FED: Sea Patrol keeps on rolling

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2010
FED: Sea Patrol keeps on rolling

By Katherine Field, National Entertainment Writer

SYDNEY, April 12 AAP - Navy action drama Sea Patrol returns for a fourth series this
week, and if producers and actors have their way it'll keep going for at least another
six years.

Original cast member Ian Stenlake, who plays commanding officer Mike Flynn, says he's
delighted the show has maintained its success over the years.

He'd like to see it keep going, with producers and writers having mapped out a 10-year
plan for the series.

"That would be awesome," Stenlake told AAP.

"It would be very difficult to leave. It's such a good time to be involved."

Also starring Lisa McCune, the series set aboard a fictional Australian naval vessel,
HMAS Hammersley, has been a solid ratings winner for the Nine Network.

Stenlake says he believes audiences have kept tuning in year after year, because the
series is "completely unique" but not "far fetched" - largely thanks to assistance from
the Royal Australian Navy.

"They have a major input," Stenlake says.

"Right from the script development, right from the start, there's someone with the
writers the whole time."

On occasion, Stenlake admits the navy has stepped in to stop some stunts, but he says
the TV crews are very respectful of its authority.

"We have a navy liaison on set every day, and we can always make phone calls if we
need to, which we do," he says.

"Because we want to represent these guys as accurately as possible, without forgetting
the fact that it's drama, and we can take licence occasion."

The upcoming series, which moves from Mondays to the Thursday 8.30pm timeslot, was
shot over five months, near Mission Beach in far north Queensland and on the Gold Coast.

The series has been extended by three episodes to 16 and will introduce three new cast
members including former Home and Away actor Conrad Coleby, who plays Petty Officer Dylan
"Dutchy" Mulholland.

Stenlake, who's been with the show from the beginning, says he believes this series
is better than ever.

"Series four, it's just bigger, it's better, and I don't know how but we managed to
have a lot more fun," Stenlake says.

"We've had some brilliant people come and work with us, and I think it looks good, too."



* The fourth series of Sea Patrol will premiere on the Nine Network at 8.30pm on April 15.

AAP kaf/nf/jl

KEYWORD: PATROL (WITH PIX)

2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.