Underbelly: The Golden Mile
Encyclopedia
Underbelly: The Golden Mile is a 13-part Australian television mini-series loosely based on real events that stemmed from the nightclub scene of the Sydney suburb of Kings Cross
. The timeline of the series is the years between 1988 and 1999. it primarily depicts the running of Kings Cross and the corruption of police leading up to the 1995 Wood Royal Commission
. The mini-series is a prequel to the 2008 production Underbelly
, which was about the Melbourne gangland killings
and a sequel to the 2009 production Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities
which forms part of the Underbelly series
. Among the characters presented are John Ibrahim
, Kim Hollingsworth
, George Freeman
, Lenny McPherson
and MP John Hatton
. Some of the characters, particularly those of the NSW Police, reprise their roles from Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities.
The series premiered on the Nine Network
on 11 April 2010 at 8.30 pm, with the double episode premiere attracting an average of 2.23 million viewers nationally, in the mainland capitals. The series also premiered on TV3
in New Zealand on Wednesday 5 May 2010 at 8:30 pm.
Underbelly: The Golden Mile was the 3rd in the Underbelly series and was followed by Underbelly: Razor
As the series progresses George Freeman dies from an asthma attack and a young woman named Kim Hollingsworth appears. The series explains Kim's story from being an ordinary social worker to becoming a prostitute. In the centre of the series, the Wood Royal Commission into Police Corruption takes place naming corrupt police officers particularly in the Kings Cross station. Trevor Haken becomes an informant during the commission helping the officials blow the lid on corrupt officers in Kings Cross while his family life is torn apart. The other detectives are all exposed and Jim Egan commits suicide. Meanwhile in the Kings Cross scene. John Ibrahim has become a notable figure in the cross after being acquitted of an assault charge and a stable of new characters including Danny "DK" Karam appear.
Kim Hollingsworth decides to apply to the police force after helping them during the Royal Commission but her application is rejected after her previous employment history as a prostitute is revealed. Near the end of the series. Dennis Kelly applies to become Police Commissioner but after his past is exposed he is rejected for the position. In Kim's life, she decides to sue the NSW Police Force and she wins though she never receives a major payout. In the Cross scene since the Royal Commission the Golden Mile has plunged into chaos and violence. A task force called Strike Force Lancer is set up to investigate organised crime in Kings Cross. A new set of characters mainly convicted murderer Michael Kanaan appear. Danny Karam has formed a gang as he wants to take control of the cross from John Ibrahim. Michael Kannan becomes a member of this group and they all eventually decide to murder DK and attempt to take control for themselves, their violence escalates with kneecappings to an eventual shootout at one of John Ibrahim's nightclubs. The task force eventually close in on Kanaan and arrest him and his gang.
The series ending shows that Kim is currently living a normal secluded life in the rural areas of New South Wales while peace has been restored to Kings Cross with the police and bikies saying to John that they will always watch his back which makes John Ibrahim left as the undisputed King of the Cross. Underbelly: Razor
is the next instalment in the Underbelly series.
On 25 May 2010, Hatfield lodged a defamation lawsuit with the NSW Supreme Court against the Nine Network, TCN Nine Network Sydney and the producers, Screentime. She believed that she was defamed in episode 6, "Women In Uniform", arguing that the depiction of the character of Wendy Jones, which is allegedly based on her, engaged in an affair with Ibrahim had defamed her and caused her "to be bought into hatred, ridicule and contempt" and "gravely injured her character". The case is due to be heard on 22 June.
On 21 December 2010 Hatfield succeeded in a defamation suit against the publishers of Underbelly: The Golden Mile, the tie-in book to the series, being awarded $59,000 in damages.
Kings Cross, New South Wales
Kings Cross is an inner-city locality of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located approximately 2 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Sydney...
. The timeline of the series is the years between 1988 and 1999. it primarily depicts the running of Kings Cross and the corruption of police leading up to the 1995 Wood Royal Commission
Royal Commission into the New South Wales Police Service
The Royal Commission into the New South Wales Police Service was held in the State of New South Wales, Australia between 1995 and 1997. The Royal Commissioner was Justice James Roland Wood...
. The mini-series is a prequel to the 2008 production Underbelly
Underbelly (TV series)
Underbelly is a 13-part Australian television mini-series that retells the real events of the 1995–2004 gangland war in Melbourne, and is the first series in the larger Underbelly Franchise. It depicts the key players in Melbourne's criminal underworld, including the Carlton Crew and their rival,...
, which was about the Melbourne gangland killings
Melbourne gangland killings
The Melbourne gangland killings were the murders in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia of 36 criminal figures or partners between 16 January 1998 and 13 August 2010. The murders were in a series of retributional murders involving various underworld groups. The deaths caused a sustained power vacuum...
and a sequel to the 2009 production Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities
Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities
Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities is a 13-part Australian television mini-series loosely based on real events that stemmed from the marijuana trade centred around the New South Wales town of Griffith. The timeline of the series is the years between 1976 and 1987. Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities...
which forms part of the Underbelly series
Underbelly (series)
Underbelly is an Australian television true crime-drama which originally broadcast on the Nine Network. Each series contains 13 episodes and is based on real-life events including the Melbourne gangland killings between 1995-2004, the Griffith drug trade between 1976-1987, and the Kings Cross scene...
. Among the characters presented are John Ibrahim
John Ibrahim
John Houssam Ibrahim , a Lebanese Australian, is a Kings Cross nightclub owner. Police allege Ibrahim is a "major organised-crime figure" and was labelled as the "lifeblood of the drugs industry of Kings Cross" during the 1995 Wood royal commission however, Ibrahim strongly denies being involved in...
, Kim Hollingsworth
Kim Hollingsworth
Kim Michelle Hollingsworth is an Australian woman who was formerly a stripper, prostitute, student police officer and undercover agent. She was dismissed from the New South Wales Police Academy for failing to disclose her past. Her judicial attempts for reinstatement were ultimately unsuccessful...
, George Freeman
George Freeman (bookmaker)
George David Freeman was a Sydney organised crime figure and illegal casino operator. He was linked to the Sydney drug trade during the 1970s and '80s, was named in several Royal Commissions into organised crime and had links with American crime figures...
, Lenny McPherson
Lenny McPherson
Leonard Arthur McPherson was one of the most notorious and powerful Australian career criminals of the late 20th century...
and MP John Hatton
John Hatton
John Edward Hatton AO is former Australian politician, and an National Trust of Australia nominated Australian Living Treasure. He was the independent member of the New South Wales State parliament "lower house" for to the seat of South Coast from 1973 to 1995...
. Some of the characters, particularly those of the NSW Police, reprise their roles from Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities.
The series premiered on the Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
on 11 April 2010 at 8.30 pm, with the double episode premiere attracting an average of 2.23 million viewers nationally, in the mainland capitals. The series also premiered on TV3
TV3 (New Zealand)
TV3 is a New Zealand commercial television network, owned by MediaWorks New Zealand. Launched on 26 November 1989, the first private television network in New Zealand...
in New Zealand on Wednesday 5 May 2010 at 8:30 pm.
Underbelly: The Golden Mile was the 3rd in the Underbelly series and was followed by Underbelly: Razor
Underbelly: Razor
Underbelly: Razor is a 13-part Australian television mini-series detailing real events that occurred in Sydney between 1927 and 1936. The series depicts the "razor gangs" who controlled the city's underworld during the era and the violent war between the two "vice queen" powers, Tilly Devine and...
Synopsis
The series begins in 1988, a year after the events of the previous series, a smart young man named John Ibrahim arrvies in Kings Cross with plans and dreams of making a fortune in the Kings Cross nightclub scene. Throughout the series the plot shows how John Ibrahim began his entrepreneurship by working for organised crime figures like Louis and Bill Bayeh, George Freeman and Lenny McPherson who were during the time known as the ultimate Kings of the Cross. The series also shows the continuing corrupt activities of the NSW Police Officers stationed in Kings Cross particularly Trevor Haken, Jim Egan, Dennis Kelly who reprise their roles from Season 2 and Graham "Chook" Fowler, Eddie "Parrot" Gould and Neville "Scully" Scullion.As the series progresses George Freeman dies from an asthma attack and a young woman named Kim Hollingsworth appears. The series explains Kim's story from being an ordinary social worker to becoming a prostitute. In the centre of the series, the Wood Royal Commission into Police Corruption takes place naming corrupt police officers particularly in the Kings Cross station. Trevor Haken becomes an informant during the commission helping the officials blow the lid on corrupt officers in Kings Cross while his family life is torn apart. The other detectives are all exposed and Jim Egan commits suicide. Meanwhile in the Kings Cross scene. John Ibrahim has become a notable figure in the cross after being acquitted of an assault charge and a stable of new characters including Danny "DK" Karam appear.
Kim Hollingsworth decides to apply to the police force after helping them during the Royal Commission but her application is rejected after her previous employment history as a prostitute is revealed. Near the end of the series. Dennis Kelly applies to become Police Commissioner but after his past is exposed he is rejected for the position. In Kim's life, she decides to sue the NSW Police Force and she wins though she never receives a major payout. In the Cross scene since the Royal Commission the Golden Mile has plunged into chaos and violence. A task force called Strike Force Lancer is set up to investigate organised crime in Kings Cross. A new set of characters mainly convicted murderer Michael Kanaan appear. Danny Karam has formed a gang as he wants to take control of the cross from John Ibrahim. Michael Kannan becomes a member of this group and they all eventually decide to murder DK and attempt to take control for themselves, their violence escalates with kneecappings to an eventual shootout at one of John Ibrahim's nightclubs. The task force eventually close in on Kanaan and arrest him and his gang.
The series ending shows that Kim is currently living a normal secluded life in the rural areas of New South Wales while peace has been restored to Kings Cross with the police and bikies saying to John that they will always watch his back which makes John Ibrahim left as the undisputed King of the Cross. Underbelly: Razor
Underbelly: Razor
Underbelly: Razor is a 13-part Australian television mini-series detailing real events that occurred in Sydney between 1927 and 1936. The series depicts the "razor gangs" who controlled the city's underworld during the era and the violent war between the two "vice queen" powers, Tilly Devine and...
is the next instalment in the Underbelly series.
Main characters
- Emma BoothEmma Booth (actress)Emma Booth is an Australian model-turned-actress. From Perth in Western Australia, the former teen model and TV star played a significant role in the 2007 film Introducing the Dwights, opposite Brenda Blethyn.-TV and Movies Career :...
stars as Kim HollingsworthKim HollingsworthKim Michelle Hollingsworth is an Australian woman who was formerly a stripper, prostitute, student police officer and undercover agent. She was dismissed from the New South Wales Police Academy for failing to disclose her past. Her judicial attempts for reinstatement were ultimately unsuccessful...
, former prostitute, student police officer and undercover police agent. - Firass DiraniFirass DiraniFirass Dirani is an Australian actor known for his roles of Nick Russell, the Red Mystic Ranger on Power Rangers Mystic Force, Charlie on the 2009 Australian film The Combination, and as John Ibrahim on the 2010 series Underbelly: The Golden Mile....
stars as John IbrahimJohn IbrahimJohn Houssam Ibrahim , a Lebanese Australian, is a Kings Cross nightclub owner. Police allege Ibrahim is a "major organised-crime figure" and was labelled as the "lifeblood of the drugs industry of Kings Cross" during the 1995 Wood royal commission however, Ibrahim strongly denies being involved in...
, Kings Cross nightclub owner and eventual King of the Cross. - Wil TravalWil TravalWilliam "Wil" Traval is an Australian actor most known for his work as Dr. Jack Quade on All Saints, an Australian hospital drama.Traval was born on a strawberry farm near Colac in country Victoria. He graduated from high school at the age of 16. His passion for acting began in high school when he...
stars as Joe Dooley, Kings Cross police officer. - Cheree Cassidy stars as Debbie Webb, Kings Cross detective and whistleblower.
- Dieter BrummerDieter BrummerDieter Brummer is an Australian actor of German descent, probably best known for his role on the television soap opera Home and Away.-Career:...
stars as Trevor Haken, corrupt Kings Cross detective. - Paul TassonePaul TassonePaul Tassone is an Australian actor most known for his work as Nelson Curtis on All Saints, an Australian hospital drama. In late 2007-2008, he played a reverend who turned out to be a violent stalker as a result of a brain tumor on Home and Away...
stars as Dennis Kelly, corrupt Chief Inspector. - Daniel Roberts stars as Jim Egan, corrupt Kings Cross detective.
- Damien Garvey stars as Graham "Chook" Fowler, corrupt head of the Kings Cross detectives.
- Diarmid HeidenreichDiarmid Heidenreich-Television career:Heidenreich began his television career in 1993, appearing in G. P. as a guest role. Over the next few years, he had guest roles in several drama series, including Echo Point and Big Sky . Heidenreich was also the host of the children's game show Challenger until he left the...
recurs as Eddie "Parrot" Gould, corrupt Kings Cross detective. - Rob CarltonRob CarltonRob Carlton is an Australian actor and writer. He is best known for writing and starring in the comedy series Chandon Pictures. He also had starring roles in the comedy satire The Hollowmen and the children's television series Ocean Star....
recurs as Neville 'Scully' Scullion, semi-corrupt Kings Cross detective. - Peter O'Brien recurs as George FreemanGeorge Freeman (bookmaker)George David Freeman was a Sydney organised crime figure and illegal casino operator. He was linked to the Sydney drug trade during the 1970s and '80s, was named in several Royal Commissions into organised crime and had links with American crime figures...
, illegal bookmaker, Ibrahim's mentor, and King of the Cross. - John McNeil recurs as Lenny McPhersonLenny McPhersonLeonard Arthur McPherson was one of the most notorious and powerful Australian career criminals of the late 20th century...
, arms dealer and organized crime leader. - Salvatore CocoSalvatore Coco-Biography:Coco was born in Sydney and is of Sicilian descent. He performed with Australian Theatre for Young People where he developed his talents in acting, singing, guitar, dance and cabaret. He is also a qualified chef.-Career:...
recurs as Harry 'Hammer' Hammoud, Kings Cross stand-over man and associate of Ibrahim. It is argued that this character is really Sam Ibrahim, John's brother. - Michael Vice recurs as Benny Kassab, Kings Cross drug dealer.
- Hazem Shammas recurs as Bill Bayeh, Kings Cross drug dealer and nightclub owner.
- Steve BastoniSteve BastoniSteve Bastoni is an Italian Australian actor. He is best known for his role in Police Rescue as Constable Yannis 'Angel' Angelopoulos and as Steve Parker in Neighbours.-Television:...
recurs as Louis Bayeh, Kings Cross stand-over man. - Dan Mor recurs as Danny "DK" Karam, Kings Cross stand-over man, drug dealer and gang leader.
- Ryan CorrRyan Corr- Life and career :Corr was born in Melbourne. He started his acting career at the age of thirteen with the Film Opraholic. His first television performance was on The Sleepover Club with a supporting role as Matthew McDougal...
recurs as Michael "Doc" KanaanMichael KanaanMichael Kanaan is a Lebanese Australian triple murderer from Sydney, New South Wales, currently serving three sentences of life imprisonment plus 50 years and 4 months without the possibility of parole, for the murder of three people and other offences, all committed in Sydney between 17 July 1998...
, DK's Lieutenant and member of DK's boys. - Sigrid ThorntonSigrid ThorntonSigrid Thornton is an Australian multi-award winning actress.-Early years:Thornton was born in Canberra, the daughter of Merle, a teacher of women's studies and writer, and Neil Thornton, an academic. She spent most of her formative years growing up and attending school at St. Peter's Lutheran...
recurs as Geraldine "Gerry" Lloyd, Royal Commission investigator. - Caroline CraigCaroline CraigCaroline Craig is an Australian television and stage actress, and television director, based in Sydney Australia...
is the series narrator, reprising her role from the first 2 seasons.
Secondary characters
- Ronny Mouawad recurs as Norm Korbage, Kassab's associate and drug addict.
- Matuse recurs as Shaka, Kassab's associate and drug dealer.
- Jason Ghama recurs as Ali Ghazzawie, Kings Cross drug dealer.
- Peter Phillips-Vass recurs as Benny Puta, Kings Cross drug dealer.
- Johnny Lahoud recurs as Captain Jack, Bill Bayeh's associate.
- Richard Bennett recurs as Samson, Bill Bayeh's bodyguard.
- John Seru recurs as Kiwi Steve, Ibrahim's bodyguard.
- George Koutros recurs as Russel "Bubblehead" Townsend, Ibrahim's associate.
- Waddah Sari recurs as Buddy, John Ibrahim's friend and associate.
- Michael Gittany recurs as Charlie Fish, John Ibrahim's associate.
- Ben Wood recurs as "Bad Don" Denucci, Manager and part owner of the Budget hotel with DK.
- Rahel Abdulrahman appears in one episode as Talal Assad, Kings Cross drug dealer.
- Sophie Hensser recurs as Monica, Waitress and Benny Kassab's girlfriend.
- Natasha Cunningham recurs as Melissa Hollingsworth, Kim Hollingsworth's sister and part time prostitute.
- Lieschen Pogue recurs as Galina, Kim Hollingsworth's friend and fellow prostitute.
- Sarah Jane Coombe appears in one episode as Krystal, a prostitute.
- Kelly Atkinson appears in one episode as Belinda, A friend of Kim and prostitute.
- Mitch Bartlett recurs as Wanda, Transvestite prostitute.
- Mark FurzeMark FurzeMark Furze is an Australian actor and singer who is best known for his role as Eric "Ric" Dalby on the popular Australian soap opera Home and Away. Mark played the role of Ric from September 2004 to July 2008.-Career:...
recurs as Trent, Kim Hollingsworth's boyfriend. - Andrew Hazzard recurs as Michael, Kim Hollingsworth's boyfriend and stalker.
- Georgina Haig recurs as Georgina Freeman, George Freeman's wife.
- Lesley Hancock recurs as Dawn, Madame of the brothel Kim works at.
- Russel Kiefel recurs as Mel Mal, Owner of the Tunnel Nightclub which Ibrahim buys into.
- Rebecca Lee Slade appears in one episode as Michelle, Classmate and Ibrahim's one time lover.
- Hanna Griffiths recurs as Jodie, Adam Andrews' girlfriend.
- Hugo Johnstone-Burt recurs as Adam Andrews, Kanaan's best friend and a member of DK's boys.
- Anthony Di Placido recurs as Rabeeh "Rabs" Mawas, member of DK's boys.
- Jey Osman recurs as Wassim" "Wassi" El Assaad, member of DK's boys.
- Dina Panozzo recurs as Samira Kanaan, Michael Kanaan's mother.
- Natalie BassingthwaighteNatalie BassingthwaighteNatalie Bassingthwaighte is an Australian actress, singer-songwriter and television personality. She began her career as an actress on the television series All Saints. She then starred in the American television movie Counterstrike...
recurs as Maria Haken, Trevor Haken's wife. - Tom O'Sullivan recurs as Sean "Grunter" Sinclair, corrupt Kings Cross detective, who turns straight.
- Andrew BibbyAndrew BibbyAndrew Bibby , in Melbourne, Victoria, is an Australian actor who played Lance Wilkinson on the Australian soap opera Neighbours in 1995, 1996–2001 and in 2005...
recurs as Greg Locke, Fraud Squad detective and Debbie Webb's husband. - Jessica ToveyJessica ToveyJessica Tovey is an Australian actress. Tovey graduated from the Newtown High School of the Performing Arts and has made appearances for various drama companies. She is best known for her role of Belle Taylor on the long-running Australian soap opera Home and Away. Tovey joined the show in 2006...
appears in two episodes as Wendy Jones, Ibrahim's love interest and police officer. - Megan Drury recurs as Claudia Campanelli, King's Cross detective and sexual assault victim.
- Matt DayMatt DayMatthew "Matt" Day is an Australian actor best known for his film and television roles.-Early life and career:Matt Day was born in Melbourne in 1971...
recurs as Inspector Sid Hillier, police investigator who leads Strike Force Lancer. - Toby Leonard Moore recurs as Sergeant Dave, Kings Cross police officer and Kim Hollingsworth's lover.
- Wayne PygramWayne PygramWayne Pigram , better known by his stage name Wayne Pygram, is an Australian actor, known for his role as Scorpius in the science fiction series Farscape and the miniseries that followed, Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars .Pygram was born in Cootamundra, New South Wales and raised in Wagga Wagga,...
recurs as the Commissioner of the NSW police force. - John WatersJohn Waters (actor)John Russell Waters is a film, theatre and television actor and musician best known in Australia, to where he moved in 1968...
appears in two episodes as MP John HattonJohn HattonJohn Edward Hatton AO is former Australian politician, and an National Trust of Australia nominated Australian Living Treasure. He was the independent member of the New South Wales State parliament "lower house" for to the seat of South Coast from 1973 to 1995...
, politician. - Ian SmithIan Smith (actor)Ian Smith is an Australian soap opera character actor and television screenwriter, best known today for his long-running role as the caring, kindly coffee shop owner Harold Bishop in the soap opera Neighbours....
appears in three episodes as Ken Wallis, Influential NSW politician - Sean Taylor recurs as James Wood, Presiding Justice over the Royal Commission.
- James Evans recurs as Ralph Griffin, Kim's handler from the Royal Commission.
- Brandon Burke recurs as Bruce Onley, Royal Commission investigator.
- Paul Barry recurs as John Agius, Barrister for the Royal Commission.
- Alan CinisAlan CinisAlan Cinis , an Australian politician and actor, is a Councillor on Leichhardt Council, Sydney, New South Wales representing the NSW Greens since 2008. As an actor, Cinis has starred in television, musical drama and film.-Acting career:Cinis commenced his acting career in October 1969, aged nine...
recurs as Andy Little, corrupt Fraud Squad detective. - Christopher Truswell recurs as Bobby Flood, corrupt Fraud Squad detective.
- Brett Heath recurs as Brett "Baldy" Wiley, corrupt Parramatta detective and Louis Bayeh's associate.
- Peter ScarfPeter ScarfPeter Scarf is an Australian actor, writer, film director and entrepreneur. Scarf starred as Liam Tanner on Australian television show Home and Away, before producing a number of feature films including Fortune, which he co-wrote and directed with . In addition to Fortune, Scarf has produced Two...
recurs as Constable Andrew, Kings Cross police officer. - Michael Whittington recurs as Constable Pickles, Kings Cross police officer.
- Stuart McRae recurs as Les Leopold, Kings Cross police officer.
- Anthony Gooley appears in one episode as Marty Ludlow, Trevor Haken's informant.
- Anthony Burke appears in one episode as Mick Drury, NSW detective and whistleblower.
- Lynette Curran recurs as Irene Webb, Debbie Webb's mother.
- Daryl Lee recurs as John Webb, Debbie Webb's father.
- Megan Miller-McConochie recurs as Mrs Gould, Eddie Gould's wife.
- Melissa McCole-Brooks recurs as Mrs Sinclair, Sean Sinclair's wife.
- Sandra Galvin recurs as Fran Egan, Jim Egan's wife.
- Matilda Brown recurs as Ellie Dooley, Joe Dooley's wife.
Weekly ratings
The weekly Australian metropolitan ratings are below.| # | Episode | (AU) Air Date | Timeslot | Viewers (m) | Nightly Rank (#) | Weekly Rank (#) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Into The Mystic" | 11 April 2010 | 8:30pm Sunday |
2.237 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | "The Crucible" | 9:30pm Sunday |
2.071 | 2 | 2 | |
| 3 | "Kingdom Come" | 18 April 2010 | 8:30pm Sunday |
1.918 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | "Fall Guy" | 25 April 2010 | 1.506 | 1 | 2 | |
| 5 | "Saving Face" | 9 May 2010 | 1.677 | 1 | 1 | |
| 6 | "Women In Uniform" | 9:30pm Sunday |
1.613 | 1 | 2 | |
| 7 | "Full Force Gale" | 16 May 2010 | 8:30pm Sunday |
1.650 | 3 | 4 |
| 8 | "Crossroads" | 23 May 2010 | 1.644 | 1 | 4 | |
| 9 | "Dog Eat Dog" | 30 May 2010 | 1.672 | 4 | 5 | |
| 10 | "Hurt On Duty" | 6 June 2010 | 1.598 | 3 | 5 | |
| 11 | "Beauty And The Beast" | 13 June 2010 | 1.384 | 4 | 17 | |
| 12 | "The Good Lieutenant" | 20 June 2010 | 1.493 | 4 | 7 | |
| 13 | "Alpha And Omega" | 27 June 2010 | 1.800 | 1 | 3 | |
| 1–13 | DVD Release | 28 June 2010 | Series Averages | 1.712 | 2.07 | 4.15 |
Legal issues
In March 2010, former King's Cross policewoman Wendy Hatfield lodged an application in the New South Wales Supreme Court, asking to view five episodes of the series featuring a character supposedly based on her, Wendy Jones, to see if she had been defamed. Her concern was that the series, which was based on a book of the same name she believed that defamed her, would also defame her by implying she had a sexual relationship with John Ibrahim. However, her request was denied, with a judge ruling she would only have grounds to lodge defamation proceedings after the fact.On 25 May 2010, Hatfield lodged a defamation lawsuit with the NSW Supreme Court against the Nine Network, TCN Nine Network Sydney and the producers, Screentime. She believed that she was defamed in episode 6, "Women In Uniform", arguing that the depiction of the character of Wendy Jones, which is allegedly based on her, engaged in an affair with Ibrahim had defamed her and caused her "to be bought into hatred, ridicule and contempt" and "gravely injured her character". The case is due to be heard on 22 June.
On 21 December 2010 Hatfield succeeded in a defamation suit against the publishers of Underbelly: The Golden Mile, the tie-in book to the series, being awarded $59,000 in damages.
Future series
The next and fourth Underbelly series will again be set in Sydney but the series will go back in time to where true organised crime began in the 1920s. The series will depict the battle between the two vice queens of Sydney named Tilly Devine and Kate Leigh and the fierce razor gangs that ruled the Sydney criminal underworld including the Kings Cross scene depicted in The Golden Mile during the era. Titled Underbelly: Razor. The new series will screen later in 2011.External links
- Official website
- Underbelly: The Golden Mile at TV3TV3 (New Zealand)TV3 is a New Zealand commercial television network, owned by MediaWorks New Zealand. Launched on 26 November 1989, the first private television network in New Zealand...