Sea Patrol

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.

A premiere Australian drama sets sail on Nine
Thursday, July 5 at 8.30pm

Lisa McCune and Ian Stenlake lead an outstanding cast in the Nine Network’s highly anticipated new drama, Sea Patrol, premiering on Thursday, July 5 at 8.30pm. From the producers of Water Rats and Blue Heelers, Hal and Di McElroy, Sea Patrol is a 13-episode miniseries based on the Royal Australian Navy Patrol Boat Service that protects the country’s vast coastline.

Every hour of every day, in all weather imaginable, young men and women battle the elements and the odds to defend Australia’s borders and enforce its economic zone. Sea Patrol is set aboard a navy patrol boat, the fictitious HMAS Hammersley, and tells the stories of the officers and crew as they tackle the multitude of situations that face the real-life RAN daily.

“Making this series has been a fantastic journey,” said Jo Horsburgh, Nine Network Head of Drama. “Over three years in development we believe the task of bringing together the resources of the Royal Australian Navy with a highly skilled television production cast and crew under the leadership of Hal and Di McElroy has produced an outstanding show for Australians of all ages to take to their hearts.”

Channel Nine’s Executive Director Jeffrey Browne said, “Channel Nine is a proud supporter of Australian drama, and we believe Sea Patrol is one of the best drama series ever produced in this country.”

Featuring an array of great Australian talent, Sea Patrol stars: Ian Stenlake as Lieutenant Commander Mike Flynn (Commanding Officer); Lisa McCune as Lieutenant Kate McGregor (Executive Officer); Saskia Burmeister as Lieutenant Nikki Caetano (Navigator); John Batchelor is Andy Thorpe, or “Charge”; Jeremy Lindsay Taylor is Pete Tomaszewski, “Buffer”; Matthew Holmes is Chris Blake, “Swain”; Kristian Schmid is Robert J. Dixon (Radio Officer); David Lyons is “ET”, Josh Holiday; Josh Lawson is “Chefo”, Toby Jones; and Jay Ryan is Billy “Spider” Webb.

The crew of the HMAS Hammersley are joined each episode by a guest cast that includes Steve Bisley as Commander Steve Marshall; Sibylla Budd as Dr Ursula Morrell; Christopher Stollery as federal agent Greg Murphy; and Martin Lynes as Rick Gallagher, a coastal trader. In what is believed to be a first for a local drama, the entire first episode of Sea Patrol will be available as a free download from ninemsn. From July 2, audiences can get a free preview of the series and watch it on their own computers, three days prior to the television premiere.

An extensive website to complement the series has also been created by ninemsn. Key features include a confessional video blog kept by one of the Hammersley crew and an exclusive “making of Sea Patrol” video diary filmed and narrated on location by cast member Josh Lawson.

Viewers will also be able to purchase the remaining episodes of Sea Patrol after they have screened on Nine via ninemsn’s Catch-Up TV download service. To check out the special features and to access your free download go to seapatrol.ninemsn.com.au.

Don’t miss the boat. Board Sea Patrol when it premieres:
Thursday, July 5 at 8.30pm on Channel Nine