By Lucas Hill-Paul

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Virgin River star Martin Henderson is worlds away from Jack Sheridan in a recent New Zealand show that’s just been added to Netflix in the UK. Originally released in 2024 on Three, the outrageous comedy series stars Golden Globe-winning star Rachel Griffiths as McKenzie ‘Mack’ Leigh who discovers her husband has been unfaithful and accrued a mountain of debt. Faced with no other choice but to provide for the family herself, Mack decides to open up a progressive, women-run brothel in her small Kiwi town. Based on a surprising true story, the series has already proven to be a hit in Australia and New Zealand and is a must-watch for Virgin River fans who want to see a different side of Henderson. The actor portrays Mack’s philandering husband Rob, whose affair with a sex worker inspires his wife’s unconventional new business idea. Although Madam is also set in a small town, Virgin River enthusiasts should strap in for a very different experience, especially with Henderson portraying a character who couldn’t be any more unlike Mel Monroe’s (played by Alexandra Breckenridge) loyal husband. Viewers have been raving about the series, with one IMDb reviewer writing: “This one hooked me from the first episode and didn’t disappoint till the end. I finished it completely, the cast did a great job, and the characters were good. “I think this show really deserves a season 2 after that ending. It’s very underrated and deserves more recognition. Overall, it’s a fun one-time time-pass show you can stream in your free time.” Someone else was captivated by the show almost immediately, posting: “By the end of episode two, I’m well and truly hooked, the business is floundering & one of the more experienced girls has gone a bit rogue. “The motley crew she has recruited in a small NZ town are not quite utilising their skill sets as yet. It’s a real feel-good, wholesome bit of comedy.” A third shared: “Steamy local kiwi show. Loving it so far breath of fresh air. Nz is lacking in homegrown television shows so to see this on our channels is really good. “Has got that outrageous fortune vibe about it. Can’t wait to see what happens over the next few weeks.” “[Watched] three episodes so far and yes I am also hooked,” a final fan raved. “Super like this series so far. Has the right amount of humor and storyline to make it entertaining all the way through. Acting is excellent on all parts. I think it made a very interesting cast. “I can’t say enough of how much I’m enjoying this. This series needs to be picked up by the big networks because it’s well worth it and I just happened to stumble across by accident.” Thankfully, this viewer has had their wish granted and Madam now has an even greater chance of success as it’s available on the world ’s biggest streaming platform. Madam is available to stream on Netflix.