Frauds: ABC iView Heist Drama – Air Date & Review

The landscape of the heist thriller is getting a distinctly feminine twist with F frauds, a modern six-part series starring Suranne Jones and Jodie Whittaker. Premiering on March 9, 2026 in Australia, the show, created by Jones and Anne-Marie O’Connor, is already garnering attention for its playful subversion of genre tropes and its exploration of female friendship.

The series flips the script on traditional crime narratives, according to reviews. Instead of the usual male-dominated world of heists and deception, F frauds centers on the dynamic between Martha “Sam” Samuels (Whittaker) and Roberta ‘Bert’ Mancini (Jones). The story begins with Bert’s release from a Spanish prison after serving a ten-year sentence for a failed job she undertook with Sam. Their reunion is described as charged, a mix of sizing each other up and a warm embrace, hinting at a complex history.

What sets this narrative apart isn’t just the gender swap, but the circumstances surrounding their potential reunion for one last score. Bert is facing a terminal illness, and this final job isn’t about wealth, but about securing f— off money for those involved. The prospect of excitement, or perhaps a bit of casual guilting, is enough to draw Sam back into the world of crime.

The show’s creators, Jones and O’Connor, previously collaborated on Maryland, a BritBox mystery that delved into the intricacies of sisterhood. F frauds appears to build on that foundation, offering a nuanced portrayal of a different kind of female bond – one forged in shared risk and a history of deception. The series is described as a blend of comedy, a study of female friendship, and a tale of shifting goals, making it difficult to predict where the story will lead.

Director Giulia Gandini is credited with bringing a vigorous energy to the production, actively gender-flipping the iconography typically associated with crime thrillers. This isn’t simply about swapping genders; it’s about re-examining the conventions of the genre through a different lens. The show’s success, according to early reviews, lies in its ability to be both entertaining, and illuminating.

The emergence of F frauds arrives amidst a broader cultural fascination with heist narratives. The enduring popularity of films like Ocean’s Eleven demonstrates the public’s appetite for clever plots, charismatic criminals, and high-stakes gambles. However, real-life examples of sophisticated criminal schemes, like the case of the Tran Organization, reveal that the reality of such operations can be even more complex and audacious than Hollywood portrays.

Between 2002 and 2012, the Tran Organization managed to steal over $7 million from 19 casinos across the United States. Their methods, described by FBI Special Agent Pete Casey, involved a technique known as the false shuffle, a sleight-of-hand trick that allowed dealers to manipulate the deck of cards in favor of cooperating players. This case, while ultimately brought to justice, highlights the ingenuity and meticulous planning that can travel into real-world heists, often surpassing the creativity seen on screen.

While F frauds is a fictionalized account, its exploration of deception and the motivations behind criminal behavior taps into a long-standing cultural fascination. The show’s focus on female characters adds a fresh perspective to a genre often dominated by male protagonists, potentially offering a more nuanced and relatable portrayal of the complexities of crime and friendship. The series is being lauded for its ability to balance comedic elements with deeper thematic explorations, making it a compelling watch for audiences interested in both entertainment and insightful storytelling.

The success of Suranne Jones, as highlighted in reviews, extends beyond her on-screen performances. She’s actively involved in creating shows that add depth to her body of work, demonstrating a commitment to projects that are both commercially viable and creatively fulfilling. This approach, coupled with the talent of Jodie Whittaker and the direction of Giulia Gandini, positions F frauds as a noteworthy addition to the current television landscape.