Network 10, Fremantle Australia and Channel 5 have once again joined forces to co-produce Riptide, a premium, primetime thriller filmed exclusively in Victoria and starring acclaimed UK actor Jo Joyner.
Crews shot for Riptide in Sassafras for three days in early August 2022, with production starting on Riptide in July last year.
Renowned actor Jo Joyner, revered for her roles in many UK series including EastEnders, Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators, Stay Close and award-winning Ackley Bridge was cast in the lead role by Thea McLeod as Alison.
Joining Jo is English actor Ciarán Griffiths (Shameless, The Flats) and Australian actors David Berry (Outlander, A Place To Call Home), Peter O’Brien (The Unusual Suspects, Grey Nomads), Ally Fowler (Wentworth), Pia Miranda (Mustangs FC, Wentworth), rising stars Benny Turland (Neighbours, Home and Away), Asher Yasbincek (The Heights, Heartbreak High) and Yazeed Daher (The Hunting, Safe Harbour), and newcomers Benjamin Samaddar and Sonya Suares.
Filmed in Melbourne, Alison’s life is plunged into despair when her new Australian husband vanishes after a morning surf. Did he get caught in a dangerous riptide – or is there more to his disappearance than meets the eye? The psychological thriller will be directed by Australia Directors’ Guild Award recipient, Scott Major (Lie With Me, Neighbours) and Natalie Mandel (Lie with Me, Wanted) is on board as producer.
Riptide premiered on Channel 10 on Wednesday 28 June.
The four-part series was created by Fremantle Australia’s Jason Herbison whose credits include Executive Producer of the much-loved soap Neighbours and acclaimed mini-series Lie With Me, one of Channel 5’s highest rating dramas last year and a global success now screening in 85 territories.
Both series were ordered by Greg Barnett, Commissioning Editor, Factual Entertainment, Unscripted, Channel 5 & P+.
Jo Joyner said she is excited to be working with the “fantastic teams at Fremantle, Channel 5 and 10 in Australia, and playing Alison”.
“She is such a warm and layered character whose world is turned upside down, just when it seemed like her life was finally coming together. I am also thrilled to be filming in the fabulous city of Melbourne and surrounding countryside, an area that I have always wanted to explore,” Jo said.
Commissioning Editor at Factual Entertainment, Unscripted, Channel 5 & P+, Greg Barnett, said Lie With Me proved “incredibly popular” with viewers and he is looking forward to expanding our drama slate even further, working hand in hand with our production partners Fremantle Australia and Network 10.
“Jo is an incredible talent, and I can’t wait to see what she brings to this role,” Greg said.
Paramount Australia & New Zealand SVP Content & Programming, Daniel Monaghan, said it is wonderful to be working closely with Channel 5 and Fremantle Australia on this “fantastic new drama series”.
“We have a strong and trusted relationship and have produced many stellar drama series together in the past. Riptide will continue that great partnership,” Daniel said.
Fremantle Australia Executive Producer, Jason Herbison, also said he is “thrilled” to continue the partnership with Channel 5 and 10 and to bring Riptide to life.
“It’s the best of British meeting the best of Australian casts and crews – and I can’t wait for the audience to see what we have in store.”
Riptide has received financial investment from VicScreen, and aired on Channel 5 in 2022.
Fremantle will distribute the series internationally.
