Jodie Whittaker and Suranne Jones on what makes Frauds “fresh” – and the impact they hope it has

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Suranne Jones and Jodie Whittaker have discussed their ITV drama, Frauds, calling it a “fresh” concept for British television – and they’re optimistic it will encourage similar shows. They hope it inspires others.

The series unfolds with the stunning scenery of southern Spain as its setting. It brings together Bert (Jones) and Sam (Whittaker), former criminal partners who haven’t worked together in years. They reconnect with a plan for one final heist.

This is one of three shows featuring Jones that will debut within three months. It comes after the Netflix thriller Hostage and before the BBC romcom Film Club. It’s particularly interesting to see such a diverse range of genres represented in these releases.

I thought it was interesting when Jones said they were “different enough” to share the screen, and I really appreciated their hope that Frauds could push for “more” variety in British TV storytelling. Especially, they mentioned wanting to see that reflected in the kinds of roles written for female characters, which is something I’m totally on board with.

Jones developed the series Frauds alongside Anne-Marie O’Connor, who is based in Maryland. She shared her desire to watch more shows like this – dramas that move away from the usual conventions of British television.

Even though some of the characters are quite extreme – everyone is portrayed in a larger-than-life way – there’s still something relatable about them, especially within the context of their close friendship.

I remember the former Doctor Who star talking about how British TV sometimes seems to only have room for one complex female character. She admitted that she and Jones actually had to compete for the same roles in the past, which is a bit sad but also shows how talented we both are. It’s just the way things often work, unfortunately.

Keeping that thought in mind, she expressed how incredibly fortunate she felt to be part of an art heist orchestrated by two women. She also said she had a fantastic time experimenting with characters in a genre she and the others don’t usually get a chance to perform in.

Jones explained: “It’s women acting in ways that are surprising… often those details are softened or left out of the final film. But with these two characters, you can’t minimize those sparks and their shared past because they’re so central to the story.”

Frauds premieres on ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm on Sunday 5th October.

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2025-10-02 23:04