Whisking viewers into a world of serial love scammers and dating apps, Fake is the thrilling new Australian drama series starring Asher Keddie and David Wenham. If you haven’t seen it yet, this true-to-life series matches television romance with fraud and deception, throwing caution to online dating.
Since the series premiere on Paramount+ on July 4, 2024 Fake has been flying high — with its debut as the biggest first-week launch of a local drama on the platform. Recently, the series made its first foray onto free-to-air screens, with the first episode on May 25 claiming 300,000 Aussie viewers on Network 10.
What is Fake About?
The eight-part anthology unfolds as Melbourne-based magazine writer, Birdie Bell (Asher Keddie), is seduced by a high-rolling grazier Joe Burt (David Wenham), after meeting via a dating app. But as the (not-so) fictional series continues, Burt’s guise as the “ideal boyfriend” takes on a deceptive new look and leads Bell to question both her boyfriend’s motives and her own view on relationships.
Is Fake Based on a True Story?
Taking its on-screen cues from journalist and features writer Stephanie Wood’s 2019 memoir, Fake is inspired by Wood’s intimate story of dating a serial scammer in 2014. And where the series is set in Melbourne and Wood’s version (IRL) was in Sydney, the plot line is still firmly based on Wood’s experience with a manipulative (and fraudulent) ex.
On the adaptation of Wood’s memoir, Kindling Pictures said, “Stephanie Wood poses the question; what leads people to deny their instincts? This inquiry lies at the heart of Fake as we journey into the depths of our protagonist Birdie Bell’s psyche, and explore how the narratives instilled in us from childhood create fertile ground for deception to thrive.”
Where to Watch Fake In Australia
Fake is available to stream now on Paramount+.
You can keep up to date on Channel 10 and 10Play, with episodes dropping each Sunday.
