australian television information archive

A Good Toss To Lose

Episode 1
Thu, September 07, 2017
Written by John Banas
Directed by Riccardo Pellizzeri

The true story of Mike Bungay QC. A walking disaster to many and a genius to others, he would become one of the most flamboyant and outrageous characters of New Zealand legal history.

After overcoming a tortured past, Mike Bungay gets out of the army and decides to go to law school based on the results of a coin toss. Along the way to becoming a successful criminal barrister in New Zealand, he makes enemies defending alleged murderers, seducing women, and overdrinking.

Starring: Mark Mitchinson as Mike Bungay

With: Erroll Shand as Jim Larsen, Kate Elliott as Beverley, Coen Falke as Jim O'Donovan, Emmett Skilton as Bruce Peterson, Peter Feeney as Justice Oldfield, Jimmy Hazelwood as Young Mike Bungay, Arlo MacDiarmid as Ian Grieg, Adam Gardiner as Richard Savage, Katherine Kennard as Trish Walkley, Ella Becroft as Rosemary, Colin Garlick as Stuart McEwan, Ryan Wolf as Tim Castle, Matthew Arbuckle as Dean Wickliffe, Sheena Irving as Mrs Bungay, Mark Clare as Blitz Dad, Roy Ward as Justice Scully, David Capstick as Commanding Officer, Nick Bell-Booth as Andre Miet, Katy Beasley as Shirley Smith, Edwin Wright as Mike's Father, Max Crosby as Mikey Bungay (6 yrs), Matt Chamberlain as Snr Sgt Jock Latimer, Charles Pierard as Chief Justice, Phillip Brooks as Coach, Paul McLaughlin as Peter Doone, Jay Saussey as Joy McEwan; Lauren Porteous as Lillian Carlin,

I Spy

Episode 2
Thu, September 14, 2017
Written by John Banas
Directed by Riccardo Pellizzeri

In the midst of his marriage breaking down, Mike takes on a very high-profile case defending Bill Sutch, the first man in New Zealand to be accused of spying, a case that will propel him to even greater fame as his drinking and personal life begin to take their toll. Despite being busy with the biggest trial of his career, Mike also agrees to help a woman charged with murder.

With: Erroll Shand as Jim Larsen, Kate Elliott as Beverley, Katherine Kennard as Trish Walkley, Peter Feeney as Justice Oldfield, Arlo MacDiarmid as Ian Grieg, Adam Gardiner as Richard Savage, Emmett Skilton as Bruce Peterson, Peter Elliott as Justice Beattie, David Aston as Bill Sutch, Katy Beasley as Shirley Smith, Jamus Webster as Jimmy Reha, Taylor Barrett as Mark Harkin, Toby Leach as Mr. X, Florence Nobel as Female Witness, Awhina-Rose Ashby as Esther Solvoll, James Tito as Paul Manihera, Rowan Bettjeman as Mr. S, Brett Coutts as D.I. Baker, Colin Francis as Judge

Dog Days

Episode 3
Thu, September 21, 2017
Written by John Banas
Directed by John Laing

Mike draws ire from a feminist group after employing morally dubious techniques to defend a gynecologist accused of rape during an exam. On the home front, Mike's philandering gets him in trouble with the women in his life.

With: Erroll Shand as Jim Larsen, Emmett Skilton as Bruce Peterson, Peter Elliott as Justice Beattie, Peter Feeney as Justice Oldfield, Katherine Kennard as Trish Walkley, Arlo MacDiarmid as Ian Grieg, Adam Gardiner as Richard Savage, Coen Falke as Jim O'Donovan, Colin Garlick as Stuart McEwan, Ryan Wolf as Tim Castle, Liesha Ward Knox as Sally Burke, Sphia Huybens as Janice Covington, Eryn Wilson as Erich Geiringer, Jess Sayer as Female WItness, Jocelyn Christian as Leigh Minnitt, Phil Brown as Dr Alex Rutherford, Roy Ward as Justice Scully, Nick Miller as Sheriff, Shoshana McCallum as Ellie Bonham, Ascia Maybury as Carol Shand, Ross Brannigan as David Minnitt, Francis Mountjoy as Dr. Alan Fraser, Jay Saussey as Joy McEwan

Family Matters

Episode 4
Thu, September 28, 2017
Written by John Banas
Directed by John Laing

Working with a group of other lawyers, Mike takes on a complicated gang-violence case, but his strategy relies on all of the defendants telling the same story. After writing a book, Mike becomes a political candidate for the New Zealand Party.

With: Erroll Shand as Jim Larsen, Emmett Skilton as Bruce Peterson, Colin Garlick as Stuart McEwan, Liesha Ward Knox as Sally Burke, Grae Burton as Roy Stacey, Arlo MacDiarmid as Ian Grieg, Adam Gardiner as Richard Savage, Coen Falke as Jim O'Donovan, Peter Feeney as Justice Oldfield, Rory Nolan as Mike Antonovic, Kevin Keys as Brian McClelland, Niwa Whatuira as Stewart Puha, Dominic Ona-Ariki as Bob Thompson, Tim Beveridge as Bob Jones, Sally Stockwell as Ronda Morgan, Gabrielle Henderson as Pam Arnold, Tom Kane as Dr Bridge, Scott Harding as Dr. Simpson, Billie McKessar as Natalie Morgan, Mark Ruka as Matt Ruahine, Teone Kahu as Morrison, Julian Wilson as Brian Edwards, Greg Smith as Raincoat Man, Bruce Hopkins as Thomas Richards, Ross McKellar as D.S.S. Quinn, Finch Ward as Chad Morgan

Three's A Crowd

Episode 5 (finale)
Thu, October 05, 2017
Written by John Banas, Ande Cunningham
Directed by Matthew J Saville & Riccardo Pellizzeri

Mike defends someone charged with murdering a man found with gunshot wounds on either side of his head, but both of those accused say the other did the crime. Mike continues to try to woo Ronda, even though she is married with kids, and brings her in to help with the case. Mike goes all out to win Ronda over only to discover that his flaws won't vanish because he's found love.

With: Sally Stockwell as Ronda Morgan, David Van Horn as Simon Moore, Catriona Toop as Milene Morgan, Paul Glover as Alistair Barr, Cameron Rhodes as Lindsay Moorcroft, Adam Gardiner as Richard Savage, Gareth Williams as Jack Anderson, Aaron McGregor as Richard Morgan, Dahnu Graham as Gibson Grace, Mick Innes as Gary Oldham, John Leigh as David Morris, Scott Wills as Peter Williams, Aaron Jackson as Larry Morgan, Billie McKessar as Natalie Morgan, John Sumner as JP, Russell Dixon as Court Officer, Beth Allen as Anne Chalmers, Finch Ward as Chad Morgan, Paul Harrop as Det. Brian, Jaya Beach-Robertson as Female Witness