Blue Heelers (season 5)

Infobox tvseason
season_name = Blue Heelers - Season 5
headercolour = cedff2


caption = "Blue Heelers" cast of 1998
dvd_release_date = June 8, 2006
dvd_format = 11-disc boxset
country = AUS
network = Seven Network
first_aired = 24 February 1998
last_aired =
25 November 1998
num_episodes = 41
prev_season = Season 4
next_season = Season 6The "fifth season" of the Australian police-drama "Blue Heelers" premiered on the Seven Network on 24 February 1998 and aired on Wednesday nights at 8:30 PM. The 41-episode season concluded 25 November 1998.

The 41-episode fifth season saw the show move to Wednesday nights at 8:30 PM, making way for All Saints on Tuesdays at 8.30 PM. Ratings dipped, but finished still finished the number 2 show for the year with 2,240,000 in the five cities.

Casting

Main cast for this season consisted of:
* John Wood as Sergeant Tom Croydon ["full season"]
* Julie Nihill as Christine 'Chris' Riley ["full season"]
* Martin Sacks as Detective Senior Constable Patrick Joseph 'P.J.' Hasham ["full season"]
* Lisa McCune as Constable Margaret 'Maggie' Doyle ["full season"]
* William McInnes as Senior Constable Nicholas 'Nick' Schultz ["until episode 207"]
* Damian Walshe-Howling as Probationary Constable Adam Cooper ["full season"]
* Tasma Walton as Probationary Constable Deirdre 'Dash' McKinley ["full season"]
* Paul Bishop as Senior Constable Benjamin 'Ben' Stewart ["from episode 198"]

Damian Walshe-Howling appeared in the full season as Adam Cooper but finished his almost five-year career on the show with the show's season five finale - "Rotten Apple (Part 2)".

Paul Bishop began his playing his part of Ben Stewart before he actually became a permanent cast member in the episode "Nine Lives".

Recurring characters for this season include:
* Peta Doodson as Inspector (formerly Senior Sergeant) Monica Draper
* Beth Buchanan as Susan Croydon
* Michael Isaacs as Clancy Freeman
* Suzi Dougherty as Dr. Mel Carter
* Axl Taylor as Len the barman
* Dennis Miller as Ex-Sergeant Pat Doyle
* Stuart Baker as "Richo"
* Reg Evans as Keith Purvis
* Terry Gill as Superintendent Clive Adamson
* Karen Davitt as Doctor Zoe Hamilton
* Don Bridges as Charlie Clarke
* Marie Trevor as Lelia Clegg
* Pauline Terry-Bietz as Beth McKinley
* Neil Pigot as Inspector Russel Falcon-Price
* Adam May as Ellis Corby
* Peter Aanensen as Merv Poole
* Jeremy Kewley as Tony Timms
* Kevin Harrington as Charlie McKinley
* Catherine Wilkin as Sally Downie
* Grant Piro as Tim Ryan

Guest actors included Shane Connor, James Condon, John Clayton, Maggie Dence, Peter O'Brien, Grant Piro, Val Lehman, Monica Maughan, Anne Phelan, Dennis Coard, Carol Burns and Sean Scully.

Plot

Storylines included:
*Maggie and PJ hiding their relationship from their co-workers, which landed them in trouble when Organised Crimes specialist Detective Sergeant Ben Stewart came to town to help with a case, falling for Maggie,
*Tom embarking on a relationship with Sally Downie,
*Dash being diagnosed with cancer, and undergoing chemotherapy,
*the cops fighting back against plans to downgrade the station, resulting in a station upgrade, giving Tom, Nick and Maggie all a promotion, Tom becoming Senior Sergeant, Nick taking over as Sergeant and Maggie taking over as Senior Constable,
*a demoted Senior Constable Ben Stewart returning full time to Mt. Thomas,
*the engagement and marriage of Nick and Zoe and their leaving Mt. Thomas,:"in reality, William McInnes had grown tired of his lack of storylines", [Vickery, Colin. [http://australiantelevision.net/bh/articles/extraspecial.html "Extra special cop"] , Herald Sun, 15 April 1998.]
*Adam breaking the law - by buying a stolen car - seeing him removed from the force.

The season saw Nick and Zoe leave Mt. Thomas after their wedding, which was halted temporarily after they were accused of murder.

Production

Reception

Awards

Episodes

References

;General
* Zuk, T. [http://www.australiantelevision.net/bh/series5.html Blue Heelers: 1998 episode guide] , Australian Television Information Archive. Retrieved 1 August 2007.
* TV.com editors. [http://www.tv.com/blue-heelers/show/3333/episode_guide.html?season=5&tag=season_dropdown;dropdown;4 "Blue Heelers" Episode Guide - Season 5] , TV.com. Retrieved 1 August 2007.;Specific