Rolf Harris: Primetime Predator
Tuesday, 8.30pm, ABC
It’s hard to overstate just how enormously popular Rolf Harris was. Raised in Perth, he relocated to the UK in the 1950s, going on to become a huge global star, beloved by audiences for his naive charm and seemingly harmless “Aussie” schtick.
His rise to stardom — particularly in the United Kingdom, where he was a household name — was meteoric.
But so, too, was his downfall.
In 2014 a British judge sentenced Harris on 12 counts of indecent assault, for offences committed against four women between 1969 and 1986.
This two-part documentary shines a light on his crimes and how he was able to hide, almost in plain sight.
We learn that at the same time he was fronting a public awareness campaign for child protection in 1985, urging kids to speak out against inappropriate touching, he was actively abusing the 13-year-old friend of his daughter.
Some of Harris’ victims speak in this, along with journalists Nick Miller, Isabella Higgins and Paul Daley, who followed his downfall.
Another big name, author and entertainer Kathy Lette (who moved in the same circles as Harris in London during the height of his fame), also weighs in. In one particularly illuminating interview she describes Harris’ persuasive ways, pointing out “he drew people towards him. He was very magnetic in that way.”
“When I was a teenager, there were words amongst the girls not to be alone in the green room,” she explains.
“That he was a bit handsy.
“Rolf was very big on the bear hug . . . he would always try and kiss you on the mouth.”
This is an oftentimes difficult watch, but in shining a light on the victims — many of whom are now aged in their 50s and 60s — and their stories, it’s giving them back their agency, allowing their tales to be told, often for the first time (his crimes were never prosecuted in Australia).
This is well worth a watch — all power to those who took part in making it.
Tip Toe
Streaming on Binge
David Morrissey and Alan Cumming star in this new drama from Russell T. Davies, the man behind Doctor Who and It’s A Sin. It centres around Clive (Morrissey), an electrician who lives next door to out and proud gay man Leo (Cumming). They represent two sides of the political spectrum, and their worlds — and worldviews — collide after they’re pushed into one another’s orbit. This spiky drama, which looks at how hate is pervading everyday life, will get people talking.
Race Around The World
Sunday, 7.30pm, ABC
The Nineties favourite is back! And it’s every bit as compelling as the original. Like the first time around, contestants — this time there are five — are being let loose in the world for 100 days, charged with making a documentary to send back for judging every 10 days. Regular judge John Safran (yep, the original Racer is now all grown up) presides, with host Zan Rowe and a revolving panel of guest judges. Ep one features Claudia Karvan and Margaret Pomeranz — you won’t want to miss what she has to say.
The Rookie S8
Monday, streaming on 7Plus
This super popular series is TV’s quiet achiever, boasting massive audiences across two streaming platforms. On 7Plus (it also airs on Netflix, though a season behind) it scored 6.9 million Aussie viewers across total TV for its previous season. Big numbers! The eighth season sees Nathan Fillion and Jenna Dewan’s characters off to Prague to help bring down an international crime syndicate, with the help of the nefarious Monica (Bridget Regan). One for fans.
Every Year After
Wednesday, streaming on Prime Video
Heated Rivalry, Off Campus — Prime is on a golden run right now with its young adult dramas. This is the latest “BookTok to TV” adaptation. Based off Carley Fortune’s debut novel Every Summer After, it stars Sadie Soverall as Percy Fraser, who falls for her Barry’s Bay neighbour Sam Florek (Matt Cornett) one magical summer. This follows their tortured love story over the course of the next decade. This has big Summer I Turned Pretty vibes, but it’s got big shoes to fill.
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