The kiss two million viewers waited for

The Herald Sun
August 30, 2006 12:00am

FANS of David Wenham were shattered when his SeaChange character Diver Dan packed his bags for the Galapagos Islands.

But before he departed he managed to sneak in one of TV's memorable kisses.
More than 1.7 million viewers tuned in to see Sigrid Thornton's Laura Gibson and Diver Dan consummate their attraction and lock lips in the final episode of season one.
Thornton, who loved playing complex coastal-town magistrate Laura in the ABC drama, says kissing Wenham was "an absolute joy".
"I didn't feel sorry for myself at all," she says. She now hosts Channel 9's What's Good for You.

"David was an absolute joy to work alongside -- everyone on SeaChange would agree he's a delight, always good-natured, good-humoured, a lot of fun."
Thornton, a veteran of our screen industry voted "Australia's Most Beautiful Face" by Woman's Day readers in 1990, says there was a lot of build-up to the kiss, not just for viewers but also the actors.

"Though there was a lot of expectation in the scene for us, we were relaxed in one another's company, so it was very easy, an extremely pleasant scene to shoot."

SeaChange premiered on May 10, 1998. By season two, it averaged 2.28 million viewers.

The show finished after three seasons in 2000.

"Really we wanted to quit while we were ahead rather than push it too hard," Thornton says.

She believes the secret to its success was the writing and the strong ensemble cast.

What's Good For You, Channel 9, Monday, 7.30pm