Who the hell is Hamish? Well, he’s definitely not whoever he says he is.
Who the Hell Is Hamish? stars Dominic Cooper as the titular mystery man, who’s based on a true-life fraudster, and Paramount+ Australia has just released the first information about the series.
Here’s a look at what to know about Who the Hell Is Hamish? so far.
Who stars in Who the Hell Is Hamish?
The cast is led by Dominic Cooper as Hamish, a fraudster who sets his sights on another victim: Bec, portrayed by Claire van der Boom, a newly single mother with deep family pockets. Also starring in the series’ ensemble cast are Simone Kessell, William McKenna, Kate Jenkinson, Miah Madden, Fraser Anderson, Yasmin Kassim, Doris Younane, Maria Angelico, Marta Dusseldorp, John Howard, Andrea Moor, Joel Jackson, Remy Hii, Damien Garvey, Jack LaTorre, and Harvey Bowen.
The series is created and written by Adam Zwar and directed by Jeffrey Walker. It’s produced by Hoodlum Entertainment and CBS Studios.
What is Who the Hell Is Hamish? about?
The official description for the series tells us, “Who The Hell Is Hamish? is inspired by an industrious fraudster, and the group of victims who eventually decided they had had enough of him. The charming and cultured Hamish sets his sights on Bec, a recently divorced single mother with three sons and access to a significant family trust. When Bec notices gaps in his story and some odd behaviour, what starts as private unease widens into something far larger: a pattern of deception spanning continents and suspected of leaving more than $70 million in its wake.”
Hoodlum Entertainment boss Tracey Robertson said of the production, “After six years in development, it’s extraordinary to see Who the Hell Is Hamish? finally come to life. Adam Zwar’s scripts are razor-sharp, full of wit, tension, and deep compassion for the people at the heart of this story, and Jeffrey Walker has brought them to the screen with a confidence and craft that is genuinely world-class.”
Added Screen Australia’s Grainne Bunsdon, “At its heart, Who the Hell Is Hamish? is a compelling exploration of trust, deception, perseverance, and justice… this re-telling of a remarkable true Australian story is set to captivate audiences here and around the world from the very first moment.”
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Who is the Hamish who inspired the series?
The series adapts the story of Hamish Watson (f.k.a. Hamish McLaren, along with several other fake names), a notorious con artist who was jailed for stealing millions of dollars from different victims across the world. He is known to have scammed at least 15 victims, including fashion designer Lisa Ho, for at least $7.6 million. He is commonly known as the “Bondi Swindler.”
McLaren’s crimes were previously explored in the podcast of the same name, Who the Hell Is Hamish? produced by The Australian and hosted by Greg Bearup.
McLaren was jailed for nine years before his 2019 release from prison.
When does Who the Hell Is Hamish? premiere?
An exact premiere date has not yet been announced for the series, but Paramount+ Australia did confirm a wrap on production in August and it is expected to enjoy a global release “later this year”. The series consists of six episodes.
Who the Hell Is Hamish?, Series Premiere Date TBA, Paramount+