# Barracuda (TV series)

Barracuda is an Australian drama miniseries, first broadcast on ABC TV starting 10 July 2016. The series is based on Barracuda, the 2013 novel by Australian author Christos Tsiolkas, which explores a brutal clash of cultures, dreams and expectations and the relentless demands that are placed upon young athletes, their families, friends, schools and coaches.
Barracuda is written by Blake Ayshford and Belinda Chayko and directed by Robert Connolly. It is produced by Tony Ayres and Amanda Higgs with Christos Tsiolkas as associate producer. The series is a Matchbox Pictures production in association with ABC Television, Screen Australia and Film Victoria.

## Synopsis

Set from 1996, Danny Kelly is a talented swimmer who attends a prestigious Melbourne private school on a sporting scholarship. Working class, half Greek and half Irish, he is the target of harassment from the privileged students. Danny yearns to win swimming gold at the 2000 Summer Olympics. He is taken under the wing of highly regarded coach Frank Torma and develops a friendship/rivalry with teammate Martin Taylor which inspires Danny to become a world record holder.

## Cast

* Elias Anton as Danny Kelly
* Ben Kindon as Martin Taylor
* Matt Nable as Frank Torma
* Rachel Griffiths as Samantha Taylor
* Andrew Blackman as Mr Taylor
* Jeremy Lindsay Taylor as Neal Kelly
* Victoria Haralabidou as Stephanie Kelly
* Tilda Cobham-Hervey as Emma Taylor
* Andrew Creer as Wilco
* Jacob Collins-Levy as Clyde
* Joel Lok as Luke Tran
* Rhys Mitchell as Scooter
* Imran Adams as Theo Kelly
* Luca Sardelis as Regan Kelly
* Joe Klocek as Tsitsas
* Damon Gameau as Ben Whitter
* Helen Morse as Margot

## Episodes

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Australian viewers |
| 1 | 1 | "Episode 1" or "1996" | Robert Connolly | Blake Ayshford | 10 July 2016 (2016-07-10) | 630,000 |
| Transferring to an exclusive school on a swimming scholarship, Danny's ambitions for pool glory are met with racist hostility, especially from the swim squad's gold-winner. |||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Episode 2" or "1997" | Robert Connolly | Belinda Chayko | 17 July 2016 (2016-07-17) | 557,000 |
| Danny welcomes the distraction of being introduced into the Taylor family's well-to-do world on a weekend away, before preparations for the National Championships begin. |||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Episode 3" or "1998" | Robert Connolly | Blake Ayshford | 24 July 2016 (2016-07-24) | 521,000 |
| With the world stage in Kuala Lumpur awaiting him, Danny ignores the advice of his mentor and family, seeking the necessary edge from a fresh approach. |||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Episode 4" or "2000" | Robert Connolly | Belinda Chayko | 31 July 2016 (2016-07-31) | 514,000 |
| The consequences of Danny's blinkered determination play out, as a moment of rage risks ending a fond friendship, threatening to derail his life forever. |||||||

### Note

* ↑ All episodes were made available to stream on ABC iview following the debut episode's television premiere. Viewership numbers include consolidated 7 day figures.

## Broadcast

Internationally, the series was acquired in the United Kingdom by BBC Three, in South Africa by Dstv and Skai TV in Greece.