australian television information archive

Top cop show given the axe

CHANNEL 9 has axed its Melbourne produced cops series Stingers after seven years.

While the network had not officially announced the decision late last night, Nine’s head of drama, Posie Graeme-Evans, was phoning cast members yesterday informing them the show would not continue next year.

The police drama premiered on Nine in September 1998 and, after a slow beginning, grew to be one of the network’s best performing dramas.

The last two years saw the show’s ratings slip around the country.

The future for the show seemed bleak this year when it was moved to a 10.30pm timeslot.

Stingers lead actors Peter Phelps, Kate Kendall, Gary Sweet and Jacinta Stapleton are now out of work, although Sweet has a six-episode guest stint in Blue Heelers early next year.

With the axing of Stingers, Nine will now announce that its successful Aussie telemovie The Alice, which starred husband and wife acting team Erik Thomson and Caitlan McDougall, will be a 22-episode series to screen next year.

By Robert Fidgeon
December 04, 2004
The Herald Sun