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Rake 4 kicks off production in Sydney

Rake Series 4 has started production in Sydney with Miriam Margolyes, John Waters and Rachael Blake joining the cast.

Co-creator and producer Richard Roxburgh is back as Cleaver Greene, who was seen dangling from a balloon drifting across the Sydney skyline. 

This time, Cleaver crashes into the world of a one-time mentor and now powerful criminal on the run, Edgar Thompson (Waters). 

Against the backdrop of a city that’s taken a turn to the dystopian, Cleaver frantically tries to stay alive – from seeking refuge in a country town congregation, to representing the very man who’s trying to have him killed.

Season 4 of Rake continues to cast Cleaver’s rapier wit on politics, the legal system, and our wider fears and obsessions. 

His long-suffering friends, relatives, and pugnacious foes also return in the form of Matt Day, Danielle Cormack, Russell Dykstra, Caroline Brazier, Adrienne Pickering, Keegan Joyce, Kate Box, and Damien Garvey.

Heading up the creative team is producer, creator and writer Peter Duncan, who will again direct alongside Peter Salmon and Rowan Woods. 

Duncan’s writing co-collaborator, Andrew Knight is also back on board.

Duncan said felt the series may have been done by the end of season 3 with Cleaver dangling from the balloon. 

"But there was clearly so much hot air left to expel we realised another prick was necessary," he said. 

"We are delighted to be flying again, are very grateful to the ABC for being the wind beneath our spheres and look forward to the turbulence the season will create."

Ian Collie of Essential Media is producing his fourth series of Rake, along with Duncan and Roxburgh.

ABC TV Head of Fiction, Carole Sklan said: "From its glass shattering opening to its jaw-dropping finale, Rake never ceases to amaze and amuse”.

Rake Series 4 is an Essential Media/Blow By Blow production for ABC TV.

The ABC executive producers are Carole Sklan and David Ogilvy.