Jeremy Sims leads Dangerous Remedy

Jeremy Sims leads the cast of a new ABC telemovie, Dangerous Remedy, based on an illegal abortion racket in Melbourne in the 1960s.

The cast also includes William McInnes, Susie Porter, Maeve Dermody, Mark Leonard Winter plus Gary Sweet and Caroline Craig.

In 1969 suburban GP Dr Bert Wainer, moved by the death of a young woman, embarked on a campaign for law reform. He quickly discovered an illegal abortion ring protected by corrupt homicide detectives that allowed the medical establishment, media and politicians to turn a blind eye to the insidious impact of the law. His crusade created powerful enemies who threatened his practice, his reputation, his family and came close to taking his life.

Dangerous Remedy is the story of the remarkable summer when Bert Wainer and two extraordinary women shook Melbourne society and ultimately transformed it. The compelling political thriller for ABC TV has begun shooting in Melbourne this week.

An outstanding cast led by Jeremy Sims (Corridors of Power, Fireflies, Underbelly Files) William McInnes (Curtin, East West 101, Look Both Ways) Susie Porter (East West 101, Sisters of War, East of Everything) Maeve Dermody (Paper Giants, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Beautiful Kate) and Mark Leonard Winter (Balibo, Van Dieman’s Land, Blame) supported by Gary Sweet and Caroline Craig recreates real people caught up in desperate and possibly deadly events.

Dangerous Remedy is produced by Ned Lander (Radiance, Who Do You Think You Are?) written by Kris Wyld (East West 101, Wildside) and directed by Ken Cameron (Underbelly, Wildside, Brides of Christ). Andrew Myer (My Year Without Sex, Look Both Ways) is an Executive Producer.

ABC TV Head of Fiction, Carole Sklan said, “Dangerous Remedy reveals a truly courageous man and his heroic efforts to expose police corruption and protect vulnerable women from men who profited from their suffering.”

Producer, Ned Lander said, “This is a story of the remarkable Dr Bertram Wainer – a passionate and flawed man whose campaign challenged and changed our society.”

Dangerous Remedy is inspired by Dr Bertram Wainer’s 1972 book ‘It Isn’t Nice’. It will screen on ABC 1.