It’s one of Australia’s most popular television series and holds a very special place in many people’s hearts, airing 1058 episodes between 1981 to 1994. Now, 24 years since fans bid farewell to A Country Practice, New Idea can reveal that the much-loved series is set to make a return.
According to a well-placed television insider, global entertainment group Fremantle Media Australia has bought the rights to the drama. Set in the fictional rural country town of Wandin Valley, original stars included Lorrae Desmond as Shirley Gilroy, Brian Wenzel as policeman Sergeant Frank Gilroy and Anne Tenney as Melissa ‘Molly’ Jones.
In fact, Molly’s death scene – after a 10-week battle with leukaemia – is still regarded as one of the saddest moments on Australian TV with a staggering 2.2 million people tuning in to watch the heartbreaking episode back in 1984.
During an interview with Studio 10, Anne recalled her departure from the show.
“It was such a huge thing,” Anne says. “It was a shock. I played her (Molly) for four and a half years … I really loved playing her.”
At the time, Anne’s on-screen husband Brendan was played by her now real-life husband, Home and Away star, Shane Withington.
“If I’d known that the death scene was going to end up being the highest rated moment in the history of Australian TV, and that I’d still be watching it every year 40 years later, I would have put a bit more effort in,” Shane joked to Starts at 60 earlier this year.
A Country Practice was adored for its storylines which were often based around family values and living on the land.
It was also the birthplace of some of Australia’s biggest stars – including actress Georgie Parker. Now 53, Georgie played nurse Lucy Gardiner for six years on the popular soap.
“My character was outrageous, colourful and spontaneous,” Georgie said reflecting on her on-screen character during an interview this year. “She had a pet rooster called Rhett and she spoke to inanimate objects. She was pretty easy to love.”
Indeed she was. And with speculation mounting that Fremantle are looking to bring back some of the old cast mates – can we expect to see Georgie, who currently plays Roo Stewart in Home and Away, reprise the role that catapulted her to fame?
“The general idea of the show is that it will focus on a new generation of locals,” our source reveals.
“But Fremantle also want to bring back some of the original characters to give that nostalgic element to it.”
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