Seven’s 7News Spotlight is serving up a programming doubleheader this Sunday, moving from a sit-down with a television institution to a deep dive into a massive international cybercrime. The two-part report, airing at 8:45 PM, first presents a conversation with Brenda Blethyn, the woman who has personified DCI Vera Stanhope for over a decade.
Reporter Ashlee Mullany speaks with Blethyn about the enduring appeal of her decidedly unglamorous character. The interview touches on how Blethyn, who was 64 and considering retirement when the role was first presented to her, came to inhabit one of modern television’s most recognizable detectives. Mullany describes the actress as warm, funny, and unfiltered, giving a look at the person behind the famous trench coat and hat.
In a sharp pivot, Spotlight then unpacks a $US1.5 billion cyber heist attributed to a North Korean hacking collective. The report details how the group allegedly bypassed security at a major crypto exchange in an operation described as both audacious and catastrophic. The story features commentary from an Australian former fighter pilot who became a crypto entrepreneur, as well as a CEO whose company was directly affected by the breach. With a reported $US140 million reward on the table to help recover the stolen funds, the segment explores the high-stakes world of digital crime and state-sponsored theft.
The full program airs this Sunday, June 22, at 8:45 PM on Seven.
