Ages listed reflect the character ages at the start of the narrative arc, followed by age range that can play the character.
• Schapelle Corby (27, 25-40): A young Australian woman who loved the beach,
boogie boarding and the relaxed Gold Coast lifestyle. Schapelle's life was turned
upside down when she was arrested in Bali, accused of smuggling marijuana
across the border. Schapelle’s emotional journey reflects a rollercoaster of hope,
despair, defiance, and the search for identity under the scrutiny of international
fame.
• Mercedes Corby: (30, 25-45) Schapelle’s older sister. Loyal, fierce, kind-hearted
and true blue. Mercedes is family first. She’s quirky and has a good sense of
humour. She trusts the people around her, but is wary of anyone who doesn’t
appear to have her family’s interests at heart. Can get a temper from time to time.
A firecracker, a leader.
• Rosleigh Rose (55 [approx.], 40-60): The mum. A big presence in the family who
is Australian to the bone. A devoted mother and matriarch of the family. Rosleigh
never goes down without a fight, even if the odds aren’t in her favour.
• Mick SNR (58, 40-65): The father. Mick is working class, blue collar - that
classic Australian bloke. A laid back character who doesn’t sweat the small stuff.
Always has a beer in his hand and thongs on his feet. An ultimate Queenslander.
Has a deep love for his family even though he doesn’t often show it.
• Mick JNR: (25, 21-40) Brother of Schapelle and Mercedes. A loveable and
gullible young man. Loves a practical joke and getting off doing hard work.
Doesn’t take life too seriously. Queenslander all the way.
• Raymond Calimiti: (26, 23-40) Junior reporter at Channel 19. A principled
journalist who has a quiet achiever attitude about him until he is corrupted by his
unscrupulous colleagues. He becomes what he strived NOT to be: disloyal, fameseeking
and an out and out unethical hack. Raymond is confident, cocky and
arrogant but with a slight charm and wit.
• Simon De Villiers (26, 23-40) A reporter at Channel 19. Simon is a private school
poster boy. He lives for signalling the finer things in life. He is a social climber
who relies on family money. Simon loves to grandstand; his job is just a status
symbol. Unfortunately, he’s not that bright. Fortunately though, he’s good-looking,
well dressed and rich.
• Dimity Pretorius (30, 23-40) A seasoned reporter at channel 19. Fierce, strong,
ruthless. Dimity wants to get the ratings and she will stop at nothing to achieve
that goal. Blunt, beautiful, smart - Dimity is a loved figure at the company and
Australia’s current “Golden Girl” of television. Is held back by ageing incumbent
Mark.
• Mark Marietta (55, 30-60): Senior reporter, news anchor, editor-in-chief of print,
and the face of Channel 19. Mark is Australia’s most trusted celebrity journalist.
He’s been on tele for years and is loved by all Australians. Little do the public
know - he’s a thin-skinned, coldblooded hack. Like Dimity, he stops at nothing to
get what he wants. A commanding presence with a classic 80s/90s newsreader
persona, known for the occasional flamboyant flourish and a tendency to speak in
riddles. Mark believes the world revolves around him.
• Lindy Chamberlain: (30, 21-40) a devoted mother whose life is shattered when
her baby daughter, Azaria, disappears while the family is camping near Uluru.
Accused and convicted of her daughter’s murder, Lindy becomes the target of
public scorn and a media frenzy.
• Renae Lawrence: (38, 30-45) a key figure in the infamous Australian "Bali Nine"
drug trafficking case. A former panel beater’s apprentice from Newcastle, she
was arrested in Bali in 2005 for attempting to smuggle heroin into the country.
Renae is a complex character, often portrayed as a woman who found herself in
a dire situation due to poor decisions and coercion by others
