frauds

Frauds viewers were left divided on Monday night as the second instalment of the ITV drama aired, with some fans convinced they’ve already worked out a major twist.

Viewers on ITV were left torn on Monday night as the second episode of Frauds aired.

The gripping new six-part drama, filmed in gorgeous Spanish locations, revolves around two con women named Bert (Suranne Jones) and Sam (Jodie Whittaker) who plan to pull off the heist of the century.

Bert, fresh out of prison after a 10-year stint and facing a terminal cancer diagnosis, wants to carry out one last job with her mate.

She also reveals her desire for revenge on her former cellmate by taking on the job that was initially intended for her. Despite initial hesitation from Sam, who has turned her life around during Bert’s incarceration, she is soon persuaded.

This leads the toxic duo to assemble a highly-skilled team of accomplices to execute their mission: stealing a Salvador Dalí painting, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Part of their scheme involves recruiting a master painter and forger named Bilal (Karan Gill) to create a replica of the artwork for them to switch it with.

What Bert and Sam are unaware of, however, is that Bilal is indebted to some very dangerous individuals who are determined to find him, a plot point revealed in the episode.

As the programme progressed, revealing more about their complex relationship, viewers were quick to voice their opinions on the show, with some doubting Bert’s honesty.

One viewer speculated: “My theory is that Bert is gonna set Sam up for this because the real revenge she wants is against Sam because she didn’t serve any time and she didn’t visit her and I want it to be wrong so bad!”

Echoing this, another added: “That’s my thinking too so far. I’m just hoping that, if that is her plan, spending time with Sam again will make her change her mind at the last minute.”

A different fan chimed in: “Sam and Bert are conning each other, right?!”, while another queried: “Is the plot of #Frauds that SJ isn’t really dying and she’s saying she is to lure JW into a big job, and then she’ll let her take the rap as revenge? Or is there going to be something more to it?”

Another viewer questioned: “She hasn’t really got cancer, right?!” This was followed by another comment: “Bet she hasn’t got Cancer. Fraud.”

During the episode, viewers watched Bilal in a state of panic when he received a video call from his mum, who was at home with the men he owes money to, indicating they could easily harm her unless they get what they want.

Bert and Sam’s friendship also hit a rocky patch when Sam found out Bert had secretly been in contact with her daughter, whom she gave up for adoption at birth.

The teaser for episode three suggests more drama is on the horizon, stating: “With Sam reeling and Bert desperately trying to keep control, the heist is thrown off track when trouble from home catches up with Bilal.”

Frauds is available to watch on ITVX.

JODIE Whittaker and Suranne Jones are joined by a host of familiar faces for their new thriller Frauds.

Here’s everything you need to know about whether the crime caper is based on a true story and how to watch it.

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ITV’s Frauds is about two former partners-in-crime who reunite for one last audacious heist after one of them is released from prison on compassionate grounds.

The synopsis for the series reads: “Bert and Sam embark on the most audacious of art thefts, gathering a talented team of outcasts to help them plan this audacious crime.

“Whilst the team must overcome numerous challenges before they can pull off the heist, it’s the power struggle between Bert and Sam that threatens to derail their plans and destroy them both.

“Set against the epic rolling hills of southern Spain and the dark criminal underbelly that casts a shadow over the glistening coast, Frauds is a complex and addictive story of friendship, deception and survival.”

It blends dark comedy with the cinematic heist genre, set against the scenic backdrop of southern Spain — but is it a true story?

When is Frauds on?

Frauds premiered at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX on Sunday, October 5, 2025.

The series includes six episodes airing on consecutive Sunday and Monday nights over three weeks.

All episodes are also available on ITVX for streaming.

Is Frauds based on a true story?

Frauds is a work of fiction created by Suranne Jones and co-writer Anne-Marie O’Connor.

The plot revolves around Bert, who has been in a Spanish prison for ten years and is released due to a terminal cancer diagnosis.

Upon release, she reconnects with her former partner Sam to plan a multi-million-pound art heist.

While the series captures the feel of real criminal undertakings, it is not an adaptation of a true crime or real-life story.

What is the Frauds cast?

Frauds tells the story of Bert and Sam, whose toxic friendship will be pushed to the ultimate test.

Bert tries to lure her pal out of criminal retirement to pull off a multi-million-pound art heist.

Suranne Jones stars as Bert — the career criminal recently released from prison.

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Jodie Whittaker features as Sam, her estranged former partner in crime.

Lost Boys and Fairies actress Elizabeth Berrington plays a master illusionist, while I May Destroy You’s Karan Gill portrays the world’s greatest forger.

Talisa Garcia features as drag star Miss Take, and Christian Cooke takes on the role of moneylender Deegs.

Frauds’ cast is an ensemble of British and Spanish actors, reflecting the series’ international setting — the show was shot in Spain.

Frauds was created and executive produced by Suranne Jones and Anne-Marie O’Connor.

The full cast is as follows:

• Jodie Whittaker as Sam
• Suranne Jones as Bert
• Elizabeth Berrington as Jackie Diamond
• Lee Boardman as The Great Diavolo
• Christian Cooke as Deegs
• Kate Fleetwood as Celine
• Talisa Garcia as Miss Take
• Karan Gill as Bilal
• Horacio Colomé as Miguel
• Thais Martin as Sam’s long-lost daughter
• Nansi Nsue as Amaya
• Abdul Salis as Mateo
• Victor Solé as Carlos Pérez
• Javier Taboada as Blas
• Karise Yansen as Komet

Frauds stars Jodie Whittaker and Suranne Jones as two confidence tricksters

A fresh ITV drama is scheduled to debut tonight (Sunday 5th October), which is certain to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

Six-episode series Frauds focuses on two expert con artists named Sam and Bert, portrayed by Jodie Whittaker and Suranne Jones. Suranne also co-created the programme and worked as an executive producer.

The duo are brought back together following their separation during a gruelling ten-year prison term. Bert secures release on compassionate grounds due to a cancer diagnosis, yet she has no intention of taking it easy during her remaining weeks. Rather, she’s determined to execute one last job that will demonstrate her capabilities.

Bert and Sam quickly set out on the most daring of art robberies, assembling a crew of exceptionally talented misfits to assist them in plotting the crime.

“Whilst the team must overcome numerous challenges before they can pull off the heist, it’s the power struggle between Bert and Sam that threatens to derail their plans and destroy them both,” the synopsis concludes, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Alongside Suranne and Jodie, the programme also stars Talisa Garcia as Miss Take, Elizabeth Berrington as Jackie Diamond, and Karan Gill as Bilal Anwar.

The ensemble is rounded out by Thais Martin as Caitlin, Javier Taboada as Blas, Christian Cooke as Deegs, Lee Boardman as Craig, Kate Fleetwood as Celine, Nansi Nsue as Amaya, and Abdul Salis as Mateo.

Where was Frauds filmed?

Frauds was shot in Tenerife earlier this year, highlighting the island’s breathtaking remote terrain and glistening coastline.

Speaking at a recent press event, the show’s co-creator Anne-Marie O’Connor revealed: “The setting of Spain [felt] like a character. How arid it is, how unforgiving it is once you’re outside of the city. And as Brits, we all know Spain, we all know a version of Spain… Once you get outside of that world, you’re back in a very sort of arid landscape.”

Executive producer Katie Kelly chimed in: “We always knew that’s where it would be set, but shooting in Tenerife offered us everything we needed and more. In a small area you can have a sort of Costa del Sol beachside strip full of clubs (with everything from drag clubs to a magician’s show), and then suddenly you can find yourself in what looks like an old Spanish town or up in lush, verdant mountains.

“In developing the show we were also quite influenced by Westerns and in that part of the world you’ve also got these desert landscapes which are vast and feel epic and dry and bring a really interesting flavour and tone to the show.”

Sam’s secluded cottage was located in a quaint northern town named La Laguna.

“It was amazing, but it rained a lot. Didn’t matter – it was stunning. It is literally gonna be in my top five places in life, I loved it so much,” Jodie Whittaker shared.

“I’ve been to the south like as a kid on family holidays and never really realised how much we’re missing out by not heading up north. You know Santa Cruz is a brilliant little city too. That’s a great thing about this job – you get to live in these incredible places for a little window in your life.”

In the series, Bert decides that she wants to steal a famous painting from the Reina Sofía museum in Madrid, where filming actually took place.

“I remember Anne-Marie and I were just walking around the Reina Sofía in the middle of the night, and it was just closed for us,” lead director Giulia Gandini recalled.

She then joked: “And we were just wandering around thinking, ‘Yeah, we could really steal something right now. We could pull this off.'”

Anne-Marie added: “Also, as well, it’s that thing of like, you know, sometimes if you just ask you get. I mean, I wasn’t responsible for asking, but it was like, ‘They said yeah’. And I was like, ‘Alright then. You know we’re nicking a painting out of here, don’t you?'”

As well as making good use of Spain’s stunning landscapes, the team also cast several Spanish actors that “understood the acting and directing style” of the UK-created series.

Frauds will premiere on Sunday 5th October at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX

Suranne Jones has opened up on her new ITV drama Frauds, which sees her star alongside Jodie Whittaker as two con women who rekindle their friendship to pull off a heist

Suranne Jones has revealed her striking makeover and confessed to feeling “anxious” about her latest ITV drama Frauds.

The forthcoming show features Suranne alongside Jodie Whittaker as a pair of female fraudsters named Bert and Sam, whose poisonous yet wickedly amusing bond is reignited to execute the ultimate robbery.

“Bert and Sam embark on the most audacious of art thefts, gathering a talented team of outcasts to help them plan this audacious crime,” the synopsis continues.

“Whilst the team must overcome numerous challenges before they can pull off the heist, it’s the power struggle between Bert and Sam that threatens to derail their plans and destroy them both.

“Set against the epic rolling hills of southern Spain and the dark criminal underbelly that casts a shadow over the glistening coast, Frauds is a complex and addictive story of friendship, deception and survival”, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Frauds is scheduled to launch this Sunday (October 5) at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

The six-episode series will then broadcast on Sunday and Monday evenings across three weeks.

During a press conference for the new programme, Suranne discussed juggling her multiple responsibilities, both performing and working behind the scenes.

Beyond portraying Bert, the star also co-developed the show with Anne-Marie O’Connor and acts as executive producer. “Obviously, there’s the pre-planning and there’s the whiteboard stage, and there’s the pouring your heart out and getting all the bits in and then obviously, Anne-Marie goes away and delivers a brilliant script,” she explained.

“When I’m in it, it does become a little difficult because you work at night, work at the weekends… I was being pulled off set and working. It is exhausting, but also, look what we created. I’m really proud of it, I can’t believe we’ve done it.”

Hinting at a particularly gripping moment between the two main characters, Suranne went on: “It has to manifest itself. I felt anxious for the first time watching it… Something has to give with these two and there’s a release in one, but then Bert gets worse.”

Suranne also disclosed the reasoning behind her dramatic makeover into Bert.

In the programme, the 47 year old actress appears completely transformed as she dons a sleek blonde bob instead of her signature dark locks.

Discussing Bert’s bold fashion choices, Suranne revealed that she put together an extensive mood board to help her envision her character’s look, including her significant tattoos.

“She wants to project to the world that she’s dangerous, she’s had this sort of life, but obviously that’s just a projection and then the outfits were part of that. It’s loud. I’m here, you will look at me. It’s all presentation,” she said.

“The blonde came because when Jodie said yes, she said she wasn’t going to dye her hair. So, I assumed she’d be blonde and I was going to have like un undercut. And then I was like, ‘It’s okay. She can stay dark, I’ll go blonde.'”

“And everyone went, ‘What?! You’re gonna look so different!’ And we were like, ‘Exactly, that’s going to work.'”

Executive Producer for Monumental Television Alison Owen added: “Suranne was fierce about the whole look. I mean, every day, weren’t you going through it so minutely. It was a real education for me in seeing someone create a character through your make-up, your hair, your costume, such precision.”

Suranne concluded: “I just knew her. We talked a lot and I just knew that’s what we wanted.”

Frauds premieres Sunday 5th October at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX