ABC orders drama series based on real-life mushroom poisoning case in Australia

Australia’s ABC has commissioned a drama series from Tony Ayres Productions (TAP) based on the true story of a woman currently standing trial for allegedly murdering guests in her home with poisonous mushrooms.

Tony Ayres

The series, titled Toxic, is being created by showrunner Elise McCredie (Jack Irish, Stateless) and Ayres (The Survivors, Stateless) in collaboration with ABC journalist and podcaster Rachael Brown.

Toxic will cover the events leading up to the alleged murder and the trial of 50-year-old Erin Patterson, who is accused of murdering her family guests with poisonous mushrooms in a beef wellington during lunch at her home in 2023.

The murder trial is currently underway with a verdict expected imminently. Patterson has pleaded not guilty to the charges of murder and attempted murder, after her three relatives died from death cap mushroom poisoning, claiming it was accidental.

Ayres, MD and exec producer at TAP, said: “True stories ask storytellers to probe the complexities of human behaviour. What really lies beneath the headlines? It’s both a challenge and a responsibility to go beyond the surface – to reveal, not just sensationalise.”

The dramatisation of the high-profile case, which has gripped Australia, will be told across multiple timelines and from multiple perspectives.

ABC’s head of scripted, Rachel Okine, added: “This investigation has already captivated audiences across Australia and we’re eager to dive deeper into the complexities behind the headlines to bring this story to life with the team.”

TAP is backed by Matchbox Pictures and Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group.