Hugo Weaving leads killer cast in thrilling new drama Seven Types of Ambiguity

HUGO Weaving has taken top billing on the all-star Australian call sheet for a new six-part ABC drama series, Seven Types Of Ambiguity.

HUGO Weaving has taken top billing on the all-star Australian call sheet for a new six-part ABC drama series, Seven Types Of Ambiguity.

The literary adaptation of Elliot Perlman’s extraordinary novel by the same name, the psychological mystery will follow seven characters and the risks they take for love.

The thriller, which has begun filming in Melbourne, also stars Alex Dimitriades (The Principal), Leeanna Walsman (Prisoner), Xavier Samuel (A Few Best Men), Anthony Hayes (Devil’s Dust), Andrea Demetriades (Janet King) and Susie Porter (Puberty Blues).

When a seven-year-old boy is taken from school, his parents (Walsman and Dimitriades) are frantic.

While the boy is returned unharmed, police arrest the mother’s ex-boyfriend (Samuel) and then investigate his suspected accomplice (Demetriades) who “has a salacious connection” to the boy’s father.

Before long, all seven characters find themselves “pulled into the mystery of uncovering just why Simon really took Sam.”’

Adding to the A-grade cast, the Matchbox Pictures production have drawn together a world-class creative crew behind the camera, including a directing team of Glendyn Ivin (Beaconsfield, Gallipoli), Ana Kokkinos (Head On, The Secret Life Of Us) and Matthew Saville (Tangle, Please Like Me).

Producers Tony Ayres (The Slap) and Amanda Higgs (Time Of Our Lives) have also hired a high-calibre writing team lead by Jacqueline Perske (Love My Way), Jonathan Gavin (Offspring) and Marieke Hardy (Laid).

The series will air later this year on the ABC.

GUESS WHO, DON’T SUE IN DRAMA RETURN

IT’S a jacket only Bob Hawke could love, the baseball cap too.

But the mystery man in disguise is none other than TV’s favourite legal Lothario, Cleaver Greene in one of the first publicity shots for the returning — and final, sob! — season of ABC dramedy, Rake (8.30pm, May 19).

The teasing press release, with the image and others of Greene’s misadventures ahead attached, is as hilarious as the series its many fans have grown to love.

ABC drama series, Rake, returns starring Richard Roxburgh. Picture: Supplied

Insider shares the best of the blurb here, even better if it’s imagined read in actor Richard Roxburgh’s devilishly theatrical tone.

Cue the dramatic music, maestro: “last seen dangling from a balloon drifting across the Sydney skyline, Cleaver Greene (Roxburgh) crashes back to earth — literally and metaphorically, when he’s propelled through a harbourside window and into the unwelcoming embraces of chaos past.

Fleeing certain revenge, Cleaver hightails it to a quiet country town, the reluctant member of a congregation led by a stern, decent reverend and his flirtatious daughter. Before long Cleaver’s being chased back to Sin City.

But Sydney has become a dark place: terrorist threats and a loss of faith in authority have seen it take a turn towards the dystopian. When Cleaver finally emerges, he will be accompanied by a Mistress of the Black Arts, navigating a yellow brick road leading straight to our dark corridors of power.”

If Rox alone doesn’t float your boat, the list of guest appearances should with Miriam Margolyes, Justine Clarke, Tasma Walton and Simon Burke among those on board.

KELLER’S KILLER DEFENCE OF LOGIES’ GOLD NOMINEE DENYER

THE Living Room’s Amanda Keller has come to the defence of this year’s Gold Logie nominees — and it’s not just because she was trying to butter up Family Feud host Grant Denyer after her appearance the All-Stars special (7.30pm, Wednesday on Ten).

A silver Logie nominee herself, in the best TV presenter category, Keller is tipping Denyer for the big gong after seeing his work up close during The Living Room’s Feud battle against a crew from Have You Been Paying Attention?

“I’ve always admired him but when you see how good he is up close ... that smile on his face, his professionalism, his enthusiasm ... he just blew us all away,” Keller told Insider.

All Star Family Feud contestants Barry Dubois, Amanda Keller, with host Grant Denyer, Dr Chris Brown and Miguel Maestre. Picture: Supplied

On the recent furore over this year’s Gold Logie nominations, which mocked the choice of SBS news presenter (and cult figure) Lee Lin Chin and The Project’s Waleed Aly, Keller said she was “offended at the controversy. I think what a great year it is for Australian television that we have such a length and breadth of interesting people. I think it’s a celebration of our true media and what it should be.”

More horrifying, she said, was her annual hunt for a black tie outfit, but joked she was thinking of donning “some red carpet active wear.”

“If I can just get a pair of spanks which don’t leave elastic band marks around my legs, I’ll be happy. Maybe a sequined trackie is the way to go, or just my active wear and then I’ll push a pram with Miguel in it. With my champagne in the cup holder.”

Don’t you think that sounds nice, different and hysterical?

ONE TO WATCH: PRINCE DOCO STILL REIGNS

Prince performing during halftime at the Super Bowl XLI at Dolphin Stadium, Miamo in 2007. Picture: Roberto Schmidt

AMONG the outpouring of tributes to the pop icon, Prince, after his passing last week, perhaps the best was a short-form doco made about his spectacular rain-soaked Superbowl performance which should live on as the benchmark in halftime entertainment. Showcasing his extraordinary spirit and devotion to his fans, click on the web version of this column to enjoy the eight-minute homage.

TV GOSSIP: COOKING UP A MOCK HIT

Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan host iView's The Katering Show. Picture: Supplied

TIME to crack open the bubbly and maybe a smile for the hilarious women behind iview’s new hit, The Katering Show. Mocking all the food fads and cooking shows we’re addicted to, comic wonders Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan have pulled an incredible audience of XXXX for their new series, which launched a week ago. Just don’t suggest they bake a Thermomix cake to celebrate. Eyeroll.

DON’T MISS: SNOW A GO ON THRONES?

Kit Harington as Jon Snow in a scene from season five of TV drama series Game of Thrones. Picture: Helen Sloan

IS bloody Jon Snow dead or alive? For welded on fans of Game Of Thrones, this question has been the only one to ask every TV writer on the planet since the end of season five. To every critic’s great relief the answer is nigh, with the return of the global drama sensation this week (11am and 7.30pm, Mon on Showcase). Now flick to the TV Guide’s cover story with GoT star Carice van Houten (who is expecting a baby with our Guy Pearce).