Set on and around the serene backdrop of Sydney Harbour, Channel 10‘s North Shore is a drama that brings a cross-cultural murder mystery right to our doorstep.
The show follows the clash of cultures when British and Australian detectives team up to crack a case that has major international political consequences.
Starring names like John Bradley (Game of Thrones, Moonfall), Joanne Froggatt (Liar, The Commons), and Kirsty Sturgess (Thirteen Lives, Young Rock), North Shore was written and created by Mike Bullen (Cold Feet).
Mediaweek spoke to Bullen about the behind-the-scenes of North Shore, and what it was like working with a real detective to bring the story to life.
How did North Shore come to be?
Bullen: “It’s an idea that I first had many years ago, and parked because I had other stuff going on. I sort of developed it with Channel Seven, but then th resurrection of Cold Feet happened, so again, it went on the back burner. During Covid I dusted it off and had a look at it, and showed it to the two Davids as I call them – the Beach Road Pictures guys. They said, ‘this isn’t bad, we reckon we could maybe sell this’. They took it off to 10 and promptly did the deal.
“They commissioned it on the basis of one script and those storylines. Then it was a relatively short period until production – that was a squeaky bum moment, thinking ‘God, now I’ve actually got to work out what happens’.”
It looks like you managed to work that out in the end!
Bullen: “Fortunately, we put a room together of a few writers, which makes the job so much easier. I find it fascinating how much easier it is to come up with stuff when you’re bouncing it off like minded people, rather than just sitting in a room alone – madness lies at the end of that street.”
What was production like from your perspective?
Bullen: “For me, production was a joy, and very different to any experience I’ve had on television before. We had all the scripts written before we started filming, which I’ve never done before. On the ninth, and last season of Cold Feet, they were filming the final episode while I was still writing it, so in the past I’ve never gone to set much because I’ve still been writing the damn thing and should have been locked in a room.
“But this time, it was lovely. The weather was pretty kind to us – it was always a worry, particularly with the harbourside location. I almost felt as though I was on holiday when I was going to my day job.
“It was lovely seeing it come together, and watching director Gregor [Jordan] working with the actors. I did try directing once, and I decided I wasn’t particularly good at it, I was just a journeyman director. It was lovely to watch someone who you felt completely confident in their ability, and you could just sit back and know it was in good hands.”
See Also: North Shore’s Kirsty Sturgess praises director Gregor Jordan for taking a “risk” on unknown actors
You had Gary Jubelin on board giving his insights, what was it like working with him?
Bullen: “He’s an interesting guy! Gary is great, because being an ex-cop, he gets what we need. Often if you go to an expert and you ask them a question, they have too much knowledge, and they give you all the information. You think ‘no, I just want you to tell me how I can make this story work’. Gary was really good at that. Rather than saying, ‘What would really happen is…’ he would say, ‘Yeah, that’s feasible if this and this happen’. From the storyteller’s point of view, that’s much better because he tells you how you can make your story work, rather than why you can’t.
“Of course, he’s full of his own stories, he’s a fascinating guy to be with. I had a bit of a man crush on him to be honest, because he’s pretty cool!”
What were the main inspirations for North Shore?
Bullen: “I suppose the inspiration has really just been my own experiences over the years of coming to Australia as a Brit, expecting it to be very similar to Britain, and then finding out those little differences which actually speak volumes. I first visited Australia in 1991, and felt completely at ease – as though I got Australia completely. Then when I moved there with my family in 2002, I quickly realised that actually, it’s a bit more complex than that.
“I now think that Australia is located somewhere between Britain and America, in terms of culture and so on. Over the years it has possibly drifted further and further from Britain and towards America, and I think that’s a process that streaming – we’re getting so much more American content in the media now – is accelerating.
“So that was the main inspiration, what I had experienced myself. Silly little things, like the fact that Weetabix that I grew up with are Weet-Bix in Australia. Where has the ‘A’ gone?”
Speaking of that Americanisation, how significant it is for people to see their own stories reflected back at them on screen?
Bullen: “If you have a story that resonates with you from your own culture, then it just goes that much deeper. Every story that you react to, it’s because it says something about your own life experience – whether that’s Lord of the Rings, or whatever, it doesn’t really matter. But I think a story that is centred in your own world can have much greater resonance.
“In the past, in Australia and the UK, we had lots of series that really spoke to us. TV now is trying to become more global, which probably means more American in its style and production values. It’s also less parochial, I suppose, but in some ways, parochialism is good because what it actually creates is deeply relevant to a smaller group of people.”
The finale of North Shore airs 8:40pm, Wednesday June 14 on Channel 10 and 10 Play