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Revving up the Rats

SINCE the departures of CATHERINE McCLEMENTS and COLIN FRIELS, the Nine Network's Water Rats has struggled to hold its once-strong audience.

Just when many expected the series to be cancelled a few months back, Nine signed on for another season. According to executive producer TED ROBERTS, the long-running police drama will shift its focus next season, with an insight into the personal lives of the officers from the Sydney Water Police.

"Everything was centred around solving crime and we stayed in the police station," Ted explains. "Now we'll see more of the underside of this operation—how the crimes affect our people, how they react to them and how they support or don't support each other."

The cast is also being added to. BROOKE SATCHWELL has signed on to continue her role as Sophie Ferguson, t he daughter of Det Sgt Jack Christey (STEVE BISLEY), while BILL HUNTER will join the ranks in a semi-regular role as Jack's father.

With exciting scripts also on the cards for AARON PEDERSON (Det Snr Con Michael Reilly) and DEE SMART (Det Snr Con Alex St Clare), and with REBECCA SMART (Con Donna Janevski) and DIARMID HEIDENREICH (Con Matthen Quinn) settling into their roles, it looks like Water Rats will even challenge the popular Seven Network dramas All Saints and Blue Heelers in the ratings

"We as very proud of the episodes we've done so far for 2001 and we look forward to more of them," Ted says.

January 2001
TV Week