It still looks the same. Familiar theme music, lots of boats, underworld figures, knockabout coppers and the brilliant sapphire harbour breathing beauty into every scene. But the dynamics of Nine's successful drama Water Rats have changed. The marquee stars of the show , Colin Friels and Catherine McClements, left last year. In their place are a fresh raft of characters and people behind the scenes. They are all determined to continue the Rat's dream run, now in its fifth season.
Script executive Robyn Sinclair says when any big name leaves a long-running show, it can be an emotional time for cast, crew and the audience. "There's an enormous emotional connection between these big stars and the producers and networks. Alot of friendships are built and the audience loves them, as well," Sinclair says.
"Of course, Catherine and Colin were wonderful for the show but we're not feeling the gap. "The cast is turned over because you basically put your characters through such a roller-coaster of experience and emotion in telling these stories that, if you kept the same cast forever in the leading roles, you'd defy credibility in what their characters have experienced."
Sinclair says there was no fear within the production team when the two actors announced they were leaving the show. she says it presented an exciting opportunity to inject new life into Water Rats by introducing characters, who have a "clean slate" of story possibilities. "As we didn't try to bring in similar characters to fill the gaps it means there is an ongoing story about the Water Police," sinclair says. "So new characters can come in with no apologies to being a replacement, as it were. They're just a new character."
The most prominent of these is Detective Alex St Clare (Dee Smart), who was featured in two episodes last year and now takes her place as the female lead. Other new characters include dive captain Lance Rorke, played by Joss McWilliam (who audiences may remember from the film Coolangatta Gold or soap Pacific Drive). Then there is Constable Matthew Quinn, played by Diarmid Heidenreich (Home And Away and Pizza Hut's Dougie the Pizza Boy). Another new recruit is Rebecca Smart (The Shiralee and Blackrock), who plays desk jockey Constable Donna Janevski.
Sinclair dismisses reports of seasoned cast member's unhappiness over contentious cast decisions, in particular Smart's, who with husband Chris Hancock shares James and Jodie Packer's Bondi palazzo. "I know Dee is very popular on the set," Sinclair says. "She's a lovely actress and I was thrilled to see her cast. Comments like that came from departing cast members and I think they are best viewed in that light, really."
She believes the show will continue to perform well, and cites the strengths of stalwart minor characters such as Sergeant Helen Blakemore (Toni Scanlan), Sergeant Jeff Hawker (Peter Bensley) and Constable Gavin Sykes (Brett Partridge). "Those people are part of that world so there's always a comfort and familiarity about them," she says.
"That's why Peter Bensley and Toni Scanlan are such an asset because they sit there very nicely in the family that is Water Rats." She also emphasises the popularity of last season's new additions, Detective Jack Christey (Steve Bisley) and Detective Michael Reilly (Aaron Pedersen). "Steve's been around for a while now and he's quite dominant in the show. And, of course, Aaron's been there as well and they're both proving to be extremely popular."
"I'm sure the new characters will find their place as well, and audiences will continue to enjoy the show." Sinclair predicts a healthy future for the harbour cops.
"I don't see why it sould have any shorter life than other long-running shows made in this country," she says. "We've seen benchmarks of 12 years out there, but the show really does have a life of its own, it is Water rats, and there's endless stories out there."