australian television information archive

Serangoon Road

1964-65. Singapore is a city at a crossroads. Political and racial tensions are at fever pitch as the British pull out, and a new nation is about to be born. The lights of Bugis Street have never burned so bright: bootleg copies of Motown songs boom out from street stalls; the Rolling Stones are in town along with tourists and American sailors fresh from Vietnam. They join British and Australian soldiers checking out the prostitutes and gambling dens en route to their own war in Borneo.

The famous Straits are filled with ships from around the world; and militant union demonstrations and race riots sweep the streets. The Cold War is hot in the tropics; Chinese gangs prosper; and people die as the city is hit by terrorist bombs.

The Malayan Emergency is over but has added new scars to the memories of colonial rule and the Japanese occupation during WW2. The sun may have set on the Empire, but British and Australian troops are still in the middle of an intense four-year jungle war in neighbouring Borneo, while in one year, terrorists will set off more than 29 bombs in Singapore itself. And then there are the Americans, and that war in Vietnam.

This is the city of Sam Callaghan (Don Hany), Patricia Cheng (Joan Chen), the CIA's Conrad Harrison (Michael Dorman) and the clients of the Cheng Detective Agency.

Sam Callaghan runs a sporadic import/export business with his Malayan partner Kang, but agrees to help neighbour Patricia Cheng at her detective agency after her husband is killed while working on a case. Patricia may not be a detective, but she knows she needs a good investigator with contacts in the Chinese and Malay communities, as well as among US/British ex-pats. Sam is all of that. But, after a childhood in a POW camp and a chequered career in military intelligence during the Malay Emergency, he is also carrying a lot of baggage.

However, he does enjoy a mutually satisfactory and discreet relationship with Claire Simpson (Maeve Dermody), the lonely and bored wife of an ex-pat oil company executive.

This then starts for Sam, as a case-by-case part-time job, and eventually he is effectively working almost full-time at the Cheng Detective Agency. The agency's cases range from the usual (straying spouses and petty fraudsters) to events with international implications and complications. Sam's contacts from his military days are useful — but they start to drag him back into a dark world that he would prefer to leave behind.

Episode 1

Sunday, September 22, 2013 (ABC1/HBO Asia)
UK: Wednesday, April 09, 2014
Ratings: 720,000 viewers (11th)
Written by Michaeley O'Brien
Directed by Peter Andrikidis

The Cheng Detective Agency is hired by the CIA to investigate the murder of a US sailor, and Sam Callaghan is asked to help out as a favour to the widowed owner, Patricia. But as Sam tries to save the life of an innocent man, he is forced to revisit memories of killing a childhood friend during the second World war.

• Starring:
• Don Hany as Sam Callaghan,
• Joan Chen as Patricia Cheng,
• Maeve Dermody as Claire Simpson,
• Alaric Tay as Kang,
• Michael Dorman as Conrad Harrison,
• Pamelyn Chee as Chen Su Ling,
• Chin Han as Kay Song

• With:
• Jeremy L Taylor as Frank Simpson,
• Wendy Toh as Joo Ee,
• Ario Bayu as Inspector Amran,
• Tony Martin as Bruce "Macca" MacDonald,
• Ted Maynard as Bill "Wild Bill" Thomas Jr,
• Zhang Wei as Uncle Weng,
• P.J. Lane as Ferguson,
• Dwayne Tan as Marlena,
• Cleave Williams as Nate Crosby,
• Jordan Prainito as Daniel Maholovich,
• Shane Briant as Major Lawrence Miller,
• Beatrice Chien as Kok Tao Aunty,
• Aizuddiin Nasser as Tommy,
• Rachael Blake as Lady Tuckworth,
• Paul Foster as Malone,
• Nelson Clemente as Westaway,
• Craig Hallam as Kinsella,
• Julian Feder as Young Sam,
• Jacob Pasterfield Kemp as Dutch Boy,
• Hendy as Croupier,
• CatsinECradle as Band

Episode 2

Sun, September 29, 2013
Ratings: 507,000 viewers (15th)
Written by Michaeley O'Brien
Directed by Peter Andrikidis

Forced to flee to China during the Japanese occupation, a woman returns to Singapore looking for her husband whom she has not seen since the war. No one is certain that he was still alive, yet Sam and Patricia, both of whom know what it is like to lose loved ones agree to help solve this mystery of Feng's husband. The case then gets more convoluted when Feng is mysteriously poisoned.

• With:
• Jeremy L Taylor as Frank Simpson,
• Ario Bayu as Inspector Amran,
• Lim Kay Tong as Tiger General,
• Tony Martin as Bruce "Macca" MacDonald,
• Nicholas Bell as Maxwell Black,
• Beatrice Chien as Kok Tao Aunty,
• Xiang Yun as Feng,
• Tan Kheng Hua as Artik,
• Adeline Pang as Li-Fen,
• Bernard Tan as Zhang Hang/Chan Li
• Rachael Blake as Lady Tuckworth,
• Aizuddiin Nasser as Tommy,
• Rajamanickam Varadarajan as Gautam,
• Charlie Goh as Street Seller,
• Qian Er as Vege Stall Holder,
• Henry Heng as Chinese Man,
• Johari Ferhad as Javanese Man,
• Koh Kok Leong as Sineeh,
• Goh Jianping as Marine Police Officer,
• Rinto as Dumboat Captian,
• CatsinECradle as Band

Episode 3

Sun, October 06, 3013
Ratings: 420,000 viewers (16th)
Written by Christopher D Hawkshaw
Directed by Peter Andrikidis

While delivering some photographs to a client, Patricia gets hurt when caught up in a major riot sweeping through the streets of Singapore. She is taken to safety by a Malay photo journalist named Hafiz. After realizing that her photographs were stolen, it dawns on her that this was a deliberate attack. Soon after, Hafiz is accused of being involved with the riots, and Patricia and Sam work to prove his innocence. The trail leads them to a secret MI6/Special Branch operation against subversives.

• With:
• Edmund Chen as James Lim
• Jeremy L Taylor as Frank Simpson,
• Wendy Toh as Joo Ee,
• Ario Bayu as Inspector Amran,
• Tony Martin as Bruce "Macca" MacDonald,
• Ted Maynard as Bill "Wild Bill" Thomas Jr,
• Zhang Wei as Uncle Weng,
• Osman Sulaiman as Hafiz bin Ariffin,
• Shane Briant as Major Lawrence Miller,
• Kerry Clendinnen as Lynette Northcote,
• Melody Chen as Mei Ling,
• Grace Chong as Lanfen,
• Priscelia Chan as Susannah Chang,
• William Lawandi as Tan Lew Leong,
• Rachael Blake as Lady Tuckworth,
• Peter Powell as Radio (voiceover)

Episode 4

Sun, October 13, 3013
Written by Tony Morphett
Directed by Peter Andrikidis

While trying to sort out Kang's gambling debts, Sam is reluctantly drawn into the detective agency's investigation of whether Claire Simpson's husband, Frank, has been accepting kickbacks from clients. If the allegation is proven to be true, Frank's boss, Maxwell Black, will kick Frank out of the company and Singapore, separating and Sam and Claire forever.

• With:
• Jeremy L Taylor as Frank Simpson,
• Tony Martin as Bruce "Macca" MacDonald,
• Nicholas Bell as Maxwell Black,
• Zhang Wei as Uncle Weng,
• Beatrice Chien as Kok Tao Aunty,
• Shane Briant as Major Lawrence Miller,
• Rachael Blake as Lady Tuckworth,
• Aizuddiin Nasser as Tommy,
• Rajamanickam Varadarajan as Gautam,
• Jerry Hoh as Harry Wong,
• Christian Matthew Wong as Kid Pickpocket,
• Randall Tan as Fung Tao,
• Timothy Nga as as Jimmy Liu,
• Edmund Toh as Henry Tan,
• Socratis Otto as Peter Watson,
• Louis Tan as Jeweller

Episode 5

October 20, 3013
Ratings: 390,000 viewers ()
Written by Michaeley O'Brien
Directed by Peter Andrikidis

When Claire discovers that the medicine given by Maxwell Black's company to children at a small village hospital is not working, she insists that the company investigate the problem. Sam somehow manages to prove that the genuine drugs are being diluted. He also goes on to find out that families will eventually turn to expensive black market substitutes when they realize the ineffectiveness of the hospital medicine. Further investigations help Sam to recognize that this is all part of an elaborate scam run by the Secret Society.

• With:
• Tony Martin as Bruce "Macca" MacDonald,
• Nicholas Bell as Maxwell Black,
• Zhang Wei as Uncle Weng,
• Ario Bayu as Inspector Amran,
• Jeremy L Taylor as Frank Simpson,
• Shane Briant as Major Lawrence Miller,
• Rachael Blake as Lady Tuckworth,
• Kerry Clendinnen as Lynette Northcote,
• Grace Chong as Lanfen,
• Nurul Huda as Nurse,
• Umar Allhattab as Amir

Note: due to the poor ratings, ABC has shifted Serangoon Road to Friday nights at 9:25 beginning November 01.

Episode 6

Aus: Friday, November 01, 3013 (9:27)
HBO Asia: Sunday, October 27, 3013
Written by Margaret Wilson
Directed by Tony Tilse

When a newborn baby is left on the doorstep of the Cheng Detective Agency, Patricia and Sam try to figure out what they are to do with him. Patricia also receives a package containing Winston's fob watch, which was believed to be stolen when he was murdered. Meanwhile, Su Ling confronts her fear and desire over her relationship with Conrad, and Kang strikes a deal with the Devil.

• With:
• Kay Tong Lim as Tiger General,
• Zhang Wei as Uncle Weng,
• Ario Bayu as Inspector Amran,
• Wendy Toh as Joo Ee,
• Beatrice Chien as Kok Tao Aunty,
• Melody Chen as Mei Ling,
• Julian Feder as Young Sam,
• Lim Shi-An as Hue-Lin,
• Melissa Faith Yeo as Shuang,
• Valentina Barron as Rose Cartwright,
• Lily Ong as Amah,
• Julian Low as David,
• Gerald Chew as David's Father,
• Valentine Payen as Sam's Mother,
• Angel/Bilal as Hue-Lin's Baby,
• CatsinECradle as Band,
• Jeff Zhen as Geo Yi,
• Douglas Lam as Yam,
• Chen An An as Chinese Boy,
• Faizal Razali as Screaming Man

Episode 7

Aus: Friday, November 08, 3013
HBO Asia: November 03, 3013
Written by Justin Monjo
Directed by Tony Tilse

Caught transporting explosives, Kang will face the gallows if Sam is unable to track down the truth about Lim Chee Kit, a leading trade unionist whose organization is suspected of being involved in a recent bombing. The case is further convoluted because Chee Kit's brother, James, is a well-connected businessman with political aspirations. Although he disagrees with Chee Kit's politics, James hires Sam and the agency to find and help his estranged brother before the police arrest him.

• With:
• Edmund Chen as James Lim,
• Ario Bayu as Inspector Amran,
• Zhang Wei as Uncle Weng,
• Wendy Toh as Joo Ee,
• Jeremy L Taylor as Frank Simpson,
• Tony Martin as Bruce 'Macca' MacDonald,
• Aizuddiin Nasser as Tommy,
• Shane Briant as Major Lawrence Miller,
• Ted Maynard as Bill "Wild Bill" Thomas Jr,
• Ella Scott Lynch as Angelica Warnock,
• Rachael Blake as Lady Tuckworth,
• Kerry Clendinnen as Lynette Northcote,
• Jason Chong as Lim Chee Kit,
• Joshua Tan as Felix Yao,
• Jeff Zhen as Gao Yi,
• Douglas Lam as Yam,
• Antony as Police Captain,
• Daniel Milton as Uniformed Cop,
• Haffiz as Tail (Motorcycle)

Episode 8

Aus: Friday, November 15, 3013
HBO Asia: November 10, 3013
Written by Kym Goldsworthy, Timothy Lee with Andrew Ngin Chiang Meng
Directed by Tony Tilse

Sam agrees to investigate on the disappearance of two Australian girls from a freighter at the Singapore harbour. The investigation leads him into Singapore's criminal underworld and Sam gets involved in a dangerous game that could cost the girls their lives. Meanwhile, Patricia is confronted by a painful truth of Winston's past. Miller forces Conrad into going double, while Sam and Claire's relationship gets pushed to a breaking point.

• With:
• Rachael Blake as Lady Tuckworth,
• Ella Scott Lynch as Angelica Warnock,
• Tim Draxl as Stuart Anderson,
• Aizuddiin Nasser as Tommy,
• Melody Chen as Mei Ling,
• Siobhan Dow-Hall as Camilla Edquist,
• Sophie Hennser as Gina Kershaw,
• Benj Daddario as Captain Les Collins,
• Luke Hewitt as Jack,
• Fish Chaar as Hawk,
• Edmund Toh as Henry Tan,
• Wong Weihong as Winston's son,
• Owen Lee as Messenger Boy,
• Beatrice Chien as Kok Tao Aunty [uncredited]

Episode 9

Aus: Friday, November 22, 3013
HBO Asia: November 17, 3013
Written by Michaeley O'Brien
Directed by Tony Tilse

When Sam goes out on a limb for an ex-World War II Australian soldier who had been accused of murder, no one understands why he is so adamant on the man's innocence — least of all Macca, who had been in love with the girl who was murdered. Either gaol the accused man for life or Sam has just made a very big mistake about his hero and friend.

• With:
• Ernie Dingo as Robbo,
• Zhang Wei as Uncle Weng,
• Ario Bayu as Inspector Amran,
• Wendy Toh as Joo Ee,
• Beatrice Chien as Kok Tao Aunty,
• Tony Martin as Bruce 'Macca' MacDonald,
• Shane Briant as Major Lawrence Miller,
• Ted Maynard as Bill "Wild Bill" Thomas Jr,
• Rachael Blake as Lady Tuckworth,
• Geoff Morrell as Sir Phillip Tuckworth,
• Ella Scott Lynch as Angelica Warnock,
• Aizuddiin Nasser as Tommy,
• Daryl D'Cotta as Lee Kum Fong,
• Clarence Ryan as Young Robbo,
• Julian Feder as Young Sam,
• Syaziy Kapoor as Spiker,
• Alvin Richard as Lionel Cheong

Episode 10

Aus: Friday, November 29, 3013
HBO Asia: November 24, 3013
Written by Michaeley O'Brien
Directed by Tony Tilse

Sam is on the brink of discovering the truth behind the murder of Patricia's husband — a murder that involves a secret deal between James Lim, Kay Song and the CIA. But is he obsessed with solving this case in order to avoid facing the fact that he might lose Claire forever?

• With:
• Russell Wong as Winston Cheng
• Edmund Chen as James Lim,
• Lim Kay Tong as Tiger General,
• Zhang Wei as Uncle Weng,
• Ario Bayu as Inspector Amran,
• Jeremy Lindsay Taylor as Frank Simpson,
• Wendy Toh as Joo Ee,
• Priscelia Chan as Susannah Chong,
• Shane Briant as Major Lawrence Miller,
• Ted Maynard as Bill ("Wild Bill") Thomas Jr,
• Rachael Blake as Lady Tuckworth,
• Melody Chen as Mei Ling,
• Aizuddiin Nasser as Tommy,
• Daryl D'Cotta as Lee Kum Fong,
• Jason Chong as Chee Kit,
• Wong Weihong as Winston's Son