Article: The Courier Mail, Tuesday 11th of November, 2008

William McInnes leads double life in The Informant
Erin McWhirter and Siobhan Duck

TO HIS children, Richard Button is just a daggy dad, trying to navigate his way through family life and financial worries the best he can.

He has an outspoken wife, two teenagers facing the usual coming-of-age torments but, generally speaking, Button's life appears as normal as those of the friends and family he mixes with at backyard barbecues.

But digging deeper we find someone much more enigmatic; a man whose life is under the microscope every second of every day as a secret informant for the Australian Serious Crime Agency (ASCA).

Button is living a double life – family man one minute, crime-stopper the next.

Logie winner William McInnes portrays Button in Channel 10 telemovie The Informant.

With a top-notch cast including the exceptionally gifted and witty Stephen Curry as "grumpy copper" Simon Ford, Anita Hegh as Button's wife, Christine, Colin Friels as a "strong, direct, cop" and Leeanna Walsman as surveillance agent Heidi Oliver, McInnes is in good company.

With intriguing twists, the fact is no one, not even his wife, knows the mystery behind Button.

"For all intents and purposes Richard Button and his wife, Christine, have got all the hassles of trying to pay off credit cards and make ends meet . . . as well as trying to solve major corporate crime and murders," says McInnes, 44, whose showbiz career began with a recurring part on A Country Practice in 1990 and later led to roles in SeaChange, Kath & Kim and Crashburn.

"As a piece of entertainment, I think it's a terrific concept."

Hegh, 36, says it's interesting to watch the secret life of her character's husband unravel but still remain so guarded to the point where Christine is shut out.

"She knows not to ask too much about what he does," the 1994 NIDA graduate says.
Inspired by true events

Written by Greg Haddrick, one of the masterminds behind critically acclaimed telemovie The Society Murders, The Informant is inspired by true events.

It was during Haddrick's digging for other crime television series over the years that he uncovered many international agencies have used civilians to infiltrate organised crime networks.

Legally and morally there are some things undercover police can't do that a member of the general public can.

From there The Informant was born.

Fans of Bryce Courtenay novel Jessica, which Ten adapted into a mini-series for the network in 2004, will remember Walsman in the title role.

Now, she's back on the box attempting to tackle crime and convincing her ASCA colleague Jim Sivilich (played by newcomer Don Christopher) that Button is a white hat.

Perhaps this has something to do with professional admiration for the agent bordering on a crush.

"I think Heidi thinks Richard is really good at what he does and ultimately her gut instinct is that he is one of the good guys – that maybe he has worked overseas as a special agent," Walsman explains. "There are conflicting views that maybe he is part of major crime.

"What was interesting about The Informant is that Heidi is the only female but also that idea of listening in to someone's life and being part of it and not being part of it – being a bit removed."

The Informant, Ten, November 14, 8.30pm