Bombshell for Billie Proudman

Whenever she receives an Offspring script, Kat Stewart pores over its contents to see where the next act will take the Proudman family and their friends.

And this week’s script for ‘Billie Proudman’ was no exception.

“It’s thrilling. I get everyone out of the way, when I get a new script. We’re all so invested, and we get surprised. It’s never been a straight-forward show, it’s always balanced the comedy and the genuine plot surprises,” she says.

“We have the same 3 core writers that we’ve had for every series, so we read them then we text each other saying ‘(audible gasp) Can you believe this?’”

In its fifth season, the TEN series begins with Billie (Stewart) separated from husband Mick (Eddie Perfect) but following the death of Patrick (Matt LeNevez) she adopts a sisterly role in helping Nina (Asher Keddie) to raise her baby.

“Mick’s on tour, but she is in contact with him, although they have a deal where they don’t Skype because she’s giving him space. They’ve got a lot to work through so she’s pretty much texting him all the time,” says Stewart.

“She’s holding out that they will reconcile when he returns back from tour.

“She is totally devoted to Mick. However, a bombshell is dropped in episode 3 that makes her re-evaluate everything.”

Season 5 has kicked off six months after the end of the last season, which has helped the Proudman sisters to begin new story arcs.

“Billie was in such a funk in Season 4 in terms of being in a self-destructive cycle in her marriage and career. Having Patrick die and having Nina need her with a baby to raise, gives her a sense of purpose. So she’s back on her feet, co-parenting and has started up a new business with Ange (Celia Pacquola).

“They’ve opened up a real estate business called House Proud, which is a very good name, styling houses and properties for sale. It’s a bit like Selling Houses Australia without the big reno!”

But while input from the cast is received with grace, Stewart says the creatives are in charge for good reason.

“The writers, producers and directors are all very approachable,” she explains.

“But they know what they’re doing, so it’s not a situation where you say ‘No way!’

“Sometimes (a storyline is) horrifying. There’s a development in this series where I thought ‘Ooh really…?’ But it’s been fantastic.

“We may have input in finessing dialogue, and we have chats with directors or the writers when they are drafting, but they’re pretty bloody good at what they do.

“One of my favourite things about this job is that you can do both (drama & comedy) and that you can do both within a couple of beats. It’s never boring. You’re never allowed to get sloppy, stale or completely complacent.”

Last year viewers were worried writers were planning to bump off Billie when TEN promos teased she was one of 3 characters who may die.

“People drilling me as to whether I was going to die or not was full on!” she laughs.

“Even my mother was drilling me. She knew I was signed for the next series but she knew in the show Nina has an imagination. So just because you’re dead doesn’t mean you’re not going to be around.”

The reaction from the audience, to the eventual expiration of Patrick, astounded them all.

“I noticed a shift at the end of the last season when Patrick died. It was pretty nuts and it shifted a gear. But it’s a genuinely makes people feel good, so there is affection for it,” Stewart explains.

“If someone chats to you about it, it’s not to say ‘Your show sucks, I hate it.’ It’s generally quite nice.”

Offspring 8:30pm Wednesday on TEN.