ITV is set to thrill audiences with its latest offering, Frauds, starring the formidable Suranne Jones of Doctor Foster and Gentleman Jack fame, alongside Jodie Whittaker, celebrated for her role as the Doctor on Doctor Who. This new drama features the duo as two skilled confidence tricksters reuniting after spending ten years apart due to prison. The story takes shape as Whittaker's character, Sam, enjoys her low-profile existence amid the tranquility of Southern Spain. Meanwhile, Jones's character, Bert, harbors ambitions from her prison cell, eager to execute one last heist to cement her legacy.
The premise reveals Bert’s intention to lure Sam out of her quiet life for one final, high-stakes art heist, triggering suspense as viewers question the costs of revisiting their past together. Frauds is the brainchild of Suranne Jones and Anne-Marie O'Connor, who are known for their previous collaboration on ITV’s Maryland. According to Deadline, Jones expressed her excitement about the project: "Working on Frauds with Anne-Marie and Monumental for the last two years has been a wild ride. We took the idea of toxic female friendship and turned it on its head to give the heist genre an emotional heartbeat."
Helen Ziegler, ITV's Senior Drama Commissioning Editor, described the production as focusing on the themes of complex and surprising friendships. "At its heart, this is a story of a complex, surprising friendship, which asks if Sam and Bert can pull together for one last job, or whether the past will derail them," she said. This sentiment sets the stage for depth beyond the typical heist format, engaging viewers emotionally as well as narratively.
The six-part series has commenced filming against the picturesque backdrop of Southern Spain, lending the show not just thrilling plot points but also stunning visuals. With Giulia Gandini, recognized for her work on The Split and Shetland, at the helm as director, the expectation surrounding the direction and production quality remains high. Alongside her, accomplished producer Pat Tookey-Dickson, known for Maryland, 1899, and Ghosts, contributes her rich experience to the project.
The creative team behind Frauds is confident about the fresh take on the heist genre it promises to deliver. Jones noted her longstanding desire to work with Whittaker, stating, "I have always wanted to work with Jodie, and now I am. I hope you love Bert and Sam and all they get up to as much as we do." This invitation to viewers hints at the engaging chemistry and performance the audience can anticipate from this dynamic pair.
Besides the engaging narrative, the production teams bring unique perspectives and experiences to the mix, promising both excitement and emotional sincerity. Ziegler's confidence about the show suggests great faith from ITV’s side, aiming to expand its drama portfolio significantly with this series. To broaden the impact, the involvement of standout talents like Jones and Whittaker has created buzz surrounding the production and its future release.
With filming underway and significant anticipation brewing around Frauds, viewers are left wondering how the story will unravel, what challenges Sam and Bert will face, and whether their friendship can survive the test of time devoid of deception and betrayal. The series is expected to engage not just with thrilling twists and heist action but also rich character development reflective of real-life friendship dynamics.
Set to be broadcast on ITV, Frauds aims at capturing attention not only for its compelling narrative but also by offering viewers relatable themes built on friendship and the potential aftermath of past decisions. Fans of both Jones and Whittaker can certainly look forward to witnessing their unique portrayals of characters dealing with their intertwined fates amid chaos and moral dilemmas.