Fortune Offshore

With local favourite Outrageous Fortune beginning its sixth and final season of 18 episodes this month, its popularity has spread offshore, with the show sold to networks in England, Ireland, Italy, Canada, Australia, Slovenia and Croatia. As well, a US version of the show, Scoundrels, is now airing as a short-run summer series on the ABC network. JAG star David James Elliot, who plays the equivalent of Westie character Wolf, says the fact the concept had a proven run in New Zealand was a plus when deciding to take the part. “You look for something that speaks to you,” Elliot says. “Here, there are endless possibilities for story lines. Other than that, you look for the writing and characters that speak to you, speak to a gut feeling you have.” UK production company, Greenlit Rights has also made a local version of the show called Honest, a six-part series that aired on ITV1 in 28. The New Zealand series began in first aired in 25.