A Country Podcast

Remembering Lorrae Desmond... With Special Guest Shane Porteous

Lorrae Desmond, who played Shirley Gilroy on ACP for 11 years, has died after a short illness.
She was 91.
Lorrae was an absolute force of nature: she had a career that took her all over the world as well as Wandin Valley.
Mel & Kim look back on her incredible life (complete with a bunch of recordings of Lorrae's beautiful voice!) and talk with her long time colleague and friend Shane Porteous. * APOLOGIES FOR THE SOUND A COUNTRY PALS, Melanie's computer is ancient and it finally decided to die for this recording*
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Being In Wandin Valley: Did ACP Get It Right?

*Content warning: suicideThis week, Mel & Kim look at Kim's favourite episode, with a very special guest - the playwright and screenwriter Tommy Murphy. Tommy adapted one of the most seminal texts of the 1980s HIV AIDS epidemic, Holding The Man, and he's also a rusted on ACP fan.
MATES tells the story of the two men who own the local grocery store, and are outed as a couple when one of them becomes sick.
Plus, we look at the long links between A Country Practice and Playschool.
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Ask Us Anything, A Country Pals!

Our glorious listener Kathleen suggested we do an ASK US ANYTHING podcast, and she couldn't have timed her suggestion any better, as you'll find out.
Inside this ep: find out which characters Mel & Kim don't like, which characters they relate to, who they'd like to be on the show and... which genius came up with the idea for A Country Podcast.
This is a pod for the die-hards. It's pretty indulgent, but also super fun. Promise.
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When I Grow Up I Wanna Be... Josephine Mitchell!

If you're around forty years old in 2021, there's a big chance that when you were little you wanted to be Josephine Mitchell. Or, Josephine Loveday, the character Josephine Mitchell played on A Country Practice. She had it all: smarts, Shirley as 'mum', cute clothes and an even cuter boyfriend.
This week, Mel and Kim fangirl/interview Josephine Mitchell and find out what life was like for her on set.
Links:
On the Threshold Part 1 On the Threshold Part 2 A COUNTRY PODCAST on Facebook
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When PM Bob Hawke Came To Wandin Valley

Once upon a time, Australia had a Prime Minister who gave a speech on a popular weekly TV show called A Country Practice. His name was Bob Hawke, and we've got the full story on how it all happened.
Mel & Kim are joined by Leon Saunders, who wrote over 50 ACP eps, including the one where Bob Hawke appeared. What was Bob Hawke like? Did he learn his lines?
Listen to the Children Part 1Listen to the Children Part 2
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The Full Grant Dodwell Experience

Mates.
Mel and Kim have had loads of work on (sorry!), and so are releasing the full interview with the wonderful Grant Dodwell.
Next fortnight: it's all Bob Hawke and Josephine Mitchell.
Love youse x
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Being A Child Star On A Country Practice

Emily Leiding Weight spent some formative years of her childhood on the ACP set - in fact, she counted Jo Mitchell as her best friend as she played the cute and precocious Penny.
Emily takes us through what it was like for her on set, how she got the job, and what life's been like since she's been out in the real world.
This ep we look at the duck shooting of Licence to Kill Parts 1-4, Brooke Mikey Anderson and the beginnings of two ACP romances... as well as Mel & Kim's education and expertise in Friendzoning.

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Simon Says It’s Time To Interview Grant Dodwell

Content warning - this episode contains the discussion of sexual assault, with language used in 1983
We're calling it: Season Two of A Country Podcast is going to be obsessed with Dr Simon Bowen and his journey from preppy city snob to Wandin Valley's most progressive citizen.
This ep, we're talking to the actor who brought him to life - Grant Dodwell.
And this week we're looking at one of the most sophisticated episodes ACP broadcast A Lady's Choice Part 1 and Part 2.
Links:
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Creating A Country Practice: Meet James Davern

We've all had ideas for TV shows, haven't we? Sure we have. Some people actually make them.
Who's idea was A Country Practice? James Davern's.
Mel and Kim have heard so much about James Davern and the happy workplace he provided for the cast and crew of ACP. He joins us on the podcast to tell us all about ACP from its humble beginnings to its cancellation to the possibility of new life for the 40 year old show.
Also this week: we look at the extraordinary life of Penny Cook.
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Bonus: The Full Shane Porteous Experience

There wasn't enough Shane Porteous in our last episode of Season 1. We know that. So, here's the full interview where the man formerly known as Dr Terence Elliot where he generously shared everything from how he got the job, to how he started writing, to how much ACP characters got paid! If you have a second, please 'rate and review' us, so we can introduce more people to the joys of Wandin Valley and Dr Terence's excellent hair.
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