Doctor Doctor S3 Med

SEASON 3 MEDIA KIT

AMANDA POULOS CATHERINE LAVELLE

NINE PUBLICIST UNIT PUBLICIST

T: 02 9965 2489 T: 02 9405 2880

M: 0414 503 418 M: 0413 885 595

E: [email protected] E: [email protected]

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

Australia’s favourite bad boy doctor has returned for a third series of the hit drama series, Doctor Doctor.

The clock has run out on Doctor Hugh Knight’s (Rodger Corser) probation, leaving him free to return to the big smoke. But when tragedy strikes the Knight family, he’s going to find it harder than ever to leave the family farm.

An outstanding cast has returned for the new series, including Rodger Corser (Hugh), Nicole da Silva (Charlie), Steve Bisley (Jim), Ryan Johnson (Matt), Tina Bursill (Meryl), Hayley McElhinney (Penny), Matt Castley (Ajax), Chloe Bayliss (Hayley), Charles Wu (Ken), Belinda Bromilow (Betty), Brittany Clark (Mia) and Uli Latukefu (Darren).

Joining the cast are Vince Colosimo, Miranda Tapsell, Andrea Demetriades, Don Hany, Matt Okine and many others.

Doctor Doctor was filmed in Sydney and country NSW and was produced by Easy Tiger Productions for Nine with the assistance of Create NSW.

SYNOPSIS

The clock has run out on Hugh’s (Rodger Corser) probation leaving him free to return to Sydney, but when tragedy strikes the Knight family, he’s going to find it harder to abandon Whyhope than ever.

It’s three months on and the Knight family have been thrown a wild card – Jim (Steve Bisley) has had a heart attack and died. The hole he leaves behind is bigger than they ever could have imagined, especially as Hugh (Rodger Corser) discovers that he’s not only inherited the family farm, but an eleven million dollar debt.

Adding to the chaos, Hayley (Chloe Bayliss) is now six months pregnant. It’s smooth sailing until she develops HELLP syndrome, and Hugh has to perform an emergency C-section to deliver the baby early.

Meanwhile the clock on Hugh’s probation has run out, and he’s been reinstated as a surgeon in Sydney. But when Hayley’s baby is born prematurely, Hugh realises that he’s got no choice but to stay in Whyhope and hold his family together. Which is lucky because the repayments on the farm’s debt are coming thick and fast, and the family is going in different directions trying to solve their money problems.

Ajax (Matt Castley) and Matt (Ryan Johnson) argue over the way to run the farm, Meryl (Tina Bursill) starts a matchmaking business and Hugh relies on the new Knight Cartwright Cardiac Clinic to bring in the cash.

But his biggest problem is yet to come – as Harriet (Genevieve Hegney) reveals she is pregnant.

CAST

HUGH Rodger Corser

CHARLIE Nicole da Silva

MATT Ryan Johnson

MERYL Tina Bursill

JIM Steve Bisley

PENNY Hayley McElhinney

HAYLEY Chloe Bayliss

AJAX Matt Castley

BETTY Belinda Bromilow

MIA Brittany Clark

KEN Charles Wu

DARREN Uli Latukefu

FLOYD Winta McGrath

HARRIET Genevieve Hegney

ROD Patrick Wilson

IVY Annabel Wolfe

LUCAS FINE Matt Okine

RAPH Don Hany

PARI Andrea Demetriades

With

Miranda Tapsell as APRIL

With

Vince Colosimo as CARLITO

CREW

Producers Ian Collie Claudia Karvan Tony McNamara

Writers Tony McNamara Eps 1, 2 & 10 Liz Doran Eps 3 & 8 Tamara Asmar Ep 4 Gretel Vella Eps 5 & 9 Timothy Lee Ep 6 Angela McDonald Eps 7 & 9

Directors Geoff Bennett Eps 1 & 2 Lucy Gaffy Eps 3 & 4

Ian Watson Eps 5 & 6 Jennifer Leacey Eps 7 & 8

Ben Chessell Eps 9 & 10

Line Producers Ally Henville Jonny Kennerley Eps 1 & 2

Casting Kirsty McGregor

Production Designer Victoria Williams

Director of Photography John Stokes

Costume Designer Louise Wakefield

Make Up & Hair Supervisor Wendy de Waal

Editors Nicholas Holmes Eps 1, 2, 5, 6, 9 & 10 Gabe Dowrick Eps 3, 4, 7 & 8

Composers Antony Partos Dave McCormack

EPISODE ONE Written by Tony McNamara Directed by Geoff Bennett

It’s been three months since we last saw the Knight family, and much has changed: Jim’s (Steve Bisley) had a heart attack and died … and that’s not all that’s new, as we quickly learn that Hayley (Chloe Bayliss) is pregnant.

Suddenly under enormous pressure, the family struggles to keep it together while they deal with their grief. However things are only about to get harder – as Hugh (Rodger Corser) learns that he’s both inherited the farm, and along with it, millions of dollars of debt. It’s imperative that the farm starts turning a profit, but Matt (Ryan Johnson) and Ajax (Matt Castley) are at logger heads over how the property should be run. Matt thinks they need to re-invent, while a grieving Ajax is determined to keep everything exactly as Jim (Steve Bisley) wanted it. Meanwhile Meryl (Tina Bursill) is struggling with her grief in a different way – haunted by nightmares, she avoids sleep, and does everything she can to try and stay awake.

Meanwhile Hugh’s probation has expired and it’s time he went back to Sydney for his interview. It goes well, and his license to practise is re-instated. But he can’t escape the chaos for long, as the trouble in his family soon calls him back to Whyhope. But his grieving family might not be the only thing calling him back, and on his return, Hugh and Penny (Hayley McElhinney) finally sleep together.

EPISODE TWO Written by Tony McNamara Directed by Geoff Bennett

There’s trouble for Matt (Ryan Johnson) at the Brewery as a rave breaks out at the glamping site, and Darren (Uli Latukefu) is called in to investigate.

But the noise complaint is not the worst of Matt’s (Ryan Johnson) problems, as Darren (Uli Latukefu) realises that the Brewery’s liquor licence doesn’t extend to the glamping site, and so Matt’s been serving alcohol illegally. Determined to save his license, Matt realises he may have to bribe Darren, and goes to the expert for advice – Meryl (Tina Bursill).

Meanwhile Penny’s (Hayley McElhinney) content with how things transpired with Hugh (Rodger Corser), they had sex and then said their goodbyes – clean and simple. But things get awkward when she realises Hugh hasn’t actually left, he’s got problems to sort out in Whyhope which means he’ll be hanging around for a while.

But everything’s put on hold when Hayley (Chloe Bayliss) starts having symptoms of pre- eclampsia. She’s taken into the hospital where her condition rapidly deteriorates, and Hugh diagnoses HELLP syndrome. Hayley’s at risk for stroke, so Hugh’s forced to make a call – he needs to deliver the baby. He performs an emergency C-section and Hayley gives birth to a premature baby boy.

EPISODE THREE Written by Liz Doran Directed by Lucy Gaffy

Hugh (Rodger Corser) and Penny (Hayley McElhinney) are still on a high – their romance is going well and the grand opening of the new Cardiac Clinic has finally dawned … but a USB with a video of a 12 week ultrasound ruins Hugh’s morning.

Later that day, Harriet (Genevieve Hegney) arrives in person and confirms Hugh’s (Rodger Corser) worst fears – he is the father of her baby. She presents him with two options: she stays in Sydney and they raise the baby together, or she goes home to the US, raises the baby on her own and Hugh never has anything to do with either of them. Hugh is thrown – which guy is he, option A or option B? Eventually he’s forced to come clean to Penny (Hayley McElhinney), it doesn’t go well, and they break up.

Charlie’s (Nicole da Silva) father Carlito (Vince Colosimo) finally arrives but he’s brought someone extra, a 15 year old girl called Ivy (Annabel Wolfe), the daughter of his current girlfriend who is away doing a meditation course. A confrontation is inevitable and although she promises Matt (Ryan Johnson) that she’ll send him away, Charlie can’t help but ask her dad to stay. However hopeless he is, she needs him there.

Meanwhile Meryl (Tina Bursill) is still grieving Jim’s (Steve Bisley) death and she attempts to move on by giving away all his clothes. But disaster strikes when she sees a man in town wearing the clothes and she realises that the only way to deal with her grief is to acknowledge it. A ceremony by fire with Jim’s clothes and her three sons is the only answer.

Still reeling from her HELLP incident, Hayley (Chloe Bayliss) is having trouble bonding with the baby, especially since they’re still not allowed to touch him. Ajax (Matt Castley) tries to be supportive but she resorts to praying, thinking that God is punishing them for their pre-marital sex. Surprisingly it is Hugh who talks her around and they not only get to finally hold their baby – they also give him a name, ‘Jimmy’.

EPISODE FOUR Written by Tamara Asmar Directed by Lucy Gaffy

Already under pressure from his farm workload and in conflict with both Charlie (Nicole da Silva) and Hugh (Rodger Corser), Matt (Ryan Johnson) is incensed to witness a frisson between Meryl (Tina Bursill) and Carlito (Vince Colosimo) at a family catch up.

Matt (Ryan Johnson) becomes convinced that his mother is vulnerable and needs protection from unwelcome suitors and issues Meryl (Tina Bursill) a damning ultimatum. Only the arrival of April (Miranda Tapsell), a delightful old friend from school who has returned to Whyhope to find love, puts a smile on his face.

Meryl struggles to navigate her new fresh widow status and is confronted to learn that nearly everyone is treating her differently in the wake of Jim’s (Steve Bisley) death, including her own sons.

Determined to retain her autonomy and forge her own way in this new landscape, Meryl sets out to teach Matt and Ajax (Matt Castley) a lesson, even if it means colluding with Carlito (Vince Colosimo). The near death experience of her newly minted widow friend, Vivian (Annie Byron), further serves to drive her mission and ends, somewhat unexpectedly, in a new romantic business venture with Betty (Belinda Bromilow).

Hugh (Rodger Corser) throws himself into his new cardiac clinic, determined to pay off the latest in Jim’s outstanding debts, but in doing so, he alienates his staff and sets up an impossible workload that will be hard to maintain. Penny (Hayley McElhinney) and Hugh maintain a civil veneer, but he can’t help testing the waters with her again, hoping she hasn’t given up on him all together. Penny, meanwhile, is supposed to be helping Hugh with increasing cardiac clinic business, but instead finds herself immersed in patients of a different, more furry kind.

Charlie (Nicole da Silva) still has rose-coloured glasses for Carlito and defends him to Matt, who she thinks should allow himself to finally grieve properly. Ivy (Annabel Wolfe) causes problems by drinking with friends and has to be revived by Hugh and Penny when she goes missing and gets alcohol poisoning. When Hugh and Penny save Ivy, Charlie realises her dad has had it tough and invites him and Ivy to stay for good.

Even though little Jimmy is stable, Hayley (Chloe Bayliss) and Ajax are still under immense pressure in the premmie ward and Hayley is increasingly frustrated at the limitations being placed on her.

Convinced that all the nurses, including Mia (Brittany Clark), are out to get her, Hayley starts to take matters into her own hands, which to Ajax, could possibly put Jimmy in harm’s way.

EPISODE FIVE Written by Gretel Vella Directed by Ian Watson

Carlito (Vince Colosimo) has skipped town and Charlie (Nicole da Silva) and Matt (Ryan Johnson) are left at loggerheads: just what are they meant to do with Ivy (Annabel Wolfe)?

Charlie (Nicole da Silva) decides to take the young renegade to school, where the pain of her father’s departure and Matt’s (Ryan Johnson) objections are sidelined in yet another Ivy Annabel Wolfe) chase cross-country.

Over at the hospital, Hugh (Rodger Corser) and the team are preparing for the arrival of a special guest. Not only is Doctor Lucas Fine (Matt Okine) Hugh’s old boarding school chum, he’s also the chairman of the hospital board. With a little revamp, the cardiac clinic could be up for a considerable donation.

While Ken (Charles Wu) is inappropriately impressed by Lucas’ social media presence and numerous accolades, Penny (Hayley McElhinney) is going to take a little more convincing. Unfortunately, Hugh’s efforts go too far and he ends up in the middle of an awkward love triangle.

Back at the homestead, Ajax (Matt Castley) and Hayley (Chloe Bayliss) bring little Jimmy home for the first time. Having read (or looked at the pictures in) a whole host of books, the new parents are feeling confident. There’s just a couple of problems: Meryl (Tina Bursill) can’t seem to let go and there’s something wrong with Jimmy’s face that no book can solve!

Old friends, fledgling families, new beginnings: After much deliberation and a hash meal, Matt and Charlie decide Ivy can stay. Hayley, Ajax and Meryl learn to navigate new boundaries and new businesses. Penny rejects Lucas and his money, but Hugh would take his old team over an old friend any day.

EPISODE SIX Written by Tim Lee Directed by Ian Watson

After Meryl (Tina Bursill) discovers Betty (Belinda Bromilow) is a competitor in the love matching business, she gets her on board to help organise a Whyhope Speed Dating night.

Meanwhile, a faulty pump leads to Arcadia running out of water, and in trying to dig himself out of trouble – literally – Hugh (Rodger Corser) does his back in. Hugh is reduced to doing his rounds on a gurney, and his temper gets the better of him – leading him to insult a difficult patient, who files a complaint against him – jeopardising his career. To make matters worse, Harriet (Genevieve Hegney) goes on a sushi and soft cheese binge, and contracts listeria, endangering the life of Hugh’s unborn baby.

The speed dating night comes around and, after an unorthodox medical solution from Meryl (Tina Bursill), Hugh is back in the saddle and ready to party. Matt (Ryan Johnson) discovers his primary school crush, April (Miranda Tapsell), is back in town. There’s still an attraction there, which Matt passes off as mateship – but Charlie (Nicole da Silva) can see there’s something between them. Ken (Charles Wu) is also struggling with jealousy because Darren (Uli Latukefu) keeps flirting with Mia (Brittany Clark). He finally snaps and confronts Darren, forcing him to reveal who he’s actually interested in – Betty (Belinda Bromilow).

Penny (Hayley McElhinney) stays away from the speed dating night. Her heartbreak at losing Hugh has been getting the better of her and, as she’s been doing too much lately, she stays home to drink on her own. But then she gets a call from the hospital – a patient is gravely ill. Penny is the on-call doctor, but she is too drunk to work. She calls the only person she can – Hugh – who is forced to perform a difficult surgery. It’s a wake-up call for Penny. She gives Hugh an ultimatum which will change both their lives forever. Meanwhile Charlie drops a bombshell on Matt that threatens to tear their marriage apart.

EPISODE SEVEN Written by Angela McDonald Directed by Jennifer Leacey

Ivy (Annabel Wolfe) has been caught trespassing by Darren (Uli Latukefu) and it’s going to cost Matt (Ryan Johnson) and Charlie (Nicole da Silva) a hefty fine.

But things get more complicated when Darren (Uli Latukefu) explains that the fine will mean an appearance in court – with Ivy’s (Annabel Wolfe) legal guardians. And since she’s technically living in their home, Matt and Charlie now have a decision to make: become Ivy’s legal foster parents or Darren will have her taken into the care of DOCS. What starts off as a simple decision rapidly becomes complicated, and Charlie’s decision never to have children of her own is brought to a head, ending with the pair deciding to break up.

Meanwhile Hugh (Rodger Corser) has promised Penny (Hayley McElhinney) he’ll leave Whyhope, but he’s quickly learning that it’s a hard promise to keep. No one in Sydney will hire him until his investigation is completed, but when the investigator arrives they immediately get off on the wrong foot. And that’s not all that needs to be cleared up before he can leave town, as Hugh is forced to tell his family that it’s time to sell the farm.

Meanwhile Ajax (Matt Castley) is consumed with a problem of his own – it’s been announced that the Whyhope Cemetery is being replaced by a football field, and all the graves are going to be moved. Ajax is outraged and plans to picket against it – until he has an idea. If they move the cemetery to Arcadia, they take in the profits of running it. He convinces Meryl (Tina Bursill) to come on board, and she gets Hugh’s signature on the forms. Hugh’s furious when he finds out exactly what he signed, making him only more determined to go ahead and sell the farm.

EPISODE EIGHT Written by Liz Doran Directed by Jennifer Leacey

Hugh (Rodger Corser) attempts to show prospective buyers around the property, but Ajax (Matt Castley) isn’t going to make selling the farm easy … he shoots holes in the ‘For Sale’ sign, locks the farm gates and intercepts a tour of prospective buyers – leading the suits into a flooded paddock.

Ajax (Matt Castley) is so consumed with thwarting the sale that he accidently locks Jimmy in his car, and he and Hugh (Rodger Corser) must race to free the baby from the rising heat.

Meanwhile Meryl’s (Tina Bursill) found a match for Penny (Hayley McElhinney) and convinces her to go on a date with him. She goes in with high hopes, but less than a minute into the date, they’re already in an argument. She plans never to see him again – which would be easier if Floyd (Winta McGrath) wasn’t being bullied by his daughter. She’s forced to go to his house and confront him – only to discover it’s Floyd who has actually been bullying his daughter.

Still reeling from Charlie (Nicole da Silva) leaving, Matt (Ryan Johnson) seeks solace in an old friend – April (Miranda Tapsell). She’s about to leave town but is convinced to come on one last night out with Matt, Hugh and Kimberly (Vanessa Buckley). They’re all having a great time, until they decide to go shooting, and April’s gun misfires and shoots her in the leg. She’s rushed into the hospital and is treated by Penny. In no state to pack up and move, Matt comes over to help her pack and they wind up sleeping together.

EPISODE NINE Written by Angela McDonald & Gretel Vella Directed by Ben Chessell

The Knight family’s fortunes go from bad to worse as Meryl (Tina Bursill) discovers that the mysterious buyer of the farm is actually Rod Eagle (Patrick Wilson).

Meryl (Tina Bursill) confronts Hugh (Rodger Corser), who insists he didn’t know it was Rod (Patrick Wilson). He’s convinced it doesn’t matter anyway – the farm has been sold and there’s nothing they can do about it. But Meryl’s not ready to give up, and she’s determined to find out why Rod paid so much for the property. When she gets wind of insider trading, she blackmails Rod and forces him to pull out of the sale.

All is going well for Matt (Ryan Johnson) and April (Miranda Tapsell), and they start having sex in April’s empty house. But Matt knows April’s on the lookout for a father for her baby, and soon things are moving too quickly for comfort. Penny (Hayley McElhinney) and Raph (Don Hany) are also dating, and Penny’s happy with how things are going between them. But soon Raph’s parenting style comes back into question, and Penny has to decide whether it’s a deal breaker.

Meanwhile Hugh and Ken (Charles Wu) are in town when they run into a guy who needs their help – his son’s unconscious, and he begs them to come with him. They say they’ll call an ambulance, but there’s no time to argue – this guy’s desperate, panicked and welding a gun. They go with the guy to an abandoned shearing shed, where they soon learn that his son’s been bitten by a snake. The father refuses to take him to hospital – there’s a warrant out for his arrest, and if he takes him in, he’ll never see his son again. They finally agree on Hugh going back to the hospital and collecting the antivenom and bringing it back to the kid, but the child ends up having an allergic reaction, and the father is forced to call an ambulance to save his son.

EPISODE TEN Written by Tony McNamara Directed by Ben Chessell

Determined to start his new job in Sydney, Hugh (Rodger Corser) agrees to induce Harriet (Genevieve Hegney) so that she can have the baby and they can leave.

Hugh (Rodger Corser) begins the induction, but then he and Penny (Hayley McElhinney) get called out to an emergency. A cattle truck has tipped over, and they are flown in to try and save the driver. All the while Harriet (Genevieve Hegney) is going into labour and Betty (Belinda Bromilow) and Ken (Charles Wu) step in to help deliver the baby.

Meanwhile Meryl (Tina Bursill) has had second thoughts about Ajax’s (Matt Castley) cemetery scheme. The reality has set in, and she’s not keen on the idea of having hearses drive past the homestead every other day. But there’s no stopping Ajax, who is determined to continue with his business idea.

Penny and Raph (Don Hany) are still dating, but things get complicated when his ex-wife comes into the picture. While out at the cattle truck incident, Hugh and Penny have an honest conversation – Hugh wants to know why she can accept Raph’s mess but can’t accept his. She leaves him with an ultimatum, they can be together, but only if he stays in Whyhope and gives up his life in Sydney forever. He realises he can’t promise her that, he has to leave – this was always the plan. But he soon learns that nothing ever goes to plan, as Harriet flees the country and leave him with a baby girl.

HUGH

Rodger Corser is HUGH

Rodger Corser is well known to Australian audiences having worked extensively in television, theatre and film. In recent years Rodger has played leading roles in numerous television productions including the Network Ten 1970s drama series Puberty Blues, opposite Asher Keddie in the political drama Party Tricks, alongside Sarah Snook in the acclaimed ABC series on the modern day retelling of Tolstoy’s novel Anna Karenina, The Beautiful Lie and the ABC paranormal series Glitch. Most recently Rodger can be seen in the lead role in the incredibly popular Channel Nine series, Doctor Doctor.

Earlier productions include his portrayal of Detective Steve Owen in Network Nine's first series of Underbelly, and the lead role of Lawson Blake in the popular Network Ten John Edwards’ series Rush which ran for four successful seasons between 2008 and 2011. During this time Rodger also starred alongside Claudia Karvan in two series of Foxtel's Spirited. More recently Rodger has also appeared on our television screens in two popular murder series, Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries and The Doctor Blake Mysteries. In 2007 Rodger appeared in the US NBC mini-series The Starter Wife alongside Debra Messing and Judy Davis. The series received 10 Emmy Award nominations including Most Outstanding Mini-Series. His other US television credits include the NBC series Camp, opposite Rachel Griffiths. In previous years Rodger appeared in other well known Australian series including Stingers, McLeod's Daughters, Home and Away, and Water Rats. Rodger's first leading role in a television series was as Adam Logan in Channel Seven’s Last Man Standing in 2005.

Rodger's work in theatre includes the lead role in the 1998 hit season of Cameron McIntosh's musical Rent. He followed this with other theatre roles in Below and Leader of the Pack.

Rodger's film work includes roles in Jonathan Teplitsky's Burning Man, and Simon Wincer's The Cup, both released in 2011.

CHARLIE

Nicole da Silva is CHARLIE

Nicole da Silva is well renowned for her work on Fremantle Media’s Wentworth. As the tough talking Franky Doyle, Nicole has created a strong and enduring character that has enthralled fans worldwide, capturing the hearts and minds of many and establishing a cult following. Nicole has received generous critical acclaim, winning an ASTRA Award for Most Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in 2014, as well as a TV Week Silver Logie nomination in 2015 and 2017.

Apart from her role as Charlie in Doctor Doctor, Nicole is also well known for her leading role as Senior Constable Stella D’Agostino in Southern Star’s AFI award winning drama Rush, which received outstanding industry recognition over the show’s four season run. Nicole also played major roles in the SBS series Carla Cametti PD, gaining a Best Actress nomination at the Monte Carlo Television Awards, and in the Foxtel series Dangerous for which she received a Graham Kennedy TV Week Logie Award Nomination for Most Outstanding New Talent. Other television credits include All Saints, Home and Away and East West 101. She also worked on a US television series for children, Gortimer Gibbons Life on Normal Street.

Nicole was recently seen in the US feature The Tangle, directed by Christopher Soren Kelly. Nicole has also appeared in the feature Drama and the short film The List, directed by Joel Edgerton.

Her theatre credits include Malthouse Theatre’s Blood Wedding directed by Marion Potts, A Behanding in Spokane with the Melbourne Theatre Company, BC with The Hayloft Project and This Is Our Youth at FortyFiveDownstairs. Nicole also produced and performed in Queen C for B Sharp at Belvoir St Theatre and A Life in the Theatre for Darlinghurst Theatre.

In 2014 Nicole was the first appointed Champion for the Australian National Committee for UN Women.

MATT

Ryan Johnson is MATT

Nominated for the 2017 TV Week Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance as Matt in Doctor Doctor, Ryan’s outstanding list of credits include the ABC telemovie Carlotta and Channel Nine’s Love Child, the television special event INXS: Never Tear Us Apart, Network Ten’s Mr. & Mrs Murder and House Husbands also for Channel Nine.

He has also appeared in Brock for Network Ten, the ABC/Playmaker series Hiding, in the hugely popular ABC series Rake opposite Richard Roxburgh, the comedy series Laid and most recently reprised his role as Matt in the second season of Nine’s Doctor Doctor. Earlier credits include the popular Network Ten series The Secret Life of Us, and the hugely successful Channel Nine franchise Underbelly. Previously Ryan joined the main cast as lawyer Ben Grogan in the second season of the US series Fairly Legal.

Ryan’s film credits include the US features Son of the Mask, Ghost Rider and Nest alongside Kelsey Grammer, and the local independent productions All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane and Monkey Puzzle.

Ryan has also worked for Sydney’s prestigious theatre companies, including roles in the Sydney Theatre Company’s Rabbit, and the Belvoir St productions The Lonesome West and Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train. In early 2016, he received rave reviews in Travis Cotton’s 80 Minutes No Interval, for the Old Fitzroy Theatre.

MERYL

Tina Bursill is MERYL

Tina Bursill's long and varied career reflects her range and skill across all genres and mediums.

Tina’s television credits include the vulnerable and untended Lenore in Time of Our Lives, A Moody Christmas and The Moodys as mother Maree Moody, Kathy Carpenter in Neighbours, Drop Dead Weird, Jack Irish: Dead Point, Rake, Crownies and Offspring.

Film credits include The Flip Side for Marion Pilowsky due for release this year, Wish You Were Here directed by Kieran Darcy-Smith, Three Blind Mice directed by Matthew Newton, Jilted directed by Bill Bennett, Billy’s Holiday, and short films Saturn’s Return and Going Down.

For Sydney Theatre Company a recent theatre highlight was Boys Will Be Boys and previously Up For Grabs. Tina has also worked for Melbourne Theatre Company/Black Swan Theatre Company in The Swimming Club and as Lady Macbeth for the Ensemble Theatre. Most recently, Tina performed the role Duchess of Dene in Me and My Girl for The Hayes Theatre.

In addition to a Logie Award nomination for season one of Doctor Doctor in Best Drama Program, Tina has received an MO Award nomination for Best Female Actor in a Play of the Year in Up For Grabs, won an AFI/AACTA Best Supporting Actress Award for Jilted and is two-time winner of the Equity Award for Outstanding Performance By An Ensemble Cast In A Comedy Series for A Moody Christmas in 2013 and The Moodys in 2015.

JIM

Steve Bisley is JIM

One of Australia’s most recognisable and admired actors, Steve Bisley is a graduate of NIDA.

His long list of outstanding feature credits include the iconic Australian films Newsfront, Mad Max and his AFI Award winning roles in both Silver City and The Big Steal. More recently Steve’s credits have included The Wedding Party, I Love You Too, Red Hill and Sanctuary.

On television Steve has created some of Australia’s most loved characters including Commander Steve Marshall on Sea Patrol, Water Rats’ Detective Sergeant Jack Christey and Senior Sergeant Kevin ‘Nipper’ Harris on Police Rescue. Steve also played the lead in the BBC series Call Me Mister, shooting in London for two years.

His other credits include Jack Irish, Redfern Now Series Two, Lowdown, East of Everything, Stingers, GP, Frontline, Boys from the Bush, The Flying Doctors, Halifax fp, The Last Outlaw, A Country Practice and the outstanding mini-series A Town Like Alice. He was recently seen in the mini-series Brock.

On stage Steve has had major roles with both the Sydney Theatre Company and the Melbourne Theatre Company. They include Summer of the Seventeenth Doll (Sydney, Melbourne and New York), Don’s Party, A Man With Five Children, Away, Speed The Plough, The Glass Soldier, Inheritance, Mother Courage, Richard lll, The Beaux Stratagem and others.

Steve’s memoir Stillways was published by Harper Collins and quickly made the best seller list when released in 2013. His second book, All the Burning Bridges, was released in 2017 to similar success and a third book is currently in development.

PENNY

Hayley McElhinney is PENNY

An accomplished stage and screen actress, Hayley McElhinney is a graduate of the prestigious Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts.

Television credits include Jenny Wallace in Channel Seven’s award-winning miniseries Peter Allen: Not the Boy Next Door. Hayley’s other television credits include Rizzoli & Isles, My Place, Twentyfourseven, Always Greener, All Saints, Blue Heelers, Love is a Four Letter Word, Backberner, Water Rats and Good Guys Bad Guys.

On the big screen, Hayley recently featured as Ruth in the sci-fi drama Love You Twice and Claire in the critically acclaimed psychological thriller The Babadook, with other feature film credits including Redd Inc, My Mother Frank and City Loop.

As a member of the Sydney Theatre Company from 2006-2009, Hayley performed in Uncle Vanya, The War of the Roses, Gallipoli, The Serpent’s Teeth, Tales from the Vienna Woods, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Art of War, The Season at Sarsaparilla, The Bourgeois Gentleman, The Lost Echo, Bed and Mother Courage and Her Children, for which she received the Sydney Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2006.

Her other stage credits include Pride and Prejudice and Life After George (Melbourne Theatre Company), A Moment on the Lips (Old Fitzroy Theatre), Noir and Don’t Stare Too Much (Darlinghurst Theatre), Medea (Steamworks) Uncle Vanya, Proof, Buried, Darling Oscar, Family Running for Mr Whippy (Blackswan) and The Danger Age (Deckchair Theatre).

AJAX

Matt Castley is AJAX

Matt Castley is back for third series playing the role of Ajax in Doctor Doctor. Has recently returned from his film studies at New York University, where he collaborated with filmmakers and artists from across the world as an actor, writer, director, and composer. This year Matt will be in production with the director, Elissa Down for the first season of NAKED, a new Channel Nine series he co-wrote and created when he was 16.

HAYLEY

Chloe Bayliss is HAYLEY

Helpmann Award Nominee and finalist in the prestigious 2016 Heath Ledger Scholarship Chloe Bayliss is one of Australia's most notable emerging actresses with numerous credits across stage and screen.

Her film credits include Michael Petroni's feature Backtrack, starring ng alongside Academy award winner Adrian Brody and Sam Neill, and the short film Driftwood Dustmites, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival.

With previous television credits including Love Child, Reef Doctors, Dance Academy and Deadly Women. Chloe is mostly known for her role as Hayley in the main ensemble of the Nine Network's celebrated drama Doctor Doctor.

On stage Chloe most recently starred opposite Marta Dusseldorp in the critically acclaimed Gloria for the Griffin Theatre Company. Her previous theatre credits include An Assorted Few’s Home Invasion, Red Line Productions' The Whale, Ensemble Theatre's Charitable Intent, Rapture Blister Burn, Circle Mirror Transformation (for which she was nominated as Best Supporting Actress at the 2012 GLUG Theatre Awards), as well as The Good Doctor.

Patron of charity group Hanka and a Red Cross Blood Service Ambassador, Chloe is also a choreographer having graduated from the National College of Dance with a Diploma of Dance and Performance.

BETTY

Belinda Bromilow is BETTY

Belinda Bromilow graduated from the WA Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in 1999 with an Advanced Diploma of Performing Arts, where she was awarded the Leslie Anderson Scholarship for Best Actor. Belinda’s first feature film was The Rage in Placid Lake alongside Rose Byrne and Miranda Richardson and was also one of the few live roles in the hit film Happy Feet. She played Claire in Peter Templeman’s Not Suitable for Children and most recently the role of Betty in Matt Saville’s Felony with Joel Edgerton and Jai Courtney.

Belinda has appeared in a number of Australian television series including a series lead in Spirited (Seasons One and Two) in the role of Jonquil, the ongoing role of Libby in Packed to the Rafters and as Patrice Devine in ABC’s Rake. Other credits include Mr and Mrs Murder, Shakespeare Out Loud, All Saints, McLeod’s Daughters, MDA, and the four part UK television series Talk to Me for ITV, opposite Max Beesley.

As well as television and film, Belinda has been successful in theatre appearing in productions such as Zombie Hands (Grahamstown Festival South Africa), Blood and Bone (Naked Theatre Company), Whale Music (White Wave Productions), Seven Blowjobs and My Name is Rachel Corrie (B Sharp, Belvoir Theatre); Boy Gets Girl and The Grenade (Sydney Theatre Company); and The Grenade (Melbourne Theatre Company) and the world premiere of This Year's Ashes for Griffin Theatre Company.

Belinda has received numerous awards including the Leslie Anderson Scholarship for Best Actor (1999 WAAPA), the Melbourne Fringe Award for Best Show (Ticky Tacky 2003), Sydney Theatre Award for Best Independent Production for My Name is Rachel Corrie (2008) and Best Actress in a Lead Role (nominee) at the Sydney Theatre Awards (2008). She has also been nominated for a TV Week Logie Award for Most Popular Actress in 2011.

KEN

Charles Wu is KEN

Charles grew up in Singapore and later lived in Perth before moving to Sydney.

After graduating from NIDA in 2015 Charles was cast in Company B’s production of Samson at the Belvoir Theatre. He then landed the role of Qui Kwan Sing in the hugely successful television series Secret City for Foxtel’s Showtime Channel. He was then asked back to Belvoir to play Jeffrey in the production of Jasper Jones.

In 2016 Charles joined the cast of hit series Doctor Doctor for Channel 9, playing the role Ken. That year he made his feature film debut in Australia Day playing the role of David Tso alongside Bryan Brown, produced by Hoodlum and directed by Kriv Stenders. He then joined the cast for the second season of the television series Here Come The Habibs playing Joey Chau.

In 2017 he reprised his role in Jasper Jones at Belvoir, followed by the production of Chimerica, for the Sydney Theatre Company he then returned for season two of Doctor Doctor and closed off the year performing at the Sydney Opera House for Sydney Theatre Company’s production of Three Sisters.

In 2018 he performed alongside Hugo Weaving in the production of The Resistible Rise of Arturo UI for Sydney Theatre Company.

MIA

Brittany Clark is MIA

Brittany Clark is a young talent who made her television debut on New Zealand’s iconic drama Shortland Street. Her talent for acting was uncovered at an early age, with Brittany performing in several stage productions, the most recent being Sit On It which was part of Auckland Theatre Company’s Next Big Thing Festival.

She has attracted an online cult following with her performances in Viva La Dirt League’s webseries Epic NPC Man.

APRIL

An old school friend of the Knight brothers.

Miranda Tapsell is APRIL

Miranda Tapsell is a proud Larrakia Woman from Darwin who grew up in Kakadu National Park and graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in 2008. Since graduating, she has built a strong ascending career in film, theatre and television. Miranda is well known for her performance in the multi-award winning feature film The Sapphires, playing one of four lead characters. Miranda captured the hearts of the viewing public with her portrayal of the feisty Cynthia with the film receiving many accolades on the international festival circuit as well as a Deadly Award nomination for Female Actor of the Year.

Miranda is also renowned for her role in the Nine Network’s drama Love Child, in which Miranda plays Martha. Miranda received two TV Week Logie Awards for her role in Love Child: Most Popular New Talent and The Graham Kennedy Award for Most Outstanding Newcomer. A career highlight saw Miranda cast as the new host of the perennial favourite children’s series, Play School. Recently, she has had roles on legal drama Newton’s Law, Secret City as well as Cleverman and Wolf Creek. Miranda starred in Season One of the popular ABC series Redfern Now and Black Comedy. Other television credits include Mabo and Little J and Big Cuz for ABC.

Miranda was last seen on the stage in The Literati at the Stables in Kings Cross and has appeared in two Belvoir Street Theatre productions, A Christmas Carol and Radiance. Other remarkable stage performances include Sydney Theatre Company’s The Secret River for which she received a Helpmann Award Nomination for Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play; I Am Eora for Sydney Festival; Rainbow’s End for Riverside Theatre; Mother’s Tongue for Yirra Yakin Theatre Company; Yibiyung (Lead) for Belvoir Street Theatre. She has her own podcast on BuzzFeed, Pretty for an Aboriginal, with Nakkia Lui, which rocks the traditional perceptions of Indigenous Australia and challenges rigid mindsets of what women of colour can and cannot do. Miranda is currently shooting Top End Wedding, a movie she is starring in, producing and has co-written.

CARLITO

A long-lost relative.

Vince Colosimo is CARLITO

Vince Colosimo is one of Australia’s most recognised actors with an extensive and successful career across theatre, television and film. With an AFI Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2002 for his performance in the highly-successful feature film Lantana and a featured role in the internationally acclaimed Chopper, he naturally attracted attention from the US earning guest starring roles in the top rating US series Without a Trace and the final series of The Practice. He will next be seen in the feature film The Second which premiered at Gold Coast Film Festival.

Vince first came to the public’s attention in the feature films Street Hero and Moving Out which earned him an AFI Award nomination for Best Actor and a Sydney Film Critics Circle Award for Best New Talent. He won the Empire Award for Best Australian Actor for his role in Walking on Water in 2003 and has also appeared in the features The Hard Word, The Nugget, Take Away, Opal Dream and the 2006 Project Greenlight feature, Solo. Vince’s other feature film credits include Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby, Ridley Scott’s Body of Lies alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and in 2010 he appeared opposite Willem Dafoe, Ethan Hawke, and Claudia Karvan in the Spierig Brothers’ Daybreakers and The Wogboy – The Kings of Mykonos, Swerve directed by Craig Lahiff and Face to Face, directed by Michael Rymer. Both films screened at the 2011 Melbourne International Film Festival. Vince’s role in Face to Face earned him a nomination for Best Actor at Tulsa International Film Festival and the Jury Award for Best Actor at the Newport Beach Film Festival.

Vince has also worked extensively in television including the SBS acclaimed series Sunshine, the Nine Network’s telemovie Underbelly Files: Chopper where he reprised his role as Alphonse Gangitano, the ABC’s The Warriors, Series Two of The Ex-PM, Janet King, the telemovie Jack Irish: Dead Point, Nine Network’s telemovie Schapelle and mini-series Fat Tony & Co, Spartacus: War of the Damned on the Starz Network, A Country Practice and the extremely popular The Secret Life of Us. His guest roles include; Offspring, Mr & Mrs Murder, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, City Homicide, Cops LAC, Blue Heelers, MDA, The Falls, Good Guys – Bad Guys, Halifax fp, Stingers, Kath & Kim, Chris Lilley’s debut ABC series We Can Be Heroes, Bryan Brown’s Two Twisted, Carla Cametti PD, and in the second series of ABC’s The Librarians. His unforgettable performance as Alphonse Gangitano in Underbelly earned him nominations for an AFI Award and a TV Week Logie Award and he went on to star in Nine’s telemovies Scorched, Wicked Love and Panic at Rock Island.

Vince has also enjoyed a vibrant and successful theatre career, starring in productions of The Wogboys which toured nationally in sold-out venues and was later adapted to a feature film in which he co-starred. He has also performed in productions of The Club, Othello and Piaf for Melbourne Theatre Company and Rose Tattoo and Twelfth Night for the State Theatre Company of South Australia.

DORA

Dora captivated audiences with her moving performance in the first season of Doctor Doctor. Recently reprising her critically lauded role in the second season, Dora is happy to be cementing her silver screen status in the third season.

TONY McNAMARA Producer/Writer

Award-winning writer, producer, director and playwright, Tony McNamara is one of Australia’s most respected and revered film and television creatives.

Commencing his working life in finance, Tony swapped stockbroking for scripting and spent the early part of his career writing for theatre with credits including The Unlikely Prospect of Happiness, The Grenade, The Virgin Mim (which he also directed) and The Café Latte Kid which not only garnered him a NSW Premier’s Literary Award nomination but secured him a spot at the prestigious Australian, Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS).

The Café Latte Kid also provided the basis for his first feature, The Rage in Placid Lake, which he both adapted and directed. The film received numerous awards including an Australian Film Institute Award (AFI) for Best Screenplay, two Australian Writers’ Guild Awards (AWGIE), a Melbourne International Film Festival Award for Most Popular Feature and was nominated for an FCCA, IF and Australian Comedy Award. Tony also received the AFI Award for Best Screenplay for his short film The Beat Manifesto. More recently Tony wrote and directed the feature film, Ashby, starring Mickey Rourke, Nat Wolff and Emma Roberts, which had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2015.

Tony has written and produced some of Australia’s most popular and award-winning television dramas. He received an AWGIE Award and was nominated for an AFI for his work on Love My Way and he received AACTA and AWGIE nominations for his work on Puberty Blues. His other writing credits include the celebrated The Secret Life of Us, Offspring, Spirited and Tangle.

CLAUDIA KARVAN Producer

Claudia Karvan has been working in the Australian film and television industry since 1980 as an acclaimed actor, producer, director and creator of multi award-winning television series.

She was creator, producer and star of Love My Way which won numerous awards nationally and internationally, including the Australian Film Institute (AFI) for Best Television Drama Series three years in a row. For her role as Frankie in Love My Way, Claudia was two-time winner of both the Silver TV Week Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actress and the AFI for Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Claudia was also creator, producer and star of Spirited, which attracted AFI nominations for Best Drama Series and won the Sydney Morning Herald Guide’s Couch Potato Award for Best Drama Series and secured a passionate audience following.

More recently Claudia produced the mini-series House of Hancock with CJZ for Channel Nine which attracted an audience of over two million and produced two seasons of the hugely popular Doctor Doctor with Ian Collie and Tony McNamara.

IAN COLLIE Producer

Ian Collie is the CEO and Drama Producer for new start up Easy Tiger Productions.

His credits include five seasons of the highly-acclaimed ABC TV series Rake starring Richard Roxburgh, two seasons and three telemovies based on Peter Temple’s Jack Irish book series starring Guy Pearce, two seasons of the popular Nine comedy drama Doctor Doctor, two SBS mini-series Sunshine starring Anthony LaPaglia and The Principal starring Alex Dimitriades and Aden Young, and a further Peter Temple adaption, The Broken Shore starring Don Hany and Claudia Karvan.

Ian also produced the feature film Saving Mr Banks, starring Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson. His documentary programs include Australia on Trial, Whatever: The Science of Teens, The Making of Modern Australia, Rogue Nation, The Catalpa Rescue, A Case for the Coroner, Art House, The Real Mary Poppins, and The Original Mermaid.

He is also a qualified solicitor and former executive director of the Arts Law Centre of Australia and the Australian Directors Guild.