australian television information archive

Do or Die

Australia: July 08 and 09, 2001 (Seven)
Canada: September 02 and 03, 2002 (Showcase)
Producers: John Edwards, Lavinia Warner
Writers: Christopher Lee, John Collee
Director: Rowan Woods

Sam (Kate Ashfield) and Claire (Patsy Palmer) are two attractive British backpackers who hit Australia looking for adventure and excitement, and they certainly find what they're looking for as they live life to the full throughout their trip. When Sam meets Joey (Tom Long) she conveniently forgets about her long-term boyfriend back home and falls madly in love with the handsome Australian. But her Antipodean idyll is shattered following a dawn raid by the police, when she discovers that the man of her dreams is not who he appears to be. He is in fact a notorious bank robber, real name Michael Tyler, whose shady past throws him and Sam into the path of the obsessive Detective Quint (William McInnes).

Sam immediately returns to the UK and marries her boyfriend Nicholas (Hugo Speer) but six years later, she must return to Australia to deal with the startling consequences of her past. With a life at stake, she finds herself sucked into Sydney's criminal underworld, where there is no turning back as Sam, Michael, Nicholas and Quint must each face their demons.

Starring: Patsy Palmer, Kate Ashfield, Tom Long, William McInnes, Martin Sacks, Hugo Speer

The Farm

Australia: Sunday, March 18 and 25, 2001 (ABC)
Canada: April 11, 2005 (W Network)
Executive Producer: Ewan Burnett
Producer: Bill Hughes
Writer: Judith Colquhoun and David Phillips
Director: Kate Woods

Tom Cooper (Colin Friels) is born to the land and assumes the role of head of the family after the sudden death of his father. Tom wants to modernise and expand the family property and borrows money in the form of a foreign currency loan. When the Australian dollar crashes, thrusting interest rates into an upward spiral, and the countryside experiences a devastating drought, Tom and his wife Liz (Greta Scacchi) are faced with debt repayments they have no possibility of meeting.

The bank threatens foreclosure and against the advice of lawyers, family and friends, Tom and Liz attempt the impossible—they decide to sue the bank. This is a David and Goliath story of individuals refusing to be crushed by powerful forces, and of the compelling emotional journey of farming couple Tom and Liz Cooper. (3x52 min or 1x90 min)

Starring: Colin Friels, Greta Scacchi, Marton Csokas, Melissa Jaffer, Jamie Croft

Finding Hope

Debut: Sunday, May 06, 2001 (Ten)
Executive Producers: Mikael Borglund and Phillip Bowman
Produced by Simone North
Writer: Tony Cavanaugh
Director: Geoffrey Nottage

Hope McIntyre (Rebecca Gibney) is happy in her adopted home of Glasgow. It's a far cry—and a long way—from Box Tree, the Australian outback town where she grew up. Together with her husband Callum, Hope is rearing two teenagers and a youngster who's "into everything". Then out of the blue she receives a phone call from her estranged father back home. He rarely calls so she knows this must be serious. Horses are dying and nobody knows why. Box Tree is in desperate need of a vet and Hope promises to return. Hope has been away a long time. She doesn't know what she'll find and she doesn't know she'll be finding hope.

Starring: Rebecca Gibney, Gilbert Martin, Jane Hall, Steve Vidler, and Grant Bowler

My Husband… My Killer?

Debut: Sunday, February 18, 2001 (Ten)
Executive Producer: Des Monaghan
Producers: David Gould, Anthony Buckley
Director: Peter Andrikidis
Writer: Greg Haddrick

"In the early hours of the morning, Megan (Linda Cropper) was shot dead whilst asleep next to her husband, Andrew Kalajzich (Martin Sacks). Miraculously her husband was unharmed throughout the whole ordeal, but suspicion grew regarding Andrew's involvement in the crime. While Kalajzich and his family proclaimed his innocence from the beginning, Detective Sergeant Bob Inkster (Colin Friels) and his team had already identified him as a highly possibile suspect. In fact, it seemed the only explanation given the details of the crime scene. But "why" and "how"? There seemed no apparent motive for the murder.

Framed in the wordless but desperate war of wills between Inkster and Kalajzich, a picture emerges of two men. One a decent, warm family man fired with a passion for justice and the other, a man whose unqualified successes had given him a determination unhindered by any respect for anyone else and an unfailing belief in his ability to win any battle.(100 min)

Starring: Colin Friels, Martin Sacks, Geoff Morrell, David Field, Craig McLachlan, Chris Haywood, Lucy Bell, Tara Morice, Linda Cropper, and Abi Tucker

On The Beach

Debut: January 28 and 29, 2001 (Seven)
Executive Producers: Errol Sullivan and Jeff Hayes
Producer: Errol Sullivan
Director: Russell Mulcahy
Screenplay by: David Williamson and William Kerby

The crew and vessel of a U.S. Navy submarine, including Commander Dwight Towers, survive a nuclear missile war between the United States and Taiwan. However, destruction is catastrophic and months later, only small pockets of civilisation remain alive on the planet, mostly in Australia. Placed under the command of the Australian government, their first assignment is to return an insubordinate scientist, Julian Osborne, to Melbourne. Osborne has retreated to a secluded island to await what he considers the inevitable—radioactive fallout drifting into the Southern Hemisphere. The end of the world… The Australian Admiral isn't so sure. Encouraged by new data, he sends Towers and his crew on a mission to measure radiation levels in the Pacific Northwest. It's a long shot but it's the only one they have. Before embarking, Towers takes an interest in a spirited local woman, Moira Davidson, Osborne's former fiance. Still grieving and in denial over the deaths of his wife and children, Towers is guarded to her advances. Osborne, believing the end to be near, feels rekindled affection for Moira. Towers' ensuing rivalry with Osborne adds tension to their already dangerous mission. Meanwhile, Peter Holmes, an Australian liaison officer also due to go on the mission, devotes as much time possible to his wife, Mary and their two-year-old daughter. Convinced all will be well, Mary plans their future and frets over remodelling ideas for next spring.

In the compelling conclusion, the submarine mission returns with fatal news—radioactive levels are still deadly. The false hope of the transmission from Alaska ends in a shocking discovery and the devastation witnessed by the crew sinks them into despair. During the expedition, Towers' second-in-command suffers a tear in his radiation suit that leads to his death. In Melbourne, the realization of impending doom begins to unravel the social fabric. Anarchy and chaos erupt. The world is in ruins. Still, some dream and hope for a miracle. As a distraction from the unthinkable, Osborne, amuses himself with a gleaming red Ferrari. Holmes and his wife seek solace in their eternal love for each other while facing a heartbreaking decision about their baby. Towers and Moira try to make sense of their newfound love as he is forced to choose between her and his sense of duty and commitment to his men. In the final days and hours, humankind's greatest failures, as well as its greatest virtues—love, courage, loyalty and compassion—reveal themselves heroically and tragically.

A remake of the 1959 classic based on the novel by Nevil Shute.

Starring: Armand Assante, Rachel Ward, Bryan Brown, Jacqueline McKenzie, Grant Bowler, Allison Webber, Tieghan Webber, Steve Bastoni, David Paterson, Kevin Copeland, Todd MacDonald, Joe Petruzzi, Craig Beamer, Jonathan Oldham, Trent Huen

Southern Cross

Debut: 2001 (Nine)
Executive Producer:
Producers:
Director: Mark Defriest
Writer:

Story about two young refugee children who are on the run in outback Australia and rely on the generosity of strangers to find somewhere they can call home.

Starring: Heath Bergersen, Laura Black, Jeremy Callaghan, Crispian Chan, Faith Clayton, Eileen Colocott, Vito de Francesco, Mike Frencham, John Goldsmith, Kate Hall, Luke Hewitt, Jack Hunt, Kirsty Kelly, Geoff Kelso, Bill Kerr, Michael Loney, Mark McAullay, Bill McCluskey, Geoff Miethe, Michael Muntz, Lynette Narkle, Raegan-Louise Perreau, Yeung-Ming Tan, Nigel Wilkes, Christopher Wilson