Negronis, secrets and no early night: Inside Paramount+'s Dalliance

Let's set the scene, shall we? Picture it: Sydney Harbour was doing what Sydney Harbour does best: showing off.

Against that glittering Lavender Bay backdrop, Paramount+ gathered the cast and creators of its new Australian drama Dalliance at Sails restaurant for a launch that felt particularly well matched to the show itself - polished on the surface, with plenty of life happening underneath.

Wink, wink. 

AACTA Award winner Heather Mitchell, two-time Gold Logie winner Georgie Parker and veteran producer John Edwards joined 10 News Entertainment Editor Angela Bishop (who by that stage had pulled a nearly 15-hour day) to discuss a series built around something Australian television still doesn't show nearly enough: people in their sixties falling in love, making mistakes, keeping secrets and generally refusing to become sensible.

Filmed across Sydney, Dalliance follows a close-knit group of lifelong friends as they confront long-buried secrets and the glorious mess of love, friendship, and second chances.

READ MORE: Network 10 gives viewers an extra hour with new channel 10+1

READ MORE: Network 10 posts record streaming figures in H1 2026, up 34% year-on-year

Life after 60, without the sensible shoes

Mitchell, who stars as Dani and also serves as a creator and producer on the series, discussed the challenge and reward of occupying both sides of the production.

Parker, who plays Rose, reflected on ensuring her character emerged as a fully realised woman rather than simply “the wife” caught in the middle of the drama.

It speaks to the broader proposition behind Dalliance: turning 60 doesn't suddenly render people immune to jealousy, sex, bad decisions, complicated friendships or falling in love. 

Even though television, historically, has sometimes behaved as though it might.

Last one standing

Mitchell was resplendent and spent the evening moving through the room and introducing herself to guests. Parker was infectiously friendly, doing much the same. Both women toured the crowd with the sort of ease that quickly dissolved the usual invisible line between talent and everyone else holding a drink.

And, as the evening wore on, there was something rather fitting about who remained most committed to it.

At the late, late hour of 8pm, the people still tearing up the dancefloor and downing Negronis were the, ahem, more mature attendees. They appeared to have little interest in quietly collecting their coats.

For Paramount+, the series adds another locally produced title to its Australian slate while putting an age group rarely handed the romantic and emotional spotlight at the centre of the action.