting 930,000 viewers, ranking as the 11th most-watched program that night. By its second series, it averaged a metropolitan audience of 572,000, placing it 18th for evening viewership.

In 2012, The Sydney Morning Herald commended the program’s development and candid viewpoints, praising Chrissie Swan's approachable and relaxed hosting style. Nonetheless, it observed that quality fluctuated depending on guest selection and subject matter.

Controversies

The show attracted attention for its forthright content, including Australian presenter Don Burke using explicit language during its second episode. On 18 July 2011, former Carlton Football Club President John Elliott caused controversy by using a racial slur directed at Indigenous Australians; although he apologized afterward, the incident raised concerns about editorial control since the show was pre-recorded.

During the second season, conservative organization CANdo launched a petition against the series following contestant James Mathison’s offensive comments about broadcaster Alan Jones on 8 October 2012. The group called for an apology and cancellation of the show; however, Network Ten refused, stating compliance with broadcasting regulations and appropriate content warnings had been observed.

References