Heat (2023 TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television production |
| Founded | 2023 |
| Founder | Jason Herbison |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia / United Kingdom |
Key people | Jason Herbison (creator), Kate Kendall (director), Natalie Mandel (producer) |
| Products | Television drama series |
| Parent | Fremantle Australia, Channel 5, Network 10 |
Heat is an action-thriller television series co-produced by British and Australian companies, created by Jason Herbison and directed by Kate Kendall. The show was broadcast over four consecutive nights beginning 11 July 2023 on Channel 5 in the United Kingdom, and later premiered on Network 10 in Australia on 4 October 2023. The storyline follows two families spending their holiday amid the Australian bushfire season. Leading roles are portrayed by Danny Dyer, Darren McMullen, Pia Miranda, and Jane Allsop. Filming occurred in late 2022 across locations in Melbourne and the rural areas of Victoria.
Plot
Set during the height of Australia's bushfire season, the series focuses on Steve (Dyer) and Brad's (McMullen) families as they come together for their yearly getaway in the Victorian highlands, where concealed truths begin to surface.
Cast
- Danny Dyer as Steve Cameron
- Darren McMullen as Brad Fisher
- Pia Miranda as Sarah Cameron
- Jane Allsop as Louise Fisher
- Matia Marks as Mia Cameron
- Richie Morris as Jet Calloway
- Matteo Annetta as Tom Cameron
- Hunter Hayden as Kip Fisher
- Olympia Valance as Sergeant Demi Angelos
Production
Following the success of Lie With Me (2021), Heat was commissioned alongside Riptide and produced by Fremantle Australia in collaboration with Network Ten for Channel 5. The series was conceived by Jason Herbison and produced by Natalie Mandel, featuring scripts written by Herbison, Margaret Wilson, and Anthony Ellis. Herbison commended the talented ensemble cast and production crew, while Channel 5 commissioning editor Greg Barnett described the show as "a suspense-filled and gripping thriller."
The casting announcement came in November 2022. British actor Danny Dyer takes on the role of Steve Cameron, an expatriate who moved to Australia with his close friend Brad, played by Scottish actor Darren McMullen. This marks Dyer’s first acting project following his departure from the soap opera EastEnders. He praised the script’s intelligence and appreciated collaborating with a skilled Australian cast and crew. Pia Miranda plays Sarah Cameron, Steve’s wife; Matteo Annetta and Matia Marks portray their children Tom and Mia respectively, with Mia harboring suspicions about her father’s fidelity. Jane Allsop appears as Louise, Brad’s wife, while Hunter Hayden plays their son Kip. Additional cast includes Olympia Valance as Sergeant Angelos and Richie Morris as Jet Calloway.
Under Kate Kendall’s direction, filming commenced in mid-November 2022 and concluded by early December. Shooting locations encompassed Melbourne, Plenty Gorge Park, and regional Victoria. The production received financial support from VicScreen. Promotional stills were unveiled in February 2023, followed by a teaser trailer released in March. The series debuted on Channel 5 in July 2023 and is scheduled to air on Network 10 in Australia from October 2023.
Reception
Critical response to Heat was mixed. James Jackson of The Times awarded it three out of five stars, describing it as "the latest thriller to rot your brain over four nights." Hollie Richardson of The Guardian highlighted Danny Dyer’s "cockney-geezer charm" as a standout element within an otherwise average thriller.
Gerard Gilbert from I also gave the series three stars, labeling it "laughably unsubtle" yet "unexpectedly addictive – tightly woven plotlines complemented by the looming threat of bushfires." He noted that Dyer’s background in soap operas made his performance initially seem "somewhat stiff," but ultimately praised the show as "an engaging experience with a refreshingly unique and relevant setting," especially considering Australia’s ongoing climate challenges.
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- 2023 British television series debuts
- 2023 British television series conclusions
- 2020s British drama TV series
- 2023 Australian television series debuts
- 2023 Australian television series conclusions
- 2020s Australian drama TV series
- Television productions set in Melbourne
- Network 10 original content
- British English-language TV shows
- Television episodes authored by Jason Herbison
- Television series produced by Fremantle (company)
- Television episodes directed by Kate Kendall
- Network 10 original programming