Jono, Ben & Megan - The Podcast - *BONUS* Shortland Street - The Podcast - The Darkside Of Ferndale

Episode Date: July 29, 2022

We've got a Bonus Episode of a Brand New Show for Jono and Ben fans. Hosted by Shortland Street's own Kura Forrester (Desi Schmidt), Shortland Street - The Podcast will be recapping some of the biggest storylines and moments that we all remember from the last 30 years of Ferndale's favourite Hospital. Featuring current and former cast members, Kura gets behind the scenes intel from on set and to keep listeners up to date the current Head writers (Laura Hill and Jessica Joy-Wood) wrap-up on what is the latest at Shortland Street each week. New episodes drop every Thursday where ever you get your podcasts. Follow the podcast: https://ihr.fm/3OJZEKh Host: Kura Forrester (@kuraforrester) Guests: Elisabeth Easther (Carla Crozier) Sally Martin (Nicole Miller) Craig Dunn (Stunt Cooordinator) Johnny Barker (Joey Henderson)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hi, Jono and Ben here. Great to have you with us. Yeah, it's good to be. I'm sorry. What is this? This is our podcast? Is this our podcast? We've done our podcast.

What is this? This is also our podcast too, Ben Boyce. Because I just want to say how excited I am about the iHeartRadio podcast celebrating 30 years of Shortland Street. I mean, that's amazing. 30 years is an incredible achievement. Great show. But why? Have you been doing whatever it is you do for 30 years?

No, I haven't. No, and God, I hope it never gets to that stage. But why are you excited to celebrate this? Well, because you know I'm a mega fan of Shortland Street. You are, actually. It gets weird when Shortland Street actors come into the studio. Because they don't believe you. You've had many, many years of just saying jokes.

I'm a huge fan. And, you know, we're saying jokes. And then when you do say something genuine, everyone's like, is he? Is he telling the truth? But you are. You're a big fan of Shortland Street. I even auditioned for a role on Shortland Street once. Didn't get it.

Didn't get it. Chris Wanner, the original Chris Wanner part. Yeah, back in the day. Yeah. And I was for a very sick-looking patient, I think. But, no, I've always had a dream to appear on Shortland Street. So, listen, my friends, you know dream To appear on Shortland Street So listen My friends

You know The producers at Shortland Street They're like Hey We'll start you off With doing a podcast intro for us So we're not on the podcast As such

But we're in show No no We're doing an intro About a podcast That's been recorded Oh yeah Well I could have Forrester

Who is on Shortland Street Oh she's awesome Yeah she's great She used to work with us On Jono and Ben She plays Dez Dez on Shortland Street Yeah yeah

She's hosted the podcast So I've got nothing to do with it. But I'm just doing the ad for the podcast. They're like, let's start you out in a talking role. Doing that, and this is what I'm doing. You're like a speaking role. Speaking role. To talk about the podcast. And then they're like, we'll see where it goes from there,

has been the promise. So this is the introduction to? Me getting on Shortland Street. And the podcast that's about to happen. Oh, podcast yeah yeah okay so um all right you know the acting game mate well i didn't know this was part of the acting game that's all right i'm sure it's a great podcast tell you what new episodes of the shorten streets the podcast throughout every thursday you need to follow it on ironheart radio or wherever you get your podcasts from all the great podcast suppliers out there. Yeah.

Okay, you're done? Anything else you need to get in there? No, I was just talking to former cast members about the big moments from Ferndale. Sounds cool. All right, well, you shut up, I'll shut up, and let's go have a listen. Kia ora, and welcome to Shortland Street, the podcast. We're celebrating 30 years of drama in Ferndale.

I'm Coda Forrester and today's theme is the dark side of Ferndale. Joining me on the couch today is Elizabeth Easter, who is known better as Shortland Street's first ever killer, Carla Crozier. And Sally Martin, whose character Nurse Nicole Miller has been through a wild ride in the 13 years on the show. Welcome, you two. Welcome, welcome.

Thank you. Thank you. No worries. You looked a bit confused when I said Shortland Street's first ever killer, Carla Crozier. Well, I just don't think I'm better known for that. Oh, sorry. I have people stop me in the street for my writing. Oh, I'm sorry. Hang on. I'm better known for that. Oh, sorry. I have people stop me in the street for my writing. Oh, I'm sorry. Hang on. I'll do the intro again. Yeah,

thanks. Sorry. Joining me on the couch today is famous writer Elizabeth Easter, who is not better known as Carla Crozier, the crazy killer. Hey, but let's just jump straight into this question. Do you get recognised as Carla Crozier, the crazy killer? Not with this on. Not with your mask on. Oh my god, masks are the best thing ever. I say COVID has been my best friend in that respect. Real game changer. Total. I can go everywhere. Like I'm right here. It's not even me. I actually sent my stunt double. Oh really?

Yeah, Elizabeth's at home writing. Well welcome stunt double. Thank you. I was wondering though because I've heard that the fans do go pretty crazy for the killers. Like Sally and I both get recognised as our characters but I was wondering, though, because I've heard that the fans do go pretty crazy for the killers. Like, Sally and I both get recognised as our characters, but I don't get abused, really. Have you experienced that, Elizabeth? I've had a lot of people ask to marry me, kind of like those prison pen pals.

I've had so many proposals, but anyone that obviously just wants me for my status as a murderer is not, I'm not interested. Wow. Yeah. No, I mean, I think probably my heart sinks a little bit when people go, where do I know you from? And I'm like, oh God, how am I going to deal with this? I've just got one of those faces. Yeah.

Yeah. Oh my God. That's so what I said. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And then they walk away and really realize, and then they feel dumb and there's no way you can win.

And if you tell them, they tell you they never watch it and then you feel dumb. So I kill them. My thing is now I'm an actor, so maybe, you know, not specifically. I'm a columnist for a show. It's like, okay, well then you can see it dawn on them and they get a little bit embarrassed. I used to tell people I worked for South Pacific Pictures. Yes, see, there you go.

Yeah, that would be my kind of go-to as well. People would say, what are you doing? I'd be like, oh, I'm with them. No, actually, I just kill them. There is a huge, great, big kind of compost machine, mulchy thing. I've actually thrown my third mulcher, the ones at Bunnings, not that effective.

You get a bit stuck. But I just compost out of them and my garden's amazing. Good on you, girl. It's flourishing. Are you for hire? Like a hit man for hire? We'll talk about this. We'll talk about that later. It's flourishing. Are you for hire? Like a hitman for hire? We'll talk about this. We'll talk about that later.

It's a fucking podcast. Okay, you're going to love this, Elizabeth, because the first question they've asked me to ask you, and by they I mean the podcast people, candlestick, rope, lead pipe or dagger? Do you understand that reference? I'm guessing rope. You mean like I'll tow someone behind a car.

Best way to kill someone. Yeah, I'd do it. I'd tow them behind a car. Best way to kill someone. Yeah, I'd do it. I'd tow them behind a car. You went to towing a person. I was thinking of rope. What am I going to do with it? Like whip them lightly? Are you being colour crows here right now?

I'm terrible at lots. Or Elizabeth Esther, the famous writer? Okay, I'm going to ask Sally the same question. If you had to kill someone, would you do it with a candlestick, a rope, a lead pipe, or a dagger? Oh, lead pipe. Yeah, nice. I reckon if I was going to kill someone, I'd hate them enough to bash them over and over.

Oh, gosh. Wow. Dagger, yeah. Dagger or lead? Yeah, no, lead pipe. Yeah. I'd go candlestick, guys. What?

It'd be real hard. Oh, that's true. You'd get like a stealing silver one. Yeah, but I love a challenge. Yeah. Well, ironically, candlestick was my method in the first murder. Carla? I'm here, Bernie.

Oh, gosh, there, a whack on the head. It was this. Damn thing could have killed me. Could have. Yeah, there was an earthquake. He got hit on the head by a candlestick. He started to come around. Bang, bang, bang. And you just finished him off. Yeah. Wow. Maybe I'm a bludgeoner. I don't know. So what is it like doing that? Like, what's it like playing a psychotic character? Well, she's just not psychotic. She's so misunderstood. And I really think we have to back up that track there. Okay. Lovely. Yeah.

I had a great deal of affection for Carla because otherwise you can't just play people like that. But it was fun. Like we banged me on, you know, banged him on the face. And then this lovely makeup artist called Tracy, she splushed blood back up at me and then it didn't get on because of the time slot. Of course, it was too gory. So I've got this lovely picture of me in my little uniform perching on the ground, just sort of blood splashed on my face, like a Polaroid souvenir somewhere.

Lost it. Wow. Otherwise I wouldn't remember if I hadn't got a picture of it. Yeah. Yeah. Can we talk briefly, or not briefly, can we talk about your return to Shortland Street? So Sally, what was it like for you

finding out that Carla was coming back? It was really exciting because it's one of the characters I remember from watching. And one of the, like... As a kid. As a kid, yeah. And so I was really starstruck. I had no idea. It's so silly, isn't it?

But you know, I was. Because I just, the character is iconic and you were brilliant. And it was, yeah. So just excited. But I was, I was like a little bit getting nervous. Oh, that's so sweet. Our first day was brutal. Oh, yes, it was.

What happened that day? It was so brutal. It was two headers in Carla's office. Hot office. Really hot. Super hot. And so it was just the two of us, just back and forth, back and forth, in a counselling session style chat.

The equivalent of a whole play to learn. And then lovely what's-his-name, the director, Ian, said, oh, let's just do all of your bits. We won't turn around because we'll save time. Yes, so all of your scenes. So we did all of them. And then there were about 100 scenes. And you had to get kind of like some sort of run up emotionally.

And then you'd go, okay, now we're going to turn around. And I was like, oh, my God. I wrote my lines. Wow. It's on Carla's notepad. Yeah, they were like going to give me an iPad. And I was like, I don't want an iPad. I want a book.

And I want it now and I want time to. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, man. What's it like reading that stuff when you find out what you're going to do? It got madder and madder. Can we be honest? Yeah.

I was like, for goodness sake. What, a bit ridiculous? This is just nonsense. Right, yeah, yeah, yeah. And then I just learned my lines. Oh, we get to the owl and the pussycat. We were both given up, I think. Yeah, I think I was just like, here's my lines.

So how do you make the ridiculous seem so real? Because people love that storyline and it was so trippy to watch. Yeah. I liked it when you were in that dark hole, though. Yes, that was great. Yeah, that was great. When she was actually hypnotised and then we shot outside. That's wrong, though.

That's never right. No, that's not right. Are you meaning don't encourage people to do that? Yeah, great, great, great. It's probably, yeah, no. You heard it here first. I want to apologize to her. Yeah, no, but it was, it did get really quite wacky.

And so it's hard to try to, because you don't want to soften the story. You want to sort of be loyal to the writing and things, but also to try to make it as realistic as possible, where at times it just felt really, it was just a bit wild. Yeah. Really wacky. Is it more fun playing a goodie or a baddie in your experiences?

I've never had a baddie role and I'm all, I'm so bad. Oh my gosh, let's get you a baddie. Let's get me a baddie. Baddie. Surely Nicole could turn bad. Yeah, but then they'll probably have to kill me off. Because you can't, unless it's just... Yeah, yeah.

Well, maybe you could kill someone with a lead pipe. Yes. And then be found a baddie. Okay. Or... And so no one cares. What if you were actually doing a tracheostomy with the lead pipe because it was the only tool available? But first of all, you were in jail because it looked like a murder,

but it was actually an attempt at saving their life. See, I like that. But then I'd like actually playing evil. I'd like to have ill intentions, you know? Well, then if you ever go, I guess go completely full bananas and take a whole lot of people out with the lead pipe. Yes. Who have been your guys' favourite villains of the past, of Shorty?

Or the present? Yes, Joey. Joey is one that really sticks in mind. You need help. What you've done isn't... I am Joseph James Henderson. Gone but never forgotten. Joey, no!

Joey, the Ferndale Strangler storyline. Amazing. That was brilliant. He's so cute. So cute. So cute. So sweet. So unassuming to be so naughty.

Because it took us ages to figure out who he was. Yeah. Yeah. And I don't know, it wasn't during my time, but I wondered whether they knew at the beginning of writing it, like did the writers know who it was going to be at the end? Because it was that long. Like I feel, well, as an audience,

I feel like it went over about nine months or something. And did they really know that at the end? Did they have a like multiple pick a path, like we'll shoot it and we won't tell anyone and we'll do it at the last minute? That's so cool if they did. Wow, that's awesome. Yeah. I mean, terrifying as an actor.

Yeah. Imagine going and finding out it's you, you're the strangler. It's you, just open your script and there you are. Wow. But how fun. Oh, yeah. That just goes to show, I mean, if that was the case, that he hadn't, no one had to sort of act as the strangler,

I think that's what was so great about that storyline is because it was all revealed at the end and it was a huge reveal. Yeah. But he killed so many people. I'm just remembering that episode where Carla kidnaps Pele. Oh. That was hardcore, man. That was awful.

Oh, my God, and the America's Cup was being shot at the same time. That's right. And with so many helicopters. It was like the end of the America's Cup was being shot at the same time. That's right. And there were so many helicopters. It was like the end of the America's Cup. It was the last day. And, oh, my gosh, location with 1,000 helicopters, not to mention ducks, Lake Pooh Pookie. I mean, they drowned out more.

But it was funny because we were like, okay, choppers coming, choppers coming. And, you know, you sort of usually wait for that to pass and then you can start shooting again. It's an issue for sound. But then they came in and then they all just hovered. Oh, for God's sake. The race was right there. They were waiting for the race and to chase the race.

So we had about six of them just hovering. I nearly called in a bomb. Oh, my God. So meanwhile, you're all hyped up, ready to do your acting. Poor little five-year-old Fletty. Getting bored in the car. First he was playing comatose. Yes, that's right.

Lie down and shut your eyes. You'll get some chips. Yeah. He was fantastic. Can't anybody think of Shortland Street? I mean, I know the America's Cup's a big deal,

but who cares? Come on. At the end of the day, that doesn't go all year round. Shortland Street didn't go to Barcelona, did it, or wherever the fuck it's gone

Yeah, exactly No, we stay here and we keep working Loyalty Loyalty Yeah, flippin' loyalty Loyalty Hey, speaking of a game I've got a little quickfire game here

Oh yes, please Who would you rather have a fight with? Joey Henderson or Kieran Mitchell? Kieran Mitchell, 100% Yeah, because you want to fight him more? Absolutely Yeah, great I'd take them both on. Absolutely.

Love to punch Adam Rickett. And Johnny Barker seems sweet. I could take him too. You could. I could take him in. Snap him like a twig. Absolutely. You could fight. Yeah. In another universe, who would you like to have been a killer? TK Mitchell or Sarah Potts?

Oh, they'd both be good killers. Yeah. Probably Sarah. Yeah. She had too many well, not too many. She was Mitchell or Sarah Potts? Oh, they'd both be good killers, wouldn't they? Probably Sarah. Yeah. She had too many, well, not too many, but like too many family scenes and relationship storylines, and I'd just love to see her like kick off as a crazy. Yeah, they'd be great. Yeah. What sort of death would you like to see next in Ferndale?

Shark? Shark. Have we had a shark? Bags not, it'd be so cold shooting. Oh, it'd be awful. Absolutely. Summer shark. Shark. Summer shark. Summer shark. Summer shark. Summer shark. Summer shark. Summer shark. We'll pitch that to the writers, eh? Yes, absolutely. Summer shark. And the final question, which character would cause more upset if they died? Is it, and answer carefully, Chris Warner or Desi Schmidt? Oh, close to the bone. We can't, well, obviously Desi. Obviously Desi.

Yeah. Although I believe that if Michael, Chris slash Michael did, you know, because they're the same person sort of thing. Yeah. Die. The kingdom would crumble. You wonder. Yeah, guys. Of course it should.

Chris would cause way more upset than me. No, I'm saying it's a close question. Is that the question about upset? We're discussing it. It's so close. Hang on. I'll read it again. I don't know.

Should we start over again? There's so much more that Di has to bring, you know? What hasn't Chris Warner done yet? That's true. That's so true. I love you, Michael. Yeah, so maybe Desi Schmitz should die so that I – To save Michael.

Yes, to save Michael. But also so you can do your myriad of other jobs. Okay. Like your podcast. Like my podcast. Like hosting my podcast, Be a Mother to My Fur Baby. Yes. So what you guys are saying is I have to die by a summer shark.

Yes. And I know just the man who can make that happen. Stunt coordinator Craig Dunn joins us right after the break to talk about what it takes to create all the action in Ferndale. Joining us on the couch now, thank you very much for coming, is Craig, who is the Shortland Street Stunt Coordinator.

Welcome! Thanks for joining us, mate. Awesome. So you're pretty much in charge of making the fight scenes look as real as possible, but also be as safe as possible, right? Yeah, yeah. Sell the action and sell the violence in a safe way.

It makes it believable for camera. Awesome. While we've got Sally and Esther here, we may as well talk about these two. Can you remember some scenes that you've had to work with these two on? Yep, yep, yep. Sally and I have worked for many years. Many, many.

We do Power Rangers. We're a Power Rangers team. Oh, far out. Yeah, yeah, yeah. What was the driving one we did recently? What was that for? Yes, that was for Maeve and Nicole's wedding. Yep, yep. So that. And what was the driving one we did recently? What was that for? Yes, that was for Maeve and Nicole's wedding. Yeah, so that was a high-speed driving.

Yeah, so one when the – it was mostly with Elizabeth and Jess, who plays Maeve, in the CEO's office when Vincent – there was an attack with a syringe and Nicole was tied up on the side of the desk. Oh, that's right. That was full on. And we had the fight with you with the... With the fire. Yeah, we had all that.

We've had some good scenes with that, so it's been good. Yeah. Yeah. There's always something for Craig to do. Yeah, and lots of crash mats and sort of like... Well, you know, we've had you on set too Yeah, I was just going to say You're a bit out of control though

You don't take direction well That's not true, that is not true But I do remember that one time where I don't know if listeners will remember The scene where Desi had to hit Damo Yes, that's right, yeah And I don't know why we decided But you decided that it would be best for me

to just actually hit him. Yeah, it was safe to do, and he just looked the authentic of it. We couldn't cheat it. We couldn't cheat it. So we just mimed it, but it looked really good. Closed fist, open hand. No, closed fist.

But we were cheating on the forearms. Yeah. So it just looked like bad contact, but it looked effective for what it was yeah because I was boozed and kind of just throwing my weight around

and you just come in from outside you know just drinking yeah but me I was freaked about hitting a male

I was such a wuss of course it's awful yeah Grant who plays Damo was just going oh just come on just do it

just do it really hard but you have to really get adrenaline going right for that sort of stuff otherwise it doesn't look good yeah

there's more on your face and sell the energy and stuff but it looked really good though yeah it was good that's actually a lovely little segue into do you have any secrets

you can spill to us around like who's been a little bit tough to work with I wouldn't really I really wouldn't say that Ben Mitchell I can say who the best were oh yeah great I think tough to work with? I wouldn't really, I really wouldn't say that Ben Mitchell.

I can say who the best were. Oh yeah, great. I think at shorty is Bipua, Pua Maga Siva. Absolutely. Beautiful. He's very talented, great acrobatic and stunty and would have been really well.

And he's good. The whole family's talented, but he was exceptional. And Jaden, Jaden's really talented as well. Jaden Daniels, who plays Curtis. Or did play Curtis. He did play Curtis, yeah.

Yeah, wow. But all the boys are good, you know. Ben Mitchell and Ben Barrington. Everyone sort of brings their own sort of different sort of style of what they sort of do for their actions sort of thing. So it's good. But I don't think there's anyone really bad. You just got to work with the skill sets that you get sort of thing.

Of course. Memorable Shortland Street starts? Yep. Well, that would be one that I was in. It was anyone really bad. You just got to work with the skill sets that you get sort of thing. Of course. Memorable Shortland Street stunts? Yep. Well, that would be one that I was in. It was a cliff fall we did over the Green Bay up there. So we had this cliff fall. So it was at the scout camp. So it's a 150-foot cliff.

So we went there for our rehearsal day and myself and another stunty chair, and we're on the edge of this cliff. And we're going to do the first fall is about 30 feet just to see where we sort of come and sort of land. So we're up on the cliff we're holding each other lying on our backs and we're going to just roll off this cliff face.

But as we fall we didn't really realise that because this is a cliff it's got all these tree roots sticking out and there's this tree root that goes out like in a U shape and Taryn falls with his legs open

hits it and then I land on top of it. It's awesome, I've got a great video of it, it's great. The camera ops is laughing. It's great! Wow! So he sort of like straddled it He crushes the

twig and berries and then I land on top of him. That's awesome. We had to stop because he was gone. But then we shot it on the day and we got the shots and bits and pieces but yeah, that was a stop because he was gone. That was it. Wow. But then we shot it on the day and we got the shots and bits and pieces. But yeah, that was a goodie. Good test. Yeah, yeah.

Jesus. Of your manlyhood. Yeah. Oh, good testing on the tree roots. Well, yeah. And your manlyhood. You're right. Well, then we went back and killed Kieran on that same cliff.

So we cut that tree. That's what I was thinking. We cut out that tree root after we went back a couple of years later. Wow. So we've shot people. We've burnt them. We've stabbed them, shot them. What else we've done? We cut out that tree root after we went back a couple of years later. Wow. We've shot people, we've burnt them, we've stabbed them, shot them. What else have we done? Throw them off the buildings.

Yeah, we've covered a lot. After the break, we've got a flashback from the king of killing himself, Johnny Barker, and we'll be dissecting this week's storyline with the writers to keep you up to date. I think my favourite interaction that I've had with a fan before it was revealed that I was the killer, Joey was just like a fun, happy-go-lucky character who's trying to pursue Tanya. He's trying to get Tanya to fall for him. I was at the supermarket and this little old lady comes up to me and she says, oh, my dear, you just need to tell Tanya that you love her. And I was like, um, it's, you know, in my mind, I'm like, oh, do I explain to this lady that it's not real? It's a soap opera. Other people write the show. A million things I could say, but I was like, you know what? The sweet little lady is clearly so into it.

All I could say was, I will. I will tell her. So I like to think that that little old lady was really rooting for me. And then when I tried to kill Tanya, I wonder what her thoughts were around that point. But yeah, I think that was my favourite interaction with a fan. Ladies and gentlemen, Shortland Street may have been going for 30 years, but the drama is still red

hot. So it's time to jump into this week's storyline and dissect the drama with the two head writers of Shortland Street. Welcome to the couch, Jess Joy Wood and Laura Hill. Yes. Hi. Hi.

I do all my own applauses because we can't afford the sound effect. Would you like to? Yeah. Woo. Yay. Oh, thank you. So this is my super sexy segue into what is coming up in the show next week. I don't know.

No. We can tell you what's coming up months ahead, but absolutely not next week. No, we do have a little clue. Big, huge week, actually, coming up. In fact, it's something that we're, because we've both come on as head writers this year, and with Ollie and Nick,

we're trying to kind of push the boundaries a little bit in the genre that Shortland Street sits in and we did that a little bit with the documentary for the 30th episode and following the ambulance crew. After that, you know, we're just trying to kind of find new ways of telling story in a show that's been running for 30 years and it's quite difficult to do that. So this week we're actually, I think when this is going to air,

this podcast, we just will have come off the back of a pretty special episode which involves Desi and Damo. Oh my gosh. My favourites. Yeah, your favourites. So yeah, so we've just come off the back where we've had a whole episode which has been in Damo's head as he's laying on the ground after being smashed by a bus. Wow.

People will be reeling from that ep. Absolutely reeling. Yeah. Do they realise at the end of the ep that we've been in Damo's head? No. I remember because we've all sat in the screening room and bawled our eyes out because you come to and it's Damo. Everyone's just at the point where Damo is lying on the street

and Desi's wailing over him. Right. And Lola. So that's a great way for people to tune in next week because Damo is a beloved character, and if he's just been hit by a bus, we're all going to be freaking out. So the launch pad for this week is exactly that, is that accident. And it's going to really create ripples throughout the entire hospital.

Across every single character in the show is going to be affected by it. And it's one of the first times we've really followed one story for sort of three episodes really, hey, and we followed Damo and just sort of how horrible that is for Desi, for all of the people who are close to him as they fight to save his life. And obviously we're a medical show, so to dig into like kind of a big medical story as well as the emotional ripples that affect all our characters, it's kind of a great synergy for the kind of show that we are. Yeah, I bet.

It's beautiful. Synergy, launch pad. And so can you tell us what to expect in the next coming? No, because that would spoil it. Yes, we can. Okay, thank you. But no, it does have sort of flow and effects for other characters. So there's a couple who maybe haven't been a couple for a while,

but they kind of think, well, you know, life is short. YOLO, they think. Should we maybe hook up? Oh, my gosh. Have I said too much? Yeah, the whole theme, I think, as as well leading up to this week and going forward from it is there's a whole lot of secrets and lies that are currently going on in the show.

And people, I feel like a question that a lot of our characters are dealing with, which Damo was dealing with when he got hit with the bus, is that whole the truth shall set you free kind of notion and who are you really telling the truth for? Is it for yourself to be absolved or is it actually the best thing for somebody to know the truth, which is sort of what Damo was grappling with all throughout the episode that's just aired. And he's just found out that TK had the affair with Te Rungapai.

Right. He's had the affair with Leanne. What? Oh, sorry. Sorry. Oh, this is awkward. Sorry, yeah. Are there any other themes coming up that I should know about, Laura Hill?

Maeve's got a story coming up which kind of tests her morality in a way because we've seen that Maeve is sort of heading on a path where she kind of thinks she knows what's best, even if the rules, it means she has to go against the rules to kind of do it. So she has coming up this week and then also in further story ahead, she sort of faces situations where she has to either follow the rules or look after a patient. Wow. But with this patient in particular, there are some kind of more complexities around that because it's someone we've seen before. And she might not be best inclined to look after them. Oh my goodness.

What does she do? I feel like that's classic Maeve though, isn't it? Always going against the grain. I love her. But with good intentions. Yeah. Mostly. So just to recap, we've got Damo. There's a lot of blood. But with good intentions. Yeah. Mostly. So just to recap,

we've got Damo. There's a lot of blood. There's a lot of blood. I can tell listeners that I spent a lot of time crying, a lot of weeping, some heavy stuff. And pretty cool to see,

well not cool, but pretty hard to see our two comedy characters in really serious stuff, right? Really hard. Yeah. Yeah. And it goes on for a bit, so watchers will be intrigued.

Oh, it goes on. I tell you what, it goes on for a bit. Oh, God. I've only just washed the blood off, ladies and gentlemen. And then we've got the Maeve storyline. We've got Madonna. A lot of secrets, a lot of lies. A lot of've got the Maeve storyline. We've got Madonna. A lot of secrets, a lot of lies. A lot of secrets, a lot of lies.

And it is all about, it always comes back to our characters' relationships. And so Maeve breaking the rules really affects her and Nicole's relationship. And we always try to make sure that it comes back to revealing things about our characters and making sure that we're finding new ways to look at them. And so I think this week particularly is going to do that for everybody. Great. That was a serious voice again, did you hear? I loved it.

It was really good. This is my launch pad. Yeah. Oh, God, it's good. Well, ladies and gentlemen, that is a launch pad into what is happening next week. Thank you so much for joining us. Jess Joy Wood,

Laura Hill, co-head writers of Shortland Street. You guys rock my world. Shortland Street is on weekdays at 7pm TV2 and TVNZ+. And if you've liked what you've heard, like and follow this podcast. See you next week. Cue music! Is it you or is it me? Lately I've been lost in scenes I think a change is what I need If I'm looking for a chance Or a dream Shortland Street If you want to find a way Of searching for another world

It's hard to see Shortland Street It's time to jump into this week's storyline and dissect the drama. Joining me once again is Jess Joy Wood and Laura Hill, head writers of Shortland Street. Welcome! Hi! Hi! Maybe we should just do a quick recap of what happened last week. Joining me once again is Jess Joywood and Laura Hill, head writers of Shortland Street. Welcome. Hi. Hi.

Maybe we should just do a quick recap of what happened last week. You guys jump in whenever you like. We had the residents of Ferndale still reeling from Damo's accident. How good was that? Oh, so good. That's where I want to jump in. Yeah. It was so good, right?

Quite a moosh. Anyway, sorry, that's all. That was just a brief jump in. What an ep though. My gosh. And people didn't see it coming, did they? And Damo literally didn't see it coming. And of course, Desi's faced with another massive decision

when she concedes that Donnie will be better off with Kellyanne. Oh, there's a lot going on. Do you guys want to talk about some of the other things that we recapped on? Yeah, I think it's been really interesting watching our traditionally comedic character of Desi, aka Kura Forrester, go through the ringer. It's been really difficult to watch.

And I think, yeah, it's been great to watch the cast rally around her. It's beautiful when everyone comes together and they just put all their shit beside. Have we seen that part where Leanne comes in and holds Desi's hand? Yes. That was so great. That moment in the operating room. Yeah, it was so cool. But also like bringing back characters

who are part of our world, but we don't see all the time, like Kellyanne. Like, you know, this is a key moment where she should be here for her brother and Desi's kind of going, he's fine. And then she turns up and what the hell? And, you know, these beautiful kind of character moments

between these people that we know, but still feeding into this kind of, you know, it's a medical drama, a medical story, but it feeding into this kind of, you know, it's a medical drama, a medical story, but it's all about kind of, yeah, what's going on. And then between them and over the issue of poor little Donny. Anyway, okay, so Callie-Anne's back. We love her, Brindley's sent. Marty and Monique, what's going on with those two this week?

Those two? Saucy, saucy pair, those two. They've always had this really hot connection, which is, I think, really nice to see for Mari, who, you know, we've seen him have these really angsty relationships with other women. And I think with Monique, she just kind of brings out the fun and the naughty in him, and that's really fun to see. So there's a bit more naughtiness coming.

Great. Will they, won't they? Hurry up. It probably will, and it'll probably be in the supply room. And then maybe they won't. Yeah. So now we're going to move on to what's coming up. This is going to be everybody's favourite part of the podcast

because hopefully you hear a few little secrets from the head writers who've got all the stories locked in their minds. So I've got here, coming up on Shorty, it's a big week. There are shock confessions, heartbreak, and a spy in the ranks. What's going on, ladies? Well Shorty, it's a big week. There are shock confessions, heartbreak, and a spy in the ranks. What's going on, ladies? Well, TK's carrying that big secret.

Yes, everyone knows. Oh, okay. He slept with Te Rungapai. He boinked Te Rungapai. That mother, boop. Yeah. Wow. And he's been not just a cheaty pants, but a lie pants.

Yeah, it's really been weighing on him. Weighing on him. And he's been dilly-dallying around telling Cece about it or not. And he's been talking to Harper and alluding to things. He's kind of come close but hasn't quite done it because ultimately TK is kind of an honourable guy. He's well, mostly. Apart from, you know, the old murder and the old adultery. Other than that, basically a decent guy. Apart from, you know, the odd murder and the odd adultery.

Other than that, basically a decent guy. So, yeah, so the secret is really weighing on him. He can't keep on lying to the woman he loves. Amazing. So this week we can see TK tell Cece. Well, will you? Or it might come out in a different way. Okay, well, that is a fricking must why we should tune in because TK's going to confess one way or another.

What else we got on? What's up Vivi? What's Vivian up to? Oh, this is the spy. That's the spy. Yeah, it's all coming together now. Ah, yeah. So she's been struggling with becoming essentially a grandmother to Amelie.

So since, yeah, she's accidentally drunkenly kissed Viliami in a kind of a spiralling, drunken... What is my life? We've all been there. Well, who hasn't? And so she's kind of been trying to prove to Chris that she's all about the family, and she's decided to launch into hiring a nanny for Amelie.

Not sure why she doesn't just look after Amelie herself, but... Because she's not the hired help, Jess. No, that's true. She's a busy lady with her health thing. Wellness. With a wellness centre. But yeah, she is struggling a bit with kind of going, I did not expect to be looking after a toddler

at this stage in her life, you know, and having a little pash with old Billy is a little bit kind of the more exciting side of life kind of thing. So she has sort of put her foot down with Chris and kind of gone, I'm not here as just a live-in help. And we need to get some live-in help. Get some live-in help. And that help is Leanne? No, not yet.

Oh. Ooh. Ooh. So, yeah, so she's basically, Leanne gets in Vivian's ear. Vivian's like, I'm going to hire this amazing nanny. She's absolutely perfect, blah, blah, blah. Comes home and this nanny is not as amazing as she thought she was. Okay.

So next time Viv hires a nanny who seems perfect. She's a little gun shy. And so with a little bit of comedic ribbing from Leanne, she perhaps goes against her morals and installs a spy cam on the nanny. Love it. Well, that's worth journeying in for. That should be crack up. Because what else is it going to say? Oh, my gosh.

What else is it going to say? Well, I can't tell you. Can't tell you. Is it sexual? This is good teasing guys. I feel super teased. Okay, and finally, Madonna? What's going on with her this week? Oh, she has to say goodbye. Yeah.

To someone. Yeah, so part of the I mean, this talks about what's actually going on in the real world and the pressures of real life hospitals in New Zealand at the moment and that they're struggling, the medical staff are struggling and lovely, Madonna's best friend from the Philippines has been, she's been training as a nurse and she's doing well but she's

not quite up to ED level and because of the influx of patients, she gets thrown in the deep end and it really doesn't go well. And as you said, this is a real, real world issue of frontline staff having to be redeployed in kind of different areas that they might not have all the training for,

they might not be quite capable of, but they're trying to do their best. But is their best good enough in the moment when drama ensues? Do you guys use stories that you've heard from real life? Do you do a bit of research around that and then write the story? We do. And we have medical advisors on the table

and throughout the dialogue process and nurses on hand. Oh, that's going to be sad seeing Madonne say goodbye because she doesn't have many friends. No. I mean, none of us really do. I mean, talk about Dizzy and friendship. Jesus. Right.

Okay. So thank you so much for those insights, Headwriters Jess Joy Witt and Laura Hill. Sounds like a pretty saucy week to catch up on, eh? Always. Thanks for listening. Follow the show on iHeartRadio to get each week's episodes and tune in to Shorten Street weeknights at 7pm on TVNZ2 or stream on TVNZ+. Catch you next week. If I'm looking for a chance or a dream, Charlotte Street. If you want to find a way of searching for another world,

it's hard to see. Charlotte Street.