Leading forensic experts, homicide detectives, historians, and award-winning scientists. These are just some of the people who will be bringing their work to light when Under Investigation with Liz Hayes returns Wednesday, February 9, at 9.00pm on Channel Nine and 9Now.
Going under the microscope this year is everything from the 2011 Fukushima Disaster, to Australia’s worst serial killer.
Mediaweek spoke to host Liz Hayes about the upcoming third season of the investigative format.
As the third season kicks off, Hayes says that the show has really found its stride.
“It definitely has evolved, we have found our groove, we feel comfortable about who we are and what we’re trying to achieve. So it has evolved, although right from the get-go, we did introduce the notion of investigations can cross a myriad of subjects. It’s not just all hard crime.
“As time has gone on – and it’s a fairly short period of time I might add – we’ve found our place and gotten comfortable in this genre.”
In each episode, Under Investigation brings its audience into the inner sanctum of the investigators’ world.
“People are more interested than we might give them credit for about just what happens in the minds of investigators or anybody with a specialty in regards to a mystery or an investigation,” says Hayes.
“We’ve always found it intriguing. It’s the same with anything, you always like to see what’s happening out the back.”
Topics covered in Under Investigation range from unsolved murders to International relations. One episode this season will take to the skies by taking a closer look at UFOs. Hayes says the process of coming up with what the show will cover comes down to what people find interesting.
“The executive producer Gareth [Harvey] and I sit down with our team and we just nut out between us all, what intrigues us. What do we find compelling about various subjects or stories? In terms of investigating, what we can reveal by traipsing through the backyard of these crimes and mysteries?
“The number one rule is that they have to be reasonably compelling. The second one is that we like to add a bit of meat to the sausage. We want some depth, we’re looking for stronger and greater explanations.”
With a list of topics as varied as the one Under Investigation deals with, it can sometimes be a surprise what draws the curiosity of the audience.
“One of our biggest programs, strangely enough, was about the war with China. On YouTube, for example, it’s got nearly 10 million views. The Sallie-Anne Huckstepp crime, which was some years ago, was compelling for viewers as well. So it’s intriguing as to what brings people in.
“With all these things, I think we just like to be engaged, learn something new, and take a bit of a trip down a lane you might not have thought about.”
Coinciding with the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, the first episode of season three explores Operation London Bridge – the secret plan for the days after the Queen’s death and the crowning of King Charles III.
“We embarked upon that when the Queen was unwell, and we started out with that conversation of what happens now. The more we talked about it, the more we realised any number of things can happen, because the one thing you can say about Queen Elizabeth II is that for 70 years she’s been the mainstay.
“Once she’s gone, that credibility, that respect for the monarchy and royals potentially takes a different course. So we look at that, and then and then of course the next obvious question is, well, what happens here in Australia?”
As with all productions, Hayes says Under Investigation has been working around Covid restrictions.
“Before anybody sets foot into a studio we’re all PCR tested, and then we have daily tests. That’s been going on for some time now. We literally weren’t allowed to get out of our car until we got the okay. Because we’re filming off station we’re filming in another location.
“All of our guests have had to face the same testing and they’re very willingly doing that. If people are uncomfortable about travelling, we’ve been able to accommodate them in their state or the country. It has been an issue, but we’ve grappled with it, and we’ve survived it – we’ve not had any Covid infections.”
Finally, Hayes says she hopes that she hopes viewers are left with with both answers and entertainment.
“Crime is the backbone to our program, so they’ll get a good strong deep dive into some really intriguing cases of Australian crime. But hopefully, they’ll also join us in delving into other intriguing subjects.
“There’s a lot to be said for sitting and just coming with us in listening, debating, unraveling other stories which aren’t necessarily crime, but have a component to them that needs answers. I hope it’s reasonably entertaining television, and that gives them a bit of something to talk about the next day.”
Under Investigation with Liz Hayes returns Wednesday, February 9, at 9.00pm on Channel Nine and 9Now