A retired Aussie detective and an English nurse meet by chance in the wilds of rural Australia. In the great tradition of mismatched TV duos, they don’t get on – he’s laid-back, she’s tightly wound, and they attempt to avoid each other, But when circumstances throw them together, it seems they may have more in common than they thought…

They both march to the beat of their own drum, they share a determination to find the truth – and they have a knack for solving mysteries. Meet Jack Darby (Bryan Brown) and Joan Kirkhope (Greta Scacchi) – the unlikely investigative duo who, along with Jack’s right-hand pooch Diesel, end up on the open road together.

Created by novelist and screenwriter Phillip Gwynne and veteran TV producer Glenys Rowe, this cosy mystery drama begins as Jack and Joan’s worlds collide (literally) in a car accident. Unable to resist the compulsion to uncover the truth behind the untimely death of Joan’s late husband, Jack and Diesel join Joan to head across the inhospitable outback and encounter plenty of suspicious goings-on along the way. However, Jack and Joan soon realise that the most puzzling mystery they face is each other.

Grab your notebook and all your smarts, and tune in to Darby And Joan from Thursday 11 January at 8pm on Drama HD (CH 116). For now, we answer all your burning questions ahead of this eight-part series that’ll have you gripped.

Bryan Brown and Greta Scacchi look familiar… Where have I seen them before?

Before Brown played down-to-earth homicide detective Jack Darby, he enjoyed an illustrious career spanning nearly 50 years. From his big break in 1983’s international drama hit The Thorn Birds and lead role in American action thriller F/X, to supporting Tom Cruise in Cocktail, Sigourney Weaver in Gorillas In The Mist and Jennifer Aniston in Along Came Polly, Brown’s got some serious credentials under his belt. And he’s soon to be seen in hotly anticipated drama Boy Swallows Universe.

Leading lady Greta Scacchi has also left an impression on the silver screen. The BAFTA-nominated actress has featured alongside Tinseltown favourites including Harrison Ford in Presumed Innocent, Hugh Grant in White Mischief and Jamie Lee Curtis in A Man In Love. More recently she appeared alongside Stephen Graham in time-twisting TV drama Bodies. Wow!

Who else is in it?

Starring alongside Brown and Scacchi are some of Australia’s finest acting talents. They include John Waters (Offspring) as Joan’s late husband Ian Kirkhope, Anna McGahan (Joe Vs Carole) as Joan’s daughter Rebecca and Sophia Emberson-Bain (Aquaman) as Joan’s daughter-in-law Frida. Jack’s daughter DI Liz Darby is played by Harrow’s Jolene Anderson (pictured above), alongside Robert Coleby (Queen Of Oz) as Ascher and Steve Bisley (The Great Gatsby) as Declan Kemp.

As almost always with Australian dramas, you’ll spot some soap legends too: there’s Peter O’Brien (Neighbours’ Shane Ramsay), Todd Lasance (Home & Away’s Aden Jefferies) and Caroline Gillmer (Neighbours’ Cheryl Stark). In a nice touch, the voice of Joan’s satnav is provided by Rachel Ward, who’s married to Brown – the pair met on the set of The Thorn Birds in the early 1980s. Lovely!

Where’s it filmed?

Shot across Queensland spots including the Gold Coast, Scenic Rim, Redland City, North Stradbroke Island, Mount Isa and Cairns, Darby And Joan will make viewers’ jaws drop with its incredible scenery – and may inspire you to plan your own road trip adventure. There are endless roads, sweeping coastlines, big blue skies, isolated rivers and beaches, dense bushland, lush banana plantations and ancient rainforest to marvel at while Jack, Joan and Diesel have their fun.

At night the group set up camp in Joan’s motorhome under a vast southern sky with an unparalleled view of the Milky Way (or Emu Dreaming as Australia’s Indigenous people know it). But remember not to be taken in by the outback’s magnificent beauty, for danger lurks around every corner.

Anything else?

If the stellar line-up and wondrous landscapes aren’t enough to tempt you in, then don’t miss Brown and Scacchi’s on-screen chemistry. Driven by compelling characters facing old age without fear, this series shines a light on relatable experiences that often come later in life such as grief, joy and regret. Complex characters, a stunning backdrop and compelling storytelling all combine to make Darby And Joan a charming must-see for your 2024 watchlist.

Where can I watch Darby And Joan?

Tune in from Thursday 11 January at 8pm on Drama HD (CH 116), with the remaining seven episodes airing every Thursday thereafter. And if you miss any of the action then you can simply catch up in On Demand. Easy.

What should I watch next?

Good question. If you’re itching to unravel even more mysteries, then look no further than Drama’s fantastic range of whodunnit dramas and captivating crime thrillers, all available to watch in On Demand now. Just remember to keep your wits about you.

• Sister Boniface Mysteries
• Signora Volpe
• Father Brown
• Agatha And The Truth Of Murder
• Agatha And The Curse Of Ishtar
• New Tricks
• The Brokenwood Mysteries
• Miss Marple
• Whitechapel