Blue Heelers

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Blue Heelers
Also known as Boys in Blue (Working Title)
Format Police, Drama, Crime
Created by Tony Morphett
Hal McElroy
Starring John Wood
Julie Nihill
Martin Sacks
William McInnes
Lisa McCune
Grant Bowler
Tasma Walton
Jane Allsop
Ditch Davey
Caroline Craig
Rachel Gordon
Charlie Clausen
Simone McAullay
Danny Raco
Samantha Tolj
Matthew Holmes
Country of origin Flag of Australia Australia
No. of seasons 13
No. of episodes 510 (List of episodes)
Production
Location(s) Flag of Victoria (Australia) Victoria
Running time approx 50 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel Seven Network
Picture format 576i (SDTV),
576p (EDTV)
Audio format Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Original run January 18, 1994
– June 4, 2006
Chronology
Related shows City Homicide
Sea Patrol
External links
IMDb profile
TV.com summary
This article is about the Australian television programme. For the dog breed, see Australian Cattle Dog.

Blue Heelers was a long-running Australian police drama series and is one of Australia's best-loved dramas. It first aired on 18th January 1994 and last aired, in its 13th season and 510th episode, on 4th June 2006. It is, to this date, Australia's most popular drama, at its peak drawing 2.5 million viewers, and Australia's longest running weekly primetime drama series equaling Homicide in 2006, in terms of episodes aired (510) .[1][2] However, Homicide lasted one calendar month longer. It has also gained recognition in Britain, Ireland, New Zealand and Canada where it has a strong following in syndication.

Contents

P.J. Hasham, Tom Croydon and Maggie Doyle
P.J. Hasham, Tom Croydon and Maggie Doyle

The series focused primarily on the police officers of the Mt. Thomas Victoria Police station and the inhabitants of the small town with the high crime rate, Mt. Thomas. There was always something happening in Mt. Thomas and the cops always had a big job sorting out the towns problems. The small town experienced many things including bank robberies, escaped criminals, police shootings, murders, kidnapping and an endless supply of deluded criminals; the police station was even bombed in 2004. With all these events happening, the cops, or "The Heelers", were kept busy all the time but, they could always call on the assistance of the police in nearby, larger town St. Davids. Along with their police work, the Heeler's personal lives regularly made their way into the series and, the most well-known of these, is the relationship between colleagues Maggie and PJ which ended in Maggie's death; that moment was one of the most watched moments on Australian television. The whole station was like a family where everybody usually got on but, like families, there are always disagreements. These were usually settled over a bar at the Imperial, the copper's pub where Chris was always ready to listen.

Blue Heelers has launched the careers of many Australian actors such as Lisa McCune, Grant Bowler, Ditch Davey, Rachel Gordon, Tasma Walton, Charlie Clausen and Jane Allsop. Many of these are still most known for their character on Blue Heelers. Many major actors have also been able to call Mt. Thomas home such as Hugh Jackman, Charles 'Bud' Tingwell, Peter O'Brien and John Howard. Then there are the Blue Heelers veterans, John Wood and Julie Nihill have been with Blue Heelers during its entire 12 year run and played Snr. Sgt. Tom Croydon and publican Chris Reilly.

Blue Heelers original cast of 1994
Blue Heelers original cast of 1994
Blue Heelers, cast of 1998
Blue Heelers, cast of 1998
Blue Heelers, cast of 2001
Blue Heelers, cast of 2001
Blue Heelers, cast of 2003
Blue Heelers, cast of 2003
Blue Heelers, cast of 2005
Blue Heelers, cast of 2005
Blue Heelers, cast of 2006
Blue Heelers, cast of 2006
Actor/Actress Character Tenure Position
John Wood Tom Croydon 1994-2006
Ep. 1 - 510		 Senior Sergeant
Julie Nihill Christine 'Chris' Riley 1994-2006
Ep. 1 - 510		 Civilian (Publican)
Martin Sacks Patrick Joseph 'P.J.' Hasham
 1994-2005
Ep. 1 - 484		 Detective Senior Constable, Senior Detective
Lisa McCune Maggie Doyle 1994-2000
Ep. 1 - 255		 Constable, Senior Constable, Acting Sergeant
William McInnes Nick Schultz 1994-1998,
Ep. 1 - 207
2004 (guest), 2005 (guest)		 Senior Constable, Sergeant, Detective Sergeant
Grant Bowler Wayne Patterson 1994-1996
Ep. 1 - 96		 Constable
Ann Burbrook Roz Patterson 1994,
Ep. 1 - 30
1996 (guest)		 Civilian (Mt. Thomas police station admin. officer)
Damian Walshe-Howling Adam Cooper 1994-1998,
Ep. 34 - 211
2006 (guest)		 Probationary Constable, Constable
Tasma Walton Deirdre 'Dash' McKinley
 1996-1999
Ep. 107 - 236		 Probationary Constable, Constable
Paul Bishop
 Benjamin 'Ben' Stewart
 1998-2004
Ep. 198 - 451		 Detective Sergeant, Senior Constable, Sergeant
Jane Allsop Joanna 'Jo' Parrish 1999-2004
Ep. 239 - 440		 Constable, Senior Constable
Rupert Reid Jack Lawson 1999-2001
Ep. 212 - 313		 Probationary Constable, Constable
Caroline Craig Teresa 'Tess' Gallagher 2000-2003
Ep. 270 - 407		 Sergeant
Ditch Davey Evan 'Jonesy' Jones
 2001-2006
Ep. 316 - 510		 Constable, Senior Constable, Detective
Simone McAullay Susie Raynor 2003-2006
Ep. 409 - 510		 Constable, Senior Constable
Geoff Morrell Mark Jacobs 2004-2005
Ep. 441 - 489		 Sergeant
Rachel Gordon Amy Fox
 2004-2006
Ep. 441 - 510		 Detective
Samantha Tolj Kelly O'Rourke 2004-2006
Ep. 442 - 510		 Probationary Constable, Constable
Danny Raco Joss Peroni 2004-2006
Ep. 442 - 510		 Probationary Constable, Constable
Charlie Clausen Alex Kirby 2005-2006
Ep. 461 - 510		 Leading Senior Constable, Acting Sergeant
Matthew Holmes Matt Graham 2005-2006
Ep. 490 - 510		 Constable

Maintenance Please add more information about the production, discussing the "behind the scenes" aspects of the production process, award nominations, and insights into the casting and staffing where possible. See also Wikipedia:WikiProject Television for more advice.

The scenes of the outside of the Mt. Thomas police station were actually filmed at the old, disused Williamstown police station. Chris Riley's Imperial Hotel was actually an old, disused hotel in Castlemaine.

 Please help improve this article by expanding this section.
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Blue Heelers was very popular in Australia and, at its peak, was drawing around 2.5 million viewers. Throughout its broadcast, until its axing in 2006, it was drawing a strong audience and was regularly the top-rating regular programme in Australia.

The episodes 'Gold' and 'Fool's Gold' (episodes 140 and 141) during season 4 were two of the most popular Blue Heelers episodes and drew a massive 2.5 million viewers; this was considered a huge achievement in 1997 and is still a massive achievement today.

Maggie Doyle
Maggie Doyle

The first 10 episodes of Blue Heelers' 7th season (Loose Ends - Out of the Shadows) are considered the most watched in the show's history. These episodes, some of the most watched in Australia's history, focus of the death of Maggie Doyle (played by Lisa McCune). These episodes, particularly episode 255: One More Day, are considered one of the biggest moments in Australian television history when Maggie is shot and left for dead.

After low ratings in 2003 and 2004, Blue Heelers underwent a huge revamp. New characters were introduced into the story changed its focus from the old Mt. Thomas police station to the new one that was used until the show's axing in 2006.

Part of the revamp was the broadcasting of a live episode of Blue Heelers, which was aired on the 21st April 2004 and was called Reasonable Doubts. This live episode proved a success and increased ratings.

The show's main revamp started in July 2004 in the episode End of Innocence when the old police station is bombed, killing main character Snr. Const. Jo Parrish who was portrayed by Jane Allsop and mentally handicapped man Clancy Freeman. In the proceeding five episodes, 4 main characters were introduced and storylines focused on the bombing of the station. This proved a gamble that would pay off and ratings increased for the series.

It was announced on 13th January 2006 that Blue Heelers was to be axed after 12 years, 510 episodes and 24 Logies. At this time, the show was still drawing 1.2 million viewers per week on average, down from the 2.5 million it was drawing in the past.

All during 2005, speculation was rife that Blue Heelers may be canceled but, in the hope that viewing would increase, an 11-episode season in 2006 was commissioned by the Seven Network. It soon became apparent that ratings were not increasing and the show was canceled. Two different endings were shot for the final episode which finished filming on 20th December 2005, one wrapping up all the show's storylines and another which would leave the show open for another season; the first was used.

Even though the show had been axed, people still remained dedicated, shown by the Bring Back Blue Heelers Petition Site, launched by 17-year-old AJ Bentley which was signed by some 275 people. Bentley launched his campaign petition for Blue Heelers to be returned to the air and for Paramount to release the remaining season of Blue Heelers on DVD.

For Blue Heelers' final season, it was moved from its Wednesday night timeslot to the lower-rating Saturday night spot with the finale aired on the high rating Sunday night time slot.

Blue Heelers first aired on January 18, 1994. The show aired on Tuesday nights at 7:30 PM. The first episode, "A Woman's Place" introduced us to Constable Maggie Doyle, who arrived for her first day of work at the Mt. Thomas police station. The other police present were Sergeant Tom Croydon who ran the station with an almost grandfatherly watch over his co-workers, Constable Wayne Patterson — an old love of Maggie's who was now married to the ambitious Roz, Senior Constable Nick Schultz, a sarcastic and yet good-hearted cop, and Senior Detective Patrick Joseph "P.J." Hassham: a charismatic and somewhat chauvinistic detective who soon found himself very interested in Maggie. Also around, and constantly providing information, gossip and advice was Christine "Chris" Riley who ran the Imperial pub.

Storylines of the first season included:

  • Roz assisting the Heelers and getting a job at the station,
  • Nick giving Roz a speeding ticket, leading to the suspension of her license, bringing out the reason for Nick joining the highway patrol, the reason being that his wife and daughter were both killed in a car accident,
  • PJ dealing with old friend, Detective Hilary Edmunds,
  • Wayne being shot and left for dead on the roadside by a couple of criminals,
  • Tom learning to deal with friends and the law at the same time,
  • The problems in Wayne and Roz's marriage which ended in Roz witnessing a murder, and subsequently returning to Melbourne,
  • The arrival in town of ambitious and contentious young cop, Constable Adam Cooper, and his experiences of the station and colleagues,
  • Maggie's relationship with her father, Sergeant Pat Doyle (Dennis Miller) and her shifty boyfriend, Detective Sean Neale,
  • Tom's family problems, ending with the death of his wife Nell in a car accident.

The show was a success, and by the end of its 45-episode first season the PJ-Maggie shippers had quickly amassed. Roz was written out of the show before season's end, because the producers thought that they could do more with another police character, rather than a civilian. This allowed for the introduction of Adam Cooper to the group. This season also saw Tasma Walton with a guest role in the show as a young schoolgirl who decided to move in with her teacher.

Notable guest stars for the season included Radha Mitchell, Kate Keltie, Petra Jared, Charles 'Bud' Tingwell, Raelee Hill, Libby Tanner, Tasma Walton, Gerard Kennedy, Anne Phelan, Ian Smith, Olivia Hamnett, Lois Collinder, Lois Ramsay, Pepe Trevor, David Wenham, Rex Hunt and Janet Andrewartha.

Season 2 premiered in February 1995 and had been moved to the later 8.30 Timeslot, making way for 'Better Homes & Gardens' and 'The Great Outdoors'. The season ran for 41 episodes. The storylines included:

  • Adam dealing with an HIV scare,
  • Chris and Adam beginning a relationship, despite their age difference,
  • Maggie getting a roommate, Gina Belfanti (Rachel Blakely), who quickly fell for Adam,
  • Snr. Const. Rose Egan temporarily joining the Heelers at Mt. Thomas after applying for a Detective's position, that Maggie wanted,
  • Tom's reunion with his troubled daughter Susan,
  • Nick's friend, Billy Peters, being killed in a motorbike accident and Nick beginning a relationship with his widow, Sasha,
  • Wayne being served with divorce papers from Roz.
  • Maggie and Wayne going for their Senior Constable exams,
  • Maggie filling in as police prosecutor,
  • Wayne beginning a relationship with Kate Kenny, wife of local crim Joe Kenny, starting a sort of vendetta between Wayne and Joe,
  • The introduction of Inspector Monica Draper (Peta Doodson) who kept a close watch on the Mt. Thomas station,
  • The arrival in town of Dr. Zoe Hamilton (Karen Davitt), a local doctor who became a secret admirer of Nick's,
  • and the growing sexual tension between PJ and Maggie.

The season ended with Gina being raped. The only witness, a mentally disabled man named Clancy Freeman (Michael Isaacs, who would recur until the 11th season), was uncertain of what he had seen, and so Maggie was used as bait to trap the rapist. In the aftermath, she and PJ shared their first kiss.

Notable guest stars included Robert Grubb, David Field as Maggie's brother Michael, Maxine Klibingaitis, Rebecca Rigg, Hugh Jackman, Libby Tanner, Kris McQuade, Janet Andrewartha, Kerry Armstrong, Terry Gill, Reg Gorman, Lois Collinder, Jon Concannon, Kristian Schmid, Jeremy Kewley and Gerard Kennedy.

By the time the 42-episode third season began, Blue Heelers was hailed as the most successful Australian drama on television, also seeing significant changes in life at the station. Storylines included:

  • Maggie discovering her brother Robbie (now played by Brett Climo) was on drugs,
  • Wayne's death, paving the way for his untrustworthy replacement, Snr. Det. Jack Woodley (Frankie J. Holden), who eventually was caught falsifying evidence and replaced by strong, independent Constable Deirdre "Dash" McKinley,
  • Tom dealing with his young daughter Anna (Alexandra Sangster)'s pregnancy and with his new grandson whom he took in after Anna left,
  • PJ and Maggie - who had decided that their kiss meant nothing - were torn apart when Maggie fell for her professor Roman Kellerman (Geoff Paine). While PJ's suspicions about Kellerman proved correct, it severely affected his friendship with Maggie and he chose to leave the station. His charismatic replacement, Detective Johnny Kowalski (Jack Finsterer) proved to be no picnic - wooing both the women of the station. When PJ eventually returned, with Kowalski gone, relations between him and Maggie were strained.
  • Dash overcoming her gambling problem and repaying Adam,
  • Nick being investigated about a death in custody of a child killer,
  • PJ shot dead a local woman in self defence and then had to fight to clear his name (with the help of Maggie) but he still had to contend with the woman's psychotic son, Luke Darcy (Jonathon Brooks),
  • The season ended with Tom suffering a heart attack in the dying minutes of the last episode

Notable guest stars included Frances O'Connor, Marg Downey, Lee Kernaghan, Radha Mitchell, Terry Gill, Raelee Hill, Louise Siversen, Rhys Muldoon, David Wenham, Norman Yemm, Andrew Blackman, Frankie J. Holden, Anne Phelan and Andrew McKaige.

The fourth season ran for 42 episodes. The 1997 Season was the highest rating for the show; was the number one show on Australian Television for that year: Averaging a mammoth 2,441,000 in the five cities for the year, screening 8.30 Tuesday nights. Storylines included:

  • "Mad Cow Disease" coming to Mt. Thomas and Maggie nearly losing her life,
  • Adam confessing his unrequited love for Dash,
  • Chris's niece Leonie marrying Clancy Freeman and them beginning a family together,
  • Nick and Zoe growing closer,
  • Chris's Irish fiancee being murdered
  • the marriage of Adam to Stacey Norse (Kate Atkinson) and Stacey's miscarriage of the baby Adam thought to be his,
  • The introduction of two popular recurring characters: Jeremy Kewley as less-than-helpful reporter Tony Timms, and Neil Pigot as Inspector Russell "Rusty" Falcon-Price,
  • Chris becoming politically minded and running for local council,
  • Tom's daughter Susan's struggle to take up a posting at the school after her troubled past,
  • Adam facing the fact that his wife had lied and cheated on him,
  • Maggie attempting to protect her drug-addicted brother from the law,
  • Luke Darcy, PJ's nemesis, attempting to ruin his life once and for all,
  • The attraction of Tom to local solicitor Sally Downie (Catherine Wilkin),
  • and the sexual tension being consummated between PJ and Maggie, leading to them finally starting a secret relationship.

Two of the most popular episodes remain the two-parter "Gold" and "Fool's Gold", in which PJ and Maggie are trapped down a mine shaft and release their sexual tension. In the episode, "Fool For Love", Jane Allsop guest starred. She impressed the producers so much that they would later invite her back to the show in a main role as Jo Parrish.

Notable guest actors this season included Anne Phelan, Stefan Dennis, Vincent Gil, Alan Dale, Peta Brady, Brett Climo, Wendy Strehlow, Fiona Corke and Lesley Baker.

The 41-episode fifth season saw the show move to Wednesday nights at 8:30 PM, making way for All Saints on Tuesdays at 8.30. Ratings dipped; but finished still finished the number 2 show for the year with 2,240,000 in the five cities.

Storylines included:

  • Maggie and PJ hiding their relationship from their co-workers, which landed them in trouble when Organised Crimes specialist Detective Sergeant Ben Stewart came to town to help with a case, falling for Maggie,
  • Tom embarking on a relationship with Sally Downie,
  • Dash being diagnosed with cancer, and undergoing chemotherapy,
  • the cops fighting back against plans to downgrade the station, resulting in a station upgrade, giving Tom, Nick and Maggie all a promotion, Tom becoming Senior Sergeant, Nick taking over as Sergeant and Maggie taking over as Senior Constable,
  • a demoted Senior Constable Ben Stewart returning full time to Mt. Thomas,
  • the engagement and marriage of Nick and Zoe,
  • Adam breaking the law - by buying a stolen car - seeing him removed from the force.

The season saw Nick and Zoe leave Mt. Thomas after their wedding, which was halted temporarily after they were accused of murder.

Guest actors included Shane Connor, James Condon, John Clayton, Maggie Dence, Peter O'Brien, Grant Piro, Val Lehman, Monica Maughan, Anne Phelan, Dennis Coard, Carol Burns and Sean Scully.

The sixth season of 42 episodes. Storylines included:

  • The arrival of Constable Jack Lawson,
  • Ben dealing with his broken marriage and desire to see more of his children,
  • PJ and Maggie's relationship being exposed via a security video,
  • Chris taking a place on the local council,
  • Ben's daughter Emma attempting to get Ben and Maggie together,
  • Maggie dealing with the death of her brother Robbie, and her attempts to crack the drug ring that killed him,
  • Constable Greg Mason's posting to Mt. Thomas and subsequent shooting,
  • Tom having to let go of his relationship with Sally,
  • Dash's promotion and subsequent decision to leave the force,
  • Maggie briefly starting an affair with Ben, but ultimately choosing PJ just as Ben was dealt a blow by his ex-wife's decision to move to the other side of the country with their children,
  • Jack getting involved with an ex-girlfriend, Molly (Petra Jared), whose wild antics saw him getting in over his head,
  • The arrival of Constable Joanna Parrish.

Guest actors this season included Kate Hood, Jason Clarke, Terence Donovan, Lisa Crittenden, Grant Piro, Norman Yemm, Robert Grubb, Margot Knight, Arianthe Galani, Jeremy Angerson, Louise Siversen, Lois Ramsay, Mary Ward and Roger Oakley.

This season marked the start of the show's downfall in the public consciousness. Maggie, aided by PJ and her brother Mick, arrived at the point of cracking the drug ring she had been pursuing for a year and realised that she would have to go into witness protection. To do so, she staged a breakup with PJ and then awaited her escort nervously. PJ, however, realised that she was being tricked and arrived just seconds too late, to see Maggie shot down by a mysterious assailant. The episodes that followed, the "Who Killed Maggie Doyle?" arc, were the most-watched episodes ever. Arrested for Maggie's murder, PJ looked desperately to prove that he was being framed. Ultimately, in episode 263 "Out of the Shadows", he discovered the truth - it was her brother Mick.

Other storylines included:

  • The remaining cops dealing with Maggie's death,
  • Sergeant Tess Gallagher arriving in town to take Maggie's position, which hurts a depressed Ben (Especially as he had unwittingly given her hints on impressing the panel that unanimously won her the job),
  • Tess being drawn into the plight of three young neglected children, the oldest — Hayley (Emily Browning) — particularly drawing her sympathy,
  • The new doctor in town, Mel Carter (Suzi Dougherty) quickly learning to fit in,
  • and Jack's attempts to woo a local girl ending in tragedy with him being shot and left for dead. In the final episodes of the season, a paralysed Jack started a downward spiral which was only saved by a revolutionary procedure that was to be tested on him, and ultimately saved him.

Guest actors this season included Paul Dawber, Alan Hopgood, Olivia Hamnett, Kate Hood, Ian Rawlings, Andy Anderson, Dennis Coard, Roger Oakley, Betty Lucas, James Condon, Alex Papps, Mary Ward, Tommy Dysart, Maggie Kirkpatrick, Joy Westmore, Alyce Platt, Jeremy Angerson, Sean Scully, Zoe Bertram, Wendy Strehlow and Nicki Paull.

Ratings in the 8th season began to decline ever so slowly, with many fans feeling that Maggie's absence (as well as several other popular characters) and the slightly repetitive storylines were getting in the way of the show's feel.

Storylines included:

  • Tess and Jack beginning a relationship which ended when he was arrested and convicted for murder,
  • Tess falling for his replacement, Evan Jones — who joined the force to avenge his father's death,
  • Tess taking in neglected child Hayley Fulton, (Emily Browning)
  • Ben's continuing spiral of depression,
  • and Tom finding love in enchanting local reverend Grace Curtis (Debra Lawrance), whose sons were less than thrilled with the match.

Guest actors who appeared in this season included Carol Burns, Richard Cawthorne,Norman Yemm, Val Lehman, David Clencie, Simon Burke, Terry Gill, Alethea McGrath, Gary Sweet, Rhys Muldoon, Gary Day, Lisa Crittenden, Julia Blake, Alan Hopgood, Gerard Kennedy, Lesley Baker and Kirsty Child.

Storylines for the 41-episode ninth season included:

  • Susan Croydon, pregnant, returning home only to lose her baby in a hit-and-run designed as a revenge plot on Tom,
  • PJ dealing with his mother's death,
  • Tess - having lost Hayley to her real family - letting out her feelings for Jonesy,
  • and Jo falling for PJ, which faced a snag when Ben's lawyer sister Liz (Kat Stewart) arrived in town taking PJ's heart with her.
  • After Liz left town, PJ and Jo ultimately became a couple and denied their feelings for each other at first but moved in together, forcing roommate Ben to deal with his new living situation,
  • Tom proposed to Grace, but the week of their wedding saw trouble in the form of her ex-husband, and their respective families,
  • Jo sat for - and succeeded in - her Senior Constable exam,
  • and Tess began a whirlwind affair with an old friend, attractive Dr. Josh Carmichael (Daniel Fredriksen) which ended with Jonesy distraught, and Tess married. However not before, Tess and Jonesy shared a steamy kiss in the locker room, in the episode 'All You Need Is Love'

Notable guest actors this season included Ailsa Piper, Alan David Lee, John Orcsik, Leslie Dayman, Margot Knight, Justine Saunders, Jane Badler, Elspeth Ballantyne, Peter Sumner, Shaunna O'Grady, Kate Jason, Alethea McGrath, Marg Downey, Monica Maughan, Lois Collinder and Annie Jones.

By the 42-episode tenth season, Blue Heelers was in a comfortable but not successful ratings pattern. Storylines included:

  • Ben recovering from alcoholism, and then beginning an affair with Inspector Falcon-Price's wife,
  • PJ losing his house in a fire caused by a drunk Ben,
  • Jonesy proving ulterior motives behind Josh's marriage to Tess,
  • Jo and PJ drifting apart with them both moving on to other relationships but realising they love each other and start a full time relationship,
  • Ben falling for, and proposing to, Salvation Army Captain Marissa Craddock (Heidi Arena),
  • The arrival in town of Ben's daughter Maddie,
  • Tom dealing with his teenage stepson's problems,
  • Tess leaving town, pregnant with Josh's child, due to a natal condition,
  • and the arrival of Constable Susie Raynor, whose paralysed husband Brad (Matt Passmore) became wrongly suspicious of Ben and Susie's friendship, ending in a confrontation where Ben had no choice but to shoot and kill Brad in front of Susie.

Guest actors this season included Betty Bobbitt, Robert Grubb, Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, Richard Cawthorne, Lisa Crittenden, Maggie Millar, Betty Lucas, Paul Mercurio, Lynda Gibson, Ian Rawlings, Colette Mann, Ernie Bourne, Lyndel Rowe and Andrew Clarke.

The Program suffered along with the Seven Networks as a whole; its ratings in a dire state. 2004 became the year in which the producers took a radical approach to shake-up their show. The 39-episode 11th season saw the program start the year closer to the wrong end of the weekly top 50 - and sometimes out of it altogether. A 'Live To Air' broadcast hit nearly 1.6 million viewers in April; but it failed to resurrect the numbers for the show. However when storylines heated up towards June/July - the numbers did too - and the program enjoyed an amicable ratings performance thereon in 2005. Storylines included:

  • the return to Mt Thomas of Luke Darcy, who terrorised PJ and Jo which ended in Luke Darcy's death and PJ as the main suspect, but proved not the killer,
  • Ben's engagement collapsing, and him having to face Susie over the events of the tenth season finale,
  • Jonesy and Susie embarking on a short-lived relationship, and
  • the engagement of PJ and Jo, which ended when PJ was haunted by Maggie's memory.

On 21 April, Blue Heelers aired a special event: a live episode. While Paul Bishop did not appear due to film commitments, this theatre-esque event drew large ratings and was the first step made in attempting to draw viewers back to the show.

This was followed by the overhaul of the show. Its 440th episode, "End of Innocence", aired on 6 July and saw a new family in town being suspected of ghastly crimes. The Baxter family terrorised Clancy, Jo, Tom and Grace, and shortly thereafter the terror became reality when the station was blown up and Clancy and Jo were killed. Soon after, Grace was found raped and murdered.

Nick Schultz, now in Homicide, returned to investigate, and soon learned that Tom had changed as a result of these events, and was now much harsher and determined to gain vengeance on the Baxters. Four new cops arrived on the scene - the smart Detective Senior Constable Amy Fox, family man Sergeant Mark Jacobs, and ambitious rival trainees, Probationary Constables Kelly O'Rourke and Joss Peroni (whose birthdays just happened to be on the same day). In episode 445, "Checkmate", Barry Baxter was sent to jail for the terror attacks, and Nick departed Mt Thomas leaving his colleagues to face their new situation. The ratings picked up significantly during this time.

Storylines over the second half of the season included:

  • Moving into the new station and discovering the new power situation,
  • Jonesy finding a suspicious girlfriend, Donna (Samantha Healy), after discovering Susie with Ben,
  • Tom remaining a changed man after his wife's death,
  • Kelly being harassed by new Sgt. Roy Holland,
  • Joss beginning a relationship with a much older woman, Fay Tudor (Tottie Goldsmith), and
  • PJ and Amy facing tensions with one another.

In the final episodes of the season, a series of attempts on Tom's life saw him suspect Tarni Baxter (Melissa Andersen), the jailed Baxter's daughter. Although there was no proof against her, the closing moments of the season finale saw a crazy-with-rage Tom attempting to drown Tarni in a river.

While some critics and fans were concerned at the new soap opera style that Blue Heelers had embraced, ratings remained high for the rest of the season.

Guest actors included Charles "Bud" Tingwell, Nicki Paull, Bernard Curry, Lesley Baker, Danny Adcock, Alan Hopgood, Danijela Duspara,Frankie J. Holden, Simon Westaway and Jeremy Linday Taylor.

The 12th season ran for 42 episodes.

While the first half of the season, with several high profile guest stars, maintained the high ratings of the previous season; the second half of the year - which saw the show up against ratings success House saw a decrease in ratings, as well as a gradual mixing of critical reaction, which had initially proved mostly positive.

The season also saw the departure of Geoff Morrell and Martin Sacks, who chose to take time off to spend with their families. Sacks's departure left Julie Nihill and John Wood as the only remaining original cast members; and the only cast members to have been on the show since before 2001.

Storylines for season 12 included:

  • Tom being suspected of murder, while only Kelly stood by him,
  • Nick returning to town briefly to find evidence against Tom, however ultimately realising it was someone framing him,
  • The arrival of Mark's friend Acting Sergeant Lindy Schroeder (Sarah Chadwick) and her quick dismissal by a still-bitter Tom,
  • Tom going up against a gangster (Gary Sweet),
  • PJ and Amy's conflict over a psychiatrist (Vince Colosimo), suspected of being a serial killer,
  • Amy confronting her uncle (Shane Porteous) who sexually abused her as a teen
  • the arrival of Leading Senior Constable Alex Kirby (Charlie Clausen), who immediatedly fell for Susie, causing conflict,
  • The start of Susie and Jonesy's engagement but to have it all end because Susie had an affair with Alex,
  • The escape from jail of Barry Baxter, threatening Tom's family and seeing a siege situation,
  • PJ leaving the station to take a job in Melbourne with Homicide, leaving his memories behind him, hoping to start new,
  • Tensions between Joss and Alex almost resulting in Joss' dismissal from the force and an extension of his probationary period,
  • Jonesy taking up detective work with Amy and attempting to prove his worth,
  • Joss becoming determined to show Amy that he, also, has what it takes to be a detective,
  • Mark beginning an affair with his neighbour (Tara Morice), finally resigning from the police force and leaving to start a new life with her,
  • Kelly's new neighbour becoming an obsessive stalker, and terrorising Kelly,
  • the arrival in town of former soldier turned police officer Constable Matt Graham, who is forced to deal with his wartorn past after events in town bring back painful memories.
  • the investigation into several rapes, with ties to a prominent plastic surgeon (Peter O'Brien),
  • and the surprising arrival in town of a boy who is searching for his father - who turns out to be Acting Seargent Alex Kirby.

Guest actors included Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, Val Jellay, John Brumpton, Joy Westmore, Pepe Trevor, Margot Knight, Tracy Mann, Danny Adcock, Paul Dawber, Lynette Curran, Elspeth Ballantyne and Alethea McGrath.

After the falling ratings of 2005, the network commissioned an abbreviated 13th season of 11 episodes, taking the show's episode tally to 510. On January 13, 2006, the network ended months of speculation when they officially cancelled the series. The news was broken by television critic Robert Fidgeon on radio station 3AW, and was shortly followed by the official announcement [3].

For its final season, Blue Heelers was moved to the lower-rated Saturday night timeslot, which also saw it up against popular British police program The Bill. This move was slammed by cast member John Wood.[3].

The season premiered on April 1, 2006, with the show's 500th episode - Only The Lonely. The network chose to discount the pilot as an episode, advertising the season premiere as episode 499, and promoting the next episode - "Boss" - as the 500th. This episode focussed largely on Tom Croydon battling the news that he has prostate cancer. Ratings for these episodes were low, a standard which continued throughout the season.

Storylines for the final season included:

  • Alex dealing with his role as a father to son Rory,
  • Tom dealing with prostate cancer, and Inspector Falcon-Price's subsequent taking over of the station,
  • Falcon-Price's attempts to prove Tom is not up for the job,
  • Separate romances for Joss - with a pickpocket victim - and Kelly - with a rival lawyer - and their jealousy of each other,
  • Joss's growing gambling debts and the consequences, including being beaten up and becoming homeless,
  • The arrival in town of Joss's concerned mother,
  • The stabbing of Alex,
  • The return to town of ex-Constable Adam Cooper (Damian Walshe-Howling),
  • and the closing of the Mt. Thomas police station.

The 2 hour series finale, One Day More, aired on June 4 and a Sunday Night at 8.30 in a Prime Time-slot. The finale focused on Tom's attempts to reconnect with his family, and recover from his illness, whilst dealing with the fact that the Mt. Thomas police station may be closing down. It also featured the return of former cast member Damian Walshe-Howling.

Guest actors for the season included Roy Billing, Jacinta Stapleton, Elly Varrenti, Marcus Graham, Ian Roberts, Bernard Curry, Spencer McLaren, Kane Alexander and Joshua Lawson.

Two alternate endings were filmed for the finale, which wrapped filming on December 20, 2005. One ending was left open ended, to serve as a lead-in to a possible 14th season. The other ending wrapped up all the show's storylines. This second ending was used.[4]

Blue Heelers DVD release.
Blue Heelers DVD release.

Main Article: Blue Heelers DVD Releases

DVD seasons of Blue Heelers were first released in Australia in 2005-2006 using the Australian Region 4 DVD format. These were released in 5 or 6 disc box sets where each season was divided into two parts, with the exception of the first season which was released as one part. However the "seasons", as defined by the DVD releases, are markedly different to the original seasons as they aired on television. It appears that the episodes are being released according to what year the episodes were produced in, as opposed to the year they aired. In February 2007, Blue Heelers seasons 1-6 were released in full season box sets (10 or 11 discs) instead of the two parts as was done previously.

In October 2007, Paramount Home Entertainment stated that they were planning to release Season 7 of Blue Heelers and that they intended it to be released in March/April 2008. They stated that the reason for the delay was due to "contractual negotiations" with the actors of the series and the Seven Network. All negotiations have been resolved for the release of seasons 7-13.

At present, Blue Heelers DVD's are only available to retailers within Australia/New Zealand.

Blue Heelers Initial Season Release Dates for Australia (DVD)

DVD Name Release Date Episodes
Complete First Season November 2, 2005 Season 1 episodes 1 -> 17.
Complete Second Season December 1, 2005 Season 1 episodes 18 -> 45, Season 2 episodes 46 -> 54.
Complete Third Season February 16, 2006 Season 2 episodes 55 -> 86, Season 3 episodes 87 -> 96.
Complete Fourth Season April 6, 2006 Season 3 episodes 97 -> 128, Season 4 episodes 129 -> 139.
Complete Fifth Season June 8, 2006 Season 4 episodes 140 -> 170, Season 5 episodes 171 -> 181.
Complete Sixth Season August 10, 2006 Season 5 episodes 182 -> 211, Season 6 episodes 212 -> 223.
Complete Seventh Season March/April 2008 TBA

Blue Heelers has been the recipient of many awards over its years of broadcast, and has even been nominated for awards in 2007, when it was not actually in production[5][6]:

1995
Logie Awards

  • Winner — Most Popular New Talent — Lisa McCune

1996
Gold Logie Awards

  • Nominee — Most Popular Personality on Australian Television — Lisa McCune

Silver Logie Awards

  • Winner — Most Popular Actress — Lisa McCune

1997
Gold Logie Award

  • Winner — Most Popular Personality on Australian Television — Lisa McCune
  • Nominee — Most Popular Personality on Australian Television — John Wood

Silver Logie Awards

  • Nominee — Most Popular Actor — John Wood
  • Winner — Most Popular Actor — Martin Sacks
  • Winner — Most Popular Actress — Lisa McCune
  • Winner — Most Popular Series

Logie Awards

  • Winner — Most Popular New Talent — Tasma Walton

Outstanding Awards

  • Nominee — Most Outstanding Actor — William McInnes

AWGIE (Australian Writers' Guild) Awards

  • Winner — Television (Series): Blue Heelers: "Ep. 133: Reports Of Damage And Loss" — John Banas

1998
Gold Logie Award

  • Winner — Most Popular Personality on Australian Television — Lisa McCune
  • Nominee — Most Popular Personality on Australian Television — John Wood

Silver Logie Awards

  • Nominee — Most Popular Actor — John Wood
  • Winner — Most Popular Actor — Martin Sacks
  • Winner — Most Popular Actress — Lisa McCune
  • Winner — Most Popular Programme

Outstanding Awards

  • Nominee — Most Outstanding Actor — William McInnes

Australian Film Institute (AFI) Awards

  • Nominee — Best Episode in a Television Drama Series — Riccardo Pellizzeri (ep. 165)

People's Choice Awards

  • Winner — Favourite TV Star — Lisa McCune
  • Winner — Favourite TV Drama/Serial Star: Female — Lisa McCune
  • Winner — Favourite TV Drama Or Serial
  • Nominee — Favourite TV Drama/Serial Star: Male — John Wood
  • Nominee — Favourite TV Drama/Serial Star: Male — Martin Sacks)

1999
Gold Logie Award

  • Winner — Most Popular Personality on Australian Television — Lisa McCune
  • Nominee — Most Popular Personality on Australian Television — John Wood

Silver Logie Awards

  • Winner — Most Popular Actor — Martin Sacks
  • Winner — Most Popular Actress — Lisa McCune
  • Winner — Most Popular Programme
  • Nominee — Most Popular Actor — John Wood

Logie Awards

  • Nominee — Most Popular New Male Talent — Paul Bishop

Outstanding Awards

  • Winner — Most Outstanding Drama Series

People's Choice Awards

  • Winner — Favourite Actor in a Drama or Serial — Martin Sacks
  • Nominee — Favourite TV Drama or Serial
  • Nominee — Favourite TV Star — Lisa McCune
  • Nominee — Favourite Actor in a Drama or Serial — John Wood

2000
Gold Logie Award

  • Winner — Most Popular Personality on Australian Television — Lisa McCune
  • Nominee — Most Popular Personality on Australian Television — John Wood

Silver Logie Awards

  • Winner — Most Popular Actor — Martin Sacks
  • Winner — Most Popular Actress — Lisa McCune
  • Winner — Most Popular Programme
  • Nominee — Most Popular Actor — John Wood

Logie Awards

  • Winner — Most Popular New Talent — Jane Allsop

2001
Gold Logie Award

  • Nominee — Most Popular Personality on Australian Television — Lisa McCune
  • Nominee — Most Popular Personality on Australian Television — John Wood

Silver Logie Awards

  • Nominee — Most Popular Programme
  • Winner — Most Popular Actor — Martin Sacks
  • Nominee — Most Popular Actor — John Wood

Logie Awards

  • Nominee — Most Popular New Female Talent — Caroline Craig

Australian Film Institute (AFI) Awards

  • Winner — Best Actor in a Guest Role in a TV Drama Series — Gary Day (ep. 322)
  • Nominee — Best Actress in a Guest Role in a TV Drama Series — Carol Burns (ep. 297)

2002
Gold Logie Award

  • Nominee — Most Popular Personality on Australian Television — John Wood

Silver Logie Awards

  • Nominee — Most Popular Actor — John Wood
  • Nominee — Most Popular Programme

Logie Awards

  • Winner — Most Popular New Male Talent — Ditch Davey

AWGIE (Australian Writers' Guild) Awards

  • Nominee — Television (Series): Blue Heelers: "Ep. 177: Letting Go" — Tony Morphett

2003
Gold Logie Award

  • Nominee — Most Popular Personality on Australian Television — John Wood

Silver Logie Awards

  • Nominee — Most Popular Actor — John Wood
  • Nominee — Most Popular Australian Programme

2004
Gold Logie Award

  • Nominee — Most Popular Personality on Australian Television — John Wood

Silver Logie Awards

  • Nominee — Most Popular Australian Programme

Logie Awards

  • Nominee — Most Popular Australian Drama Series

2005
Gold Logie Award

  • Nominee — Most Popular Personality on Australian Television — John Wood

Silver Logie Awards

  • Nominee — Most Popular Programme
  • Winner — Most Popular Actor — John Wood
  • Nominee — Most Popular Actress — Jane Allsop

Logie Awards

  • Nominee — Most Popular New Female Talent — Rachel Gordon
  • Nominee — Most Popular Australian Drama Series
  • Nominee — Most Popular New Female Talent — Samantha Tolj

Australian Film Institute (AFI) Awards

  • Nominee — Best Television Drama Series

2006
Gold Logie Award

  • Winner — Most Popular Personality on Australian Television — John Wood

Silver Logie Awards

  • Winner — Most Popular Actor — John Wood

Logie Awards

  • Nominee — Most Popular Australian Drama Series

Outstanding Awards

  • Nominee — Most Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series — John Wood

Australian Film Institute (AFI) Awards

  • Winner — Best Guest or Supporting Actor in Television Drama — Marcus Graham (ep. 508)
  • Winner — Best Guest or Supporting Actress in Television Drama — Saskia Burmeister (ep. 493)
  • Nominee — Best Television Drama Series

Australian Screen Editors' Awards

  • Nominee — Nathan Wild

2007
Gold Logie Award

  • Nominee — Most Popular Personality on Australian Television — John Wood

Logie Awards

  • Nominee — Most Popular Australian Drama Series

Silver Logie Awards

  • Nominee — Most Popular Actor — John Wood

Blue Heelers re-runs air on The Hallmark Channel in Australia a 7.30pm. The series has also had international success including various regions of the United Kingdom where the series was broadcast on most stations on the ITV Network. Many companies tended to screen the show as hour-long episodes in the afternoon (occasionally with necessary edits to suit the time slot) whereas Central Television started with a late night 11.40pm slot before following other regions with a typically 2.20pm slot. For several periods, including the last batch of episodes that they ran, Carlton Television showed the episodes in two halves as was common with other Australian soap operas in London such as A Country Practice. Several regions including Yorkshire Television and Tyne Tees Television chose not to import the show and concentrated on Shortland Street instead. When the ITV contractors reformated as one company in 2002, regionally-run programmes such as Blue Heelers (which were at different points of the series in each region) disappeared from screens. No ITV region screened the series in full.

Irish broadcaster RTÉ originally aired Blue Heelers on Friday afternoons from 1994 - 2000. These episodes were one season (42 episodes approx.) behind the Australian broadcast. The series then took a break before re-commencing in a five-day-week timeslot at 10.30am in early 2002. As a result of the 5 episode a week output, the show was quickly catching up with the Australian broadcast once again. The show was then dropped back to the original one episode a week in 2004 and moved to a late night Thursday/early Friday morning timeslot, typically about 1:00am. Season 12 is currently being screened on RTÉ 1, as at October 2007. RTÉ has aired the series since 1994, in the original unedited version directly from Australia. It proves very popular in Ireland and rates very well.

The show also aired on UK cable channel Carlton Select in the late '90s, stripping the early episodes daily, and then in a weekly slot Fridays at 8pm as episodes became more recent. They showed episodes through the later part of the 1997 season, before dropping the series. It is entirely possible the channel intended to bring the series back after a break, however it ceased broadcasting in 2000.

Blue Heelers aired briefly in the U.S. in the early 2000's on the short-lived cable channel, Trio TV (carried primarily by Direct TV). No episode after 76 was ever shown in the United States and when Trio changed their programming in 2004, Blue Heelers was dropped from the schedule.


ITV Region
Programme Schedule Pattern
Start Date
Days Screened
End Date
Central Television February 1995 Tuesdays, 23.40-00.35, from February 1995 effectively replacing the repeat run of Prisoner which was cancelled after episode 95 in January. Blue Heelers was not particularly successful in this timeslot and it moved to Monday afternoons from July 1995 at 1350-1450. Then half-hour episodes on Thursdays and Fridays at 1450-1520 from 1998. Last episodes screened on Central were from Season 6 (1999), still in the edited half-hour format. 2002 (around episode 220)
Yorkshire Television (YTV) Never bought Never screened Never screened
Granada Television  ???  ???  ???
Meridian Television  ??? Typically Mondays at 14.20; some episodes also aired in a morning slot during school holidays  ???
Westcountry Television Tuesday 3 January 1995 14.50 Mondays to Wednesdays at 14.50 from January 1995 for half episodes. Then ???  ???
Channel Television As Meridian As Meridian As Meridian
Carlton Television Tuesday 3 January 1995 14.50 Mondays to Wednesdays at 14.50 from January 1995 for two-part half hour episodes. Then switched to 14.20 on Mondays for hour-long episodes for much of the regions run, then ??(several day changes, later reverting back to two-part half hour episodes)?? 2002 (mid-Season 7)
Anglia Television  ???  ???  ???
Tyne Tees Television Never bought Never screened Never screened
Scottish Television (STV)  ??? Hour-long episodes, airing on Fridays after Home and Away, and then replacing A Country Practice on Tuesdays. Dropped after episode 106 for more repeats of Murder, She Wrote.  ???
Grampian Television  ???  ???  ???
HTV Wales  ???  ???  ???
HTV West ??? ??? ???
Border Television  ???  ???  ???
Ulster Television (UTV) Early 1995 Initially 3 times a week. Monday, Wednesday & Friday afternoons at 1.50pm after Home and Away. Then moved to 2.20pm slot later in the series, a few episodes also ran at 11.40pm on Thursday nights as they were considered unsuitable for daytime viewing. 1998

  1. ^ http://www.televisionau.siv.net.au/copshows.htm
  2. ^ http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/blue-heelers-axed/2006/01/13/1137118960344.html
  3. ^ a b http://entertainment.news.com.au/story/0,10221,17815626-10229,00.html
  4. ^ http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/axe-falls-on-blue-heelers-sevens-institution/2006/01/13/1137118970295.html 2
  5. ^ http://imdb.com/title/tt0108709/awards
  6. ^ http://australiantelevision.net/bh/awards.html

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