SEA PATROL BACK IN PRODUCTION

The Nine Network today announced the popular drama mini-series, Sea Patrol, is back in production with internationally acclaimed LA-based actor Alan Dale (Neighbours, OC, Ugly Betty) joining the cast.

In Sea Patrol – The Coup, Dale will make a special guest appearance as Ray Walsman, an International mining entrepreneur, throughout the 13-episode series. He joins the regular naval crew headed by Lisa McCune, Ian Stenlake and Saskia Burmeister.

Other core cast members returning to the program are John Batchelor, Matt Holmes, Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, David Lyons, Jay Ryan, Kristian Schmid and Steve Bisley. This week they started rehearsals in Sydney before heading north in two weeks to commence shooting at Mission Beach, Cairns and on the Gold Coast.

The other key element of the program, the Royal Australian Navy with its vessels and crew, is also back at work. The new series will feature a state-of-the-art $60 million, Armidale-class patrol boat as the Sea Patrol’s HMAS Hammersley.

“It is great to be back in production. Having the actors together for the first week of rehearsals always brings the story alive for us and the writing team, who have been working on the scripts for the past 11 months,” said producer Di McElroy.

Nine’s Head of Drama, Jo Horsburgh, said: “We are delighted with the strong connection Sea Patrol has had with our audience for the first mini-series, which still has two weeks to run on air.

“We believe the second series will deliver all the elements of the first and more. It is particularly exciting to welcome Alan Dale back to Australia in an important guest role.”

Producer Hal McElroy said: “A show such as Sea Patrol is not possible without enormous investment from all our partners and we want to thank them for their contribution: the Nine Network, Pacific Film and Television Office, Film Finance Corporation of Australia and Portman Media.”

Filming on the new series is scheduled to be completed by February 2008.