The Imposter: Forget Dannii Minogue, viewers name Helen's wig as the standout star of the Channel 5 thriller
'It literally looks like it's been cut with a knife and fork'
The Imposter has received mixed reviews from viewers, but there’s one particularly hair-raising aspect of the show that has had everyone talking – and that’s Helen’s wig.
While the cast of the thriller promised big things, it seems a prop has stolen the show… Dannii Minogue, Jackie Woodburne, Kym Marsh, and a whole host of famous faces from Neighbours and Home and Away appear in the four-part Channel 5 series.
But the limelight has been stolen by Helen’s wig in The Imposter. Prompting some viewers to wonder how much the wig was paid…
Viewers name Helen’s wig as the real star of The Imposter
In The Imposter on Channel 5, actress Jackie Woodburne plays mother of four Helen O’Riley, who is reunited with her long-lost daughter. However, as the title of the series suggests, there’s quite a lot her ‘daughter Amanda’ isn’t being truthful about.
It’s a twisty thriller with an ever-rising death toll… But that’s not what viewers have been talking about. In the series The Imposter, Jackie – best known for playing Susan Kennedy in Neighbours – wears a rather dowdy wig as Helen. Which fans have called out as the biggest imposter of all.
One viewers said on X: “The wig Jackie Woodburne wears in #TheImposter is the biggest on screen fail since Courteney Cox in Scream 3.”
Another said: “The question is WHY do Queen Jackie wrong like that?! #theimposter #wig.”
A third added: “How much was that wig paid for its part in this series? #TheImposter.“
“Surely the story has to address that awful wig at some point,” said another, while one more said: “The Imposter has done the lovely Jackie dirty with that god awful wig. It literally looks like it’s been cut with a knife and fork.”
Others simply called it “beyond awful”, “atrocious”, and “heinous”. Whether you loved the wig’s performance or not, most agree the part was a cut above the rest…
Jackie Woodburne’s accent in The Imposter
Others questioned Jackie’s accent. The actress was actually born in Northern Ireland, but grew up in Australia. And not everyone was convinced by her character’s Irish accent in the show.
One said: “Watching The Imposter. Not sure about Jackie’s dodgy accent. It’s almost as bad as that wig #TheImposter.”
Another typed: “The wig, the accent. Stop whatever you’re doing right now and watch The Imposter on Channel 5.”
A third: “Watched The Imposter on Channel 5 last night. It was like an Australian Acorn Antiques with a very obvious wig and even odder Irish accent. More soap than thriller but entertaining for all the wrong reasons.”
The Imposter: Are Helen and her wig old enough to be Simon’s mum?
Others queried whether Jackie Woodburne’s character Helen was actually old enough to be Simon’s mum.
One spoke for many when they said: “The only thing harder than the wig to digest is that the Temu Pierce [Pierce Greyson] from Neighbours is her son. Seems old enough to be the husband! #theimposter.”
In fact, actor Don Hany who plays Helen’s eldest son Simon is 50 in real life. The actress Jackie Woodburne is 69. So it would be possible for the pair to be mother and son.
Jackie’s character Helen got pregnant out of wedlock with her childhood sweetheart. She subsequently gave the child, aka Amanda, up for adoption, moved to Australia, and had three more children.
And, come on, this is a Channel 5 thriller we’re talking about! Anything is possible!
Read more: The Imposter on Channel 5: 5 clues ‘Amanda’ wasn’t who she said she was in episode 1
