Blue Heelers legend John Wood is making a surprise return to the small screen at the age of 80, almost two decades after the beloved Australian police drama came to an end.
The Gold Logie-winning actor, best known for playing Sergeant Tom Croydon on the hit Channel Seven series from 1994 to 2006, has revealed he will be dusting off his police uniform for a cheeky new television project.
Wood is set to reprise his iconic role in Second Act, a new short-form comedy series that brings together some of Australia’s most recognisable television personalities to explore the realities of life after retirement.
The series, funded by Aware Super, will see the veteran stars poke fun at their former on-screen personas while navigating the next chapter of their lives.
Wood will be joined by an impressive line-up of Australian entertainment royalty, including fellow Gold Logie winner and former Home and Away favourite Lynne McGranger, 73, comedian Denise Scott, 71, Play School presenter Jay Laga’aia, 63, and former Perfect Match host Greg Evans, 73.
Actors Matt Day, 55, and Pia Miranda, 53, are also reportedly involved in the project, which was filmed in Casuarina, NSW, earlier this year.
Speaking to New Idea about his unexpected return, Wood admitted he was delighted to be stepping back into the shoes of the character that made him a household name.
“It’s sensational to be remembered as everybody’s favourite police sergeant,” Wood said.
“The day before I was offered the job I finally managed to get onto a pension!”
However, fans shouldn’t expect the same no-nonsense Sergeant Croydon they remember from the fictional Victorian town of Mount Thomas.
Instead, Wood revealed he will be “prancing around in a police shirt with a water pistol” as he puts a hilarious new spin on his famous character.
The unexpected comeback comes 20 years after Blue Heelers wrapped up its hugely successful 12-year run, having cemented its place as one of the country’s most beloved television dramas.
Despite the passing of time, Wood said he continues to be recognised by fans, including a new generation of police officers who grew up watching the series.
Recalling a recent encounter near his longtime home in Victoria’s Yarra Valley, the grandfather-of-three said he was pleasantly surprised when a group of young female officers approached him for a photograph.
“I was recently in the street in Woori Yallock (near where he has long lived in Victoria’s Yarra Valley) and all these young female coppers came up to me and had their photograph taken with me at the bakery… It was nice to be remembered,” he said.
Wood also reflected on the extraordinary legacy of Blue Heelers, revealing the series had inspired countless Australians to pursue careers in policing.
He reserved special praise for his former co-star Lisa McCune, who famously portrayed Senior Constable Maggie Doyle before her character’s heartbreaking departure in 2000.
“A lot of young women became police officers because of Lisa McCune (aka Senior Constable Maggie Doyle). She inspired a lot of girls,” he said.
“She’s so serious about her work and so pleasant to be around. She was exactly the same age as my eldest daughter, and I adore her.”
McCune became one of Australia’s biggest television stars during her time on Blue Heelers, winning four consecutive Gold Logie Awards and captivating audiences with her portrayal of the much-loved police officer.
Following the show, she went on to enjoy an impressive television career, appearing in Sea Patrol, The Divorce, The Warriors and How to Stay Married.
Fellow Blue Heelers favourite Martin Sacks, who played Detective Senior Constable P.J. Hasham, also continued his acting career, landing roles in Wentworth, Ride Like a Girl and The Survivors.
Meanwhile, Wood himself has enjoyed an extraordinary career spanning decades, with appearances in some of Australia’s most iconic television productions, including Rafferty’s Rules, Prisoner, Cop Shop and Neighbours.
“It always surprises me how much of my life has been spent on television,” he said.