The Strip: articles


The Strip on location on the Gold Coast soon

IT'S Underbelly with a seachange. At least that's what the suits at the Nine Network are no doubt hoping for yet-to-be-filmed Gold Coast crime series The Strip.

As gangland ratings hit Underbelly wraps up tonight, the network's cameras are already swinging from the mean streets of Melbourne to the dark side of the sunny state. Filming of the first episode of The Strip begins on location on the Coast on May 19.

The 13-episode drama centres on members of a crime investigation unit. Heading the cast are Aaron Jeffery (McLeod's Daughters), Simone McAullay (Blue Heelers), Vanessa Gray and Bob Morely.

"We've always wanted to film on the Gold Coast — it's a spectacular landscape and very cinematic. You couldn't find a better setting," co-producer Steve Knapman said.

Except, that is, the streets of Melbourne, where Underbelly was shot. The series, based on real-life underworld identities and events, has upped the ante on viewers' expectations of locally produced TV crime dramas.

Nine's Brisbane program manager Kylie Blucher said the reaction to Underbelly had been staggering and it remained to be seen whether The Strip could replicate that success.

"We're hopeful of creating another great Australian drama," she said. "Queenslanders love seeing things produced in Queensland, so that's a good start."

The Hollowmen, Wednesday, 9.30pm, ABC1.

Phil Bartsch
May 07, 2008
The Courier-Mail