Channel 9 in crisis talks with Warne’s family over planned telemovie

Channel 9 have held crisis talks with Shane Warne’s family after his children slammed a planned telemovie about the late spin king.

Shane Warne's children Summer, Jackson and Brooke, have spoken of their pain concerning the planned telemovie.

Crisis talks have been held between the Warne family and Channel 9 after the spin king’s children spoke of their pain concerning the planned telemovie about their father.

Warne’s trusted long-term manager James Erskine spoke with Nine’s director of television Michael Healy and head of drama Andy Ryan on Thursday about the biopic around the late spin king.

Brooke Warne this week spoke of her shock and disgust at the telemovie going into pre-production just days after Warne’s shock death in Thailand on March 4.

There are concerns the biopic will focus more on Warne’s private life, including his relationship with Elizabeth Hurley and Shane Warne. Picture: Getty Images

Warne’s manager James Erskine Channel 9 have assured him the film will be a ‘celebration’ of the late spin king’s life. Picture: Paul Miller

In June, Erskine spoke exclusively to Page 13 about his fury at the planned biopic, saying the family had not consented or been contacted.

He said it was a slap in the face for the world’s greatest spin bowler who had devoted so much of his post-cricketing career to the network.

Following the crisis talks, Erskine said Healy, who has worked at the network for more than 30 years and knew Warne well, assured him hand-on-heart that the telemovie was a celebration of Warnie’s life and would not be salacious.

“They both guaranteed me that this was going to be a celebration of Shane Warne,” Erskine said, adding, “I trust them, I trust Healy.”

Erskine said the Channel 9 directors assured him the telemovie was only using narratives from interviews Warne had done.

“The perception of a dramatisation is that it is going to be sex, sizzle and sensationalism, rather than a wholesome story.

“Now we know Shane was a colourful character, you can’t get away from that. You can’t sanitise it and suddenly say he is a clergyman.

“But they have assured me it will be done appropriately. At the end of the day if they do a hatchet job, then the whole world will be watching.”

Erskine said he was conveying the message to Warne’s three children Jackson, Brooke and Summer,

“It’s still very raw, they are still in mourning,” said Erskine.