‘The Teacher’s Pet’ Journalist Hedley Thomas to Front New True Crime Series for Paramount+

The award-winning investigative journalist will examine six Australian criminal cases in a new documentary series produced by Warner Bros. International Television Production.

Award-winning investigative journalist Hedley Thomas, whose internationally acclaimed podcast The Teacher’s Pethelped bring renewed attention to the disappearance of Lynette Dawson, is bringing his investigative approach to television with a new true crime series for Paramount+ Australia.

Titled Hedley Thomas Investigates, the six-part documentary series will examine six Australian criminal cases, with each standalone episode exploring the evidence, investigative breakthroughs and unanswered questions surrounding a different crime.

The series will draw on Thomas’ extensive experience as a journalist, author and podcast producer, taking viewers through the investigations as they unfolded and examining how detectives worked to uncover the truth.

Thomas became one of Australia’s most prominent investigative journalists through The Teacher’s Pet, the podcast produced by The Australian that investigated the 1982 disappearance of Sydney mother Lynette Dawson.

The podcast attracted more than 100 million downloads worldwide and generated renewed public interest in the case, which ultimately resulted in the conviction of Dawson’s husband, Chris Dawson, for her murder.

Now Thomas will turn his attention to six further cases, using interviews and access to those closely involved to examine the circumstances of the crimes and the investigations that followed.

“True crime is ultimately about cold blooded killers, the life-changing decisions they make, the terrible consequences that follow for victims and their loved ones, and the unanswered questions that can linger for years,” Thomas said.

“This series takes audiences inside a collection of extraordinary Australian cases, looking beyond the headlines to examine what really happened, why and who was affected, and what may remain unresolved.”

The journalist said the series would explore the often unexpected developments that emerge during criminal investigations.

“I’m excited to bring these stories to Paramount+ and show the truth is often far stranger and more compelling than fiction.”

According to Paramount+, the series will feature extensive access to family members, lawyers, detectives and witnesses connected to cases that have captured national attention.

Each episode will reconstruct the investigative process, examining the evidence and decisions that shaped the pursuit of justice while revisiting questions that may have remained unanswered for years.

The format marks a move into television for Thomas’ investigative storytelling, which has reached a substantial international audience through his podcast work.

Rather than following a single investigation across multiple episodes, Hedley Thomas Investigates will present six self-contained stories, allowing the journalist to examine a different case in each instalment.

The series also continues Paramount+ Australia’s investment in locally produced factual programming, with Australian criminal investigations providing the focus for the new production.

Hedley Thomas Investigates is a Warner Bros. International Television Production for Paramount+ Australia.

The streaming service has yet to announce a premiere date or reveal which six cases will feature in the series.