Series 3
TVNZ’s then new head of drama in early 1983 - John McRae axed the Auckland-produced Both Sides of the Fence to make way for the return of Sergeant Doug Mortimer. At the time McRae said his decision to bring back a third series of “Patch” — and to throw out a third series of “Both Sides of the Fence” was due to a lack of good story ideas for “Both Sides of the Fence”
Sean Duffy (left), Terence Cooper, and Judy McIntosh in a scene from "Mortimer's Patch," which will start on One at 8.30 tomorrow (12 June 1984) night.
N.Z. police drama starts tomorrow
Murder, arson, fraud and theft in Cobham are Just some of the ingredients in the third series of "Mortimer's Patch," starting on One at 8.30 tomorrow night. It is now 1984 and Detective Sergeant Doug Mortimer is back after a two-year absence, with, his old colleagues, Sergeant Bob Storey and Constable Dave Gilchrist. A newcomer to this third, seven-part series of Television New Zealand's police drama is Constable Lois Higgs (Judy Mcintosh), sent to Cobham for training under the watchful eye of Sergeant Storey.
Filmed on location in Helensville, Just north of Auckland, ,"Mortimer's. Patch" is based on the lives of these four police officers . stationed at the fictional town of Cobham; a small town as familiar as any in New Zealand.
Cobham's police station has come into the 1980s - it has had a new telephone system installed and a computer terminal linking it to the main police data base. centre. There are new graphics and the theme music has been re-scored by Matthew Brown, who was also responsible for music to the successful feature film, "Sleeping Dogs."
The producer, Logan Brewer, said, "Helensvllle was pleased to have the series back and once again we received wonderful co-operation from the residents. They loved the show when it screened previously."
The seven episodes deal with topics not touched on before.
"We were determined not to repeat any crimes in the series," said Mr Brewer, "and themes include contemporary New' Zealand topics such as the Springbok tour.
"The stories are really a reflection of the way the writers see New Zealand society," he said. "We now have a pool of writers including Maurice Gee and Greg McGee who enjoy writing for the series and they've produced scripts of a very high calibre." Although Cobham could be any small town in New Zealand, this series has a distinctive Auckland flavour.
"There is - certainly a Polynesian feel about it," said 'Mr Brewer.
The series stars Terence Cooper, Don Selwyn, Sean Duffy, and Judy Mcintosh.
(The Press)
3.1
Scratch Cat (12/6/1984)
A young hitch-hiker is reported missing near Cobham and it seems that Dimp and Lois have ignored a vital clue.
Det Sgt Doug Mortimer - Terrance Cooper
Sgt Bob Storey - Don Selwyn
Constable Dave Gilchrist - Sean Duffy
Constable Lois Higgs - Judy McIntosh
Alf Munro - Peter Cox
District Nurse - Anna Soutar
Sparkey - Bruse Allpress
Bev Nrett - Jocelyn McQuaid
Ted Wilkie - Phill Gifford
Beth Harley - Pauls Keenan
Miv Crowe - Dorethy McKegg
Mechanics - Ray Woolf/Jim Hickey
Writer - Maurice Gee
Producer - Logan Brewer
Director - Keith Hunter
Television New Zealand
3.2
Snookered
A pool Hustler comes to town and turns his hand to blackmail.
Det Sgt Doug Mortimer - Terrance Cooper
Sgt Bob Storey - Don Selwyn
Constable Dave Gilchrist - Sean Duffy
Constable Lois Higgs - Judy McIntosh
The Kid - Billy Florian
Lance Harris - Marshall Napier
Shopkeeper - Robert Gould
Owens - Michael Morissey
Doctor Jamieson - David Cameron
Maureen - Nikki Farrell
Det Sgt Ray - David Weatherley
Writer - Grant Morris
Producer - Logan Brewer
Director - Peter Sharp
Television New Zealand
3.3
Intrusions
An old man argues for the right to die by his own hand
Det Sgt Doug Mortimer - Terrance Cooper
Sgt Bob Storey - Don Selwyn
Constable Dave Gilchrist - Sean Duffy
Constable Lois Higgs - Judy McIntosh
Charles Pike -Kenneth Prebble
Liz Robbins - Aileen O'Sullivan
Willow Robbins - Katherine McRae
Rod McCutcheon - Stephen Taylor
Norman Buckley - Stephen Tozer
Doctor - Kjestrup
Writer - Maurice Gee
Director - Chris Bailey
Television New Zealand
3.4
Wilful damage
Bob Story questions his own attitude as a police officer when a young Maori Protester accuses him of selling out.
Det Sgt Doug Mortimer - Terrance Cooper
Sgt Bob Storey - Don Selwyn
Constable Dave Gilchrist - Sean Duffy
Constable Lois Higgs - Judy McIntosh
Sparkey - Bruce Allpress
Matt Walker - Robin Kora
Schoolboy - Matthew Hunter
Brian Roche - Christine Bartlett
Tui Storey - Kui Wano
Jimmy Storey - Hemi Munu
Rebecca Story - Whetu Nahi
Anchorman - Peter Williams
Lendrum - Simon Prast
Henare - Nathaniel Lees
Inspector - Kevin Wilson
Writer - Barry Brown
Producer - Logan Brewer
Director - Chris Bailey
Television New Zealand
3.5
Dead Man's hand
When Sarah Connolly arrives back in Cobham, Mortimer is forced to face up to his past.
Det Sgt Doug Mortimer - Terrance Cooper
Sgt Bob Storey - Don Selwyn
Constable Dave Gilchrist - Sean Duffy
Constable Lois Higgs - Judy McIntosh
Sarah Connolly - Sheila Hammond
Taxi Driver - Desmond Lock
Tanker - Peter Rowley
Sparkey - Bruce Allpress
Joe Harper - Raymond Hawthorne
Writer - Keith Aberdein
Producer - Logan Brewer
Director - Keith Hunter
Television New Zealand
3.6
Nothing Changed
Three Maori teenagers from the city get caught up in the plays of a xenophobic rugby player. Stealing a car in revenge sets off some interesting reverberations in the township.
Det Sgt Doug Mortimer - Terrance Cooper
Sgt Bob Storey - Don Selwyn
Constable Dave Gilchrist - Sean Duffy
Constable Lois Higgs - Judy McIntosh
Hemi Walker - Colin Welsh
Alamein - Temurea Morrison
Bella - Tenia Bristowe
Ruben - Julian Lawrence
Keven Waters - Frank Whitten
John Marinovich - Gary Day
Tom - Selwyn Muru
Rina - Lowess Matamuia
Sparkey - Bruce Allpress
Grace Walker - Helen Kesha
Writer - Greg McGee
Producer - Logan Brewer
Director - Wayne Tourell
Television New Zealand
3.7
Ash Wednesday
The volunteer fire brigade is being kept on its toes by a local arsonist.
Det Sgt Doug Mortimer - Terrance Cooper
Sgt Bob Storey - Don Selwyn
Constable Dave Gilchrist - Sean Duffy
Constable Lois Higgs - Judy McIntosh
Tim Bayless - Norman Fletcher
Larry - Peter Blunt
Sparkey - Bruce Allpress
Toby Harmer - John Watson
Hoseman - Ian Harrop
Barman - Edward Bryant
Keith Deller - Andrew Glover
Lionel Foster - Peter Vere Jones
Chemist - Tony Hazeldine
Bookshop Owner - Barry Southern
Lizzie Deller - Andrew Routeledge
Hilary Yorke - Helen Rowley
Writer - Anthony Noonan
Producer - Logan Brewer
Director - Wayne Tourell
Television New Zealand
Pay demand threatens TV series
Press, 30 May 1984
PA Auckland
The future of the television series, “Mortimer’s Patch,” is uncertain because an actor has asked for an unacceptable pay rise of 122 per cent, according to TVNZ.
TVNZ’s head of drama, Mr John McRae, said yesterday that one of the three central characters in the home-grown police series had demanded a pay rise which was not possible in the current economic climate.
The actor, Don Selwyn, who plays Sergeant Bob Storey, is at the centre of the row. The other two main characters have not asked for more money.
Terrence Cooper, who plays Detective Sergeant Doug Mortimer in the series, said yesterday that he and Shaun Duffy had both agreed to another series at the old pay rate.
A third series of “Mortimer’s Patch” will be screened for seven episodes beginning on June 12, but after that its future is in doubt. Mr McRae said that Bob Storey could not be written out of the future series because scripts were already done and writers would not have time to alter them.
As well as the uncertainty because of the pay request, there were technical problems over new outside broadcasting gear, Mr McRae said, and he had decided to shelve the series until 1985 and hope the money differences could be solved.
“Mortimer’s Patch,” launched three years ago, was scrapped after the second series and replaced by “Both Sides of the Fence” until Mr McRae revived it. “If I didn’t believe in the series I wouldn’t have done that,” he said.
When the police series, about the fictional town of Cobham, was revived, it was presumed that it was in for a long, happy future. “Now we Have a problem and perhaps in the meantime the actor will change his mind,” said Mr Mcßae.
Terence Cooper said on Monday night that TVNZ had scrapped “Mortimer’s Patch” over a “petty argument,” but Mr McRae said that the series had merely been postponed.
Cooper said that the amount argued about in the pay dispute was “ludicrously small” compared with an estimated $30,000 which TVNZ wasted in script development by “abandoning” the series.
However, Mr McRae said he hoped the series would resume next year.
Cooper said that what happened to “Mortimer’s Patch” raised questions about treatment of actors by TVNZ. “Other areas of TVNZ could stand the same kind of investigation that the light entertainment department recently underwent,” Cooper said.
TVNZ planned to use videotape instead of film for future series of “Mortimer’s Patch,” saving an estimated $130,000. “Surely some of that money could have been filtered to the actors,” he said.
Cooper said TVNZ continued to import overseas actors for lead roles in New Zealand productions — the most recent being the English actor, David Gwilliam, who will have the lead in the upcoming big-budget series, “Hanlon.”
“I know very well they will not be acting out here for the sort of money we are getting,” said Cooper.
TVNZ’s arguments do not impress Cooper. “They say we cannot get a rise because of the wage freeze, but we have always had provision to negotiate our salaries,” he said.
“They say it will set a precedent, but our salaries are a joke when compared with those in other countries.”
Cooper is bitter also about other facets of actors’ contracts with TVNZ. He said that when a series was sold to networks overseas an actor usually got paid extra, but there were no provisions for extra payments if a series was sold to cable television or video outlets.
He said that TVNZ recently sold the dramas “Hunter’s Gold,” “Gather Your Dreams” and “Children of Fire Mountain” to cable television stations in the United States. Yet Cooper and other actors in the three dramas received no extra payments as a result of the transactions.
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