A striking new Australia–UK co-production is quietly shaping up to be one of the most intriguing thriller series to hit the international market. Titled Careless, the drama brings together an impressive cast and creative team, with production now underway across Sydney and Glasgow.
Fronting the series are Solly McLeod (House of the Dragon), Robyn Malcolm (After The Party), Katie Leung (Bridgerton), and Richard Roxburgh (Rake).
A cross-continental thriller in the making
Careless is being produced for Australian streamer Stan and UK broadcaster Channel 4, with backing from Nine Network, All3Media International, and Screen Scotland, alongside support from Screen NSW.
The series is a collaboration between Easy Tiger Productions (Colin From Accounts) and Synchronicity Films, the team behind The Tattoo of Auschwitz.
The story: charm, control, and buried danger
Billed as a “seductive thriller,” Careless follows Robbie, a Scottish backpacker played by Solly McLeod, who arrives in Sydney looking for a fresh start. His life takes a sharp turn when he successfully lands a job as a live-in carer for Mike, a notorious rock’n’roll icon portrayed by Richard Roxburgh, who has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
As Robbie settles into the household, he becomes increasingly close not only to Mike, but also to Mike’s wife Angela, played by Robyn Malcolm. What begins as trust slowly shifts into emotional dependency — and then into something far more dangerous. As Robbie embeds himself deeper into their lives, long-buried secrets from his past begin to surface, threatening to put both Mike and Angela in serious danger.
Katie Leung, along with Mabel Li, Thomas Weatherall, and Alison Peebles, round out the ensemble cast.
Creative team behind the scenes
The series is created by Helen Fitzgerald (The Cry) and Louise Fox (Broadchurch). Fox has written episodes one, two, and four, while Christian White pens episode three.
Direction duties are handled by Stevie Cruz-Martin (Safe Home), with Angela Littlejohn producing. Executive producers include Ian Collie and Rob Gibson for Easy Tiger, Claire Mundell and Deanne Cunningham for Synchronicity, alongside Fox, Adrian Burns, Stan’s Michael Healy and Andy Ryan, and Kieran Hannigan for Screen Scotland. The series was pre-bought for Channel 4 by Polly Scates.
International sales will be handled by All3Media International.
Why Careless stands out
With its intimate setup, morally complex characters, and slow-burn tension, Careless is positioning itself as a character-driven thriller rather than a conventional crime drama. The mix of Australian and UK talent — both on-screen and behind the camera — adds a layered, international sensibility that should travel well across markets.
Final words
Careless may still be in production, but all signs point to a sharp, unsettling series built on performance, psychology, and quiet menace. With Solly McLeod at its centre and a heavyweight creative team backing it, this is one Australia–UK collaboration that’s firmly worth keeping an eye on.
