Underbelly: Vanishing Act
{{Short description|Australian television miniseries}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox television season
| season_number =
| bgcolour =
| image =
| caption =
| starring = Kate Atkinson
| num_episodes = 2
| network = Nine Network
| first_aired = {{Start date|2022|04|03|df=y}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2022|04|04|df=y}}
| prev_series = Squizzy
| next_series =
| episode_list = List of Underbelly episodes
}}
Underbelly: Vanishing Act (released in the UK as Vanishing Act{{Cite news |last=Mangan |first=Lucy |date=2023-08-03 |title=Vanishing Act review: an outlandish take on a real scammer who made millions – and disappeared |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/aug/03/vanishing-act-review-an-outlandish-take-on-a-real-scammer-who-made-millions-and-disappeared |access-date=2024-12-07 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}})is a television miniseries based on the story of Melissa Caddick's disappearance. It first aired on the Nine Network in April 2022. It was the seventh season of the true crime anthology series Underbelly. It was written by Matt Ford and Michael Miller.
Premise
Underbelly: Vanishing Act is based on the story of high-roller Melissa Caddick who was alleged to have embezzled $40 million before vanishing in November 2020 the day after the Australian Securities & Investments Commission executed a search warrant on her Dover Heights, Sydney home.[https://web.archive.org/web/20211028191141/https://amp.nine.com.au/article/4de8fa9e-5f93-437d-a9da-7286779836d1 Nine announces two thrilling new dramas for 2022, including new Underbelly inspired by Melissa Caddick's disappearance] Nine Network 15 September 2021[https://web.archive.org/web/20220402081016/https://www.nine.com.au/entertainment/latest/underbelly-vanishing-act-melissa-caddick-story-premiere-date-cast-everything-to-know-trailer-explainer/3c61ab79-1d5b-4187-92af-2936784a31ee Everything you need to know about Underbelly: Vanishing Act] Nine Entertainment 20 March 2022[https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/trying-to-fill-the-gaps-in-melissa-caddick-s-story-only-leaves-more-questions-20220404-p5aama.html New Underbelly series tries to fill the gaps in Melissa Caddick story, but raises more questions] Sydney Morning Herald 4 April 2022
Production
The series was first announced by the Nine Network in September 2021. It was produced by Screentime.[https://tvtonight.com.au/2021/09/upfronts-2022-nine.html Upfronts 2022: Nine] TV Tonight 15 September 2021
It was written by Matt Ford and Michael Miller.{{cite web | title=Underbelly: Vanishing Act (TV Mini Series 2022) | website=IMDb | date=23 December 2023 | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15428452/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm | access-date=23 December 2023}}
In the UK, the series was shown as Vanishing Act on ITV1 in three 45-minute episodes between 18 December to 20 December 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-18 |title=ITV's new drama Vanishing Act: Full cast list and how to watch |url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/23995137.itv-vanishing-act-full-cast-list-watch/ |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=Eastern Daily Press |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Vanishing Act |url=https://www.itv.com/watch/vanishing-act/10a2997 |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=ITVX}} Alongside the series, ITV1 aired a documentary titled The Real Vanishing Act - Missing Millionairess on 21 December 2023, produced by Naked (part of Fremantle).{{Cite news |last=Smyth |first=Lucinda |date=2023-08-04 |title=Two ITV shows ask the same question: what happened to Melissa Caddick? |url=https://www.ft.com/content/d81f3711-e85f-41cc-ac88-d38ccc664b39 |access-date=2025-06-08 |work=Financial Times}}{{Cite web |title=The Real Vanishing Act - Missing Millionairess |url=https://www.itv.com/watch/the-real-vanishing-act-missing-millionairess/10a3224 |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=ITVX}}{{Cite web |last=Whitehead |first=Joanna |date=2023-12-20 |title=What happened to Melissa Caddick? True story behind ITV's Vanishing Act |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/melissa-caddick-true-story-vanishing-act-2818626 |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=The i Paper |language=en-US}} In 2024, the documentary aired on the Nine Network.{{Cite web |last=Knox |first=David |date=2024-05-23 |title=Airdate: The Missing Millionairess |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2024/05/airdate-the-missing-millionairess.html |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=TV Tonight |language=en-AU}}
Cast
- Kate Atkinson as Melissa Caddick[https://web.archive.org/web/20220327013944/https://www.mediaweek.com.au/underbelly-vanishing-act-to-premiere-on-channel-9/ Underbelly: Vanishing Act to Premiere on Channel 9] Mediaweek 22 March 2022
- Colin Friels as George K
- Jerome Velinsky as Anthony Koletti
- Tai Hara as Vincent Lee
- Maya Stange as Angie Beyersdorf
- Dylan Hare as Nash Malouf
- Ursula Mills as Phoebe Quinn
- Frankie J Holden as Ted Grimley
- Anne Tenney as Barbara Grimley
- Sophie Bloom as Wendy
Viewership
{{Australian television episode ratings
| width =
| fontsize =
| generic = yes
| hidetimeslot = yes
| title1 = Part One
| date1 = 3 April 2022
| OVviewers1 = 719,000
| OVrank1 = 4
| CONviewers1 = 144,000
| CONrank1 = 3
| total1 = 863,000
| title2 = Part Two
| date2 = 4 April 2022
| OVviewers2 = 745,000
| OVrank2 = 7
| CONviewers2 = 142,000
| CONrank2 = 4
| total2 = 887,000
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Nine Network}}
{{Underbelly}}
Category:Nine Network original programming
Category:Television shows set in Sydney
Category:2020s Australian crime television series
Category:2020s Australian drama television series
Category:2020s Australian television miniseries