Frauds review: Jones and Whittaker fight typecasting in bold heist drama

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A star rating of 3 out of 5.

Note: This review is based on Frauds episodes 1-3, which were screened in advance for critics.

While ‘Frauds’ isn’t flawless, Suranne Jones and her co-creator, Anne-Marie O’Connor, deserve praise for bringing something fresh and original to a television drama scene that often relies on predictable storylines.

With budgets getting tighter and fewer people watching the same things, detective shows and true crime dramas are now everywhere on TV, often overshadowing other types of programs.

While ‘Frauds’ doesn’t reinvent the heist movie, it’s clearly inspired by classics of the genre. However, its colorful location and quirky characters provide a refreshing contrast to the typical, gloomy detective stories we often see.

With so much violence and disturbing behavior shown on television, it’s not surprising that the country often feels anxious and distrustful. Even a show like ‘Frauds’ seems mild in comparison.

After serving time in prison, Bert (Jones), a con artist and thief known for being unpredictable, is released because of a health issue. This brings her face-to-face with Sam (Whittaker), her old accomplice.

It didn’t take long for things to revert to how they used to be. Bert’s peaceful evening quickly turned into a request for one final, ambitious job – one that could really change Sam’s life.

Following a long-standing practice, a team is brought together. This includes Jackie, a magician’s assistant played by Elizabeth Berrington, Bilal, an expert forger portrayed by Karan Gill, and Miss Take, a guiding presence played by Talisa Garcia. Each of them is undervalued and dealing with personal difficulties.

This group really hits its stride in the third episode – it’s definitely the best one so far. That’s when they finally work together on a mission, and their teamwork and connection become clear.

Before this point, the movie *Frauds* starts slowly with a rather unremarkable opening. The most notable scene is probably Bilal quickly eating a can of lukewarm baked beans – and it was so realistic that it actually made me feel sick.

Just for the record, I love beans on toast, but I absolutely refuse to eat them straight from a cold can. That’s where I draw the line!

The fact that I keep thinking about this scene reveals my strong opinions on what every kitchen needs, but it also shows that the show *Frauds* really shines when it’s being playful or completely strange.

The first two episodes focus too much on Bert and Sam rehashing old arguments – and starting new ones – as the actors, Jones and Whittaker, adjust to their characters. These scenes feel a bit awkward as everyone finds their footing.

The film *Frauds* is a noticeable change of pace for its two leading actors, something they’ve discussed in interviews. However, despite the extensive makeup, tattoos, and costumes, both performers still feel distinctly themselves on screen.

Jones doesn’t initially seem like a typical wild, out-of-control character, and Whittaker doesn’t quite come across as a menacing bully, but both actors grow into their roles as the show goes on, and you adjust to their portrayals.

It’s great that actors get opportunities to break out of familiar roles and show their range—and fans of this pair will likely enjoy that—but ‘F frauds’ might be pushing things a bit too fast.

This at least shows the show is ambitious, aiming to break the mold for both its stars and typical television dramas.

I’ve only read the first half of ‘Frauds’ so far, so it’s too early to say if it will successfully finish strong. However, if the rest of the book keeps up the fun action, strong teamwork, and interesting genre blending, it could be a truly enjoyable and impressive read.

Frauds premieres ITV1 and ITVX on Sunday 5th October 2025.

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2025-10-06 00:34