Shane Warne’s soap opera life — and many, many loves — poised to get TV treatment on Channel 7

SHANE Warne’s still bowling the maidens over. Now his saucy love life is poised to go from real-life soap opera to a Channel Seven telemovie.

HIS life continues to play out like a soap opera, now Shane Warne is about to get the telemovie treatment — with Channel 7 expected to greenlight their TV retelling of the spin king’s scandal-plagued story.

Screen Australia is poised to bankroll part of the Screentime Australia production at the government body’s next round of funding meetings (with the deadline to apply for financial support looming this Friday).

The former Australian cricketing star, turned TV commentator, who is making new headlines for his latest Instagram liking of supermodel Emily Ratajkowski, has previously welcomed speculation his story would make for hot ratings property on the small screen.

Model Emily Ratajkowski has attracted the attention of Shane Warne, who expressed his interest in her sexy postings on Instagram. Picture: D Dipasupil/Getty Images

Nine had expressed interest in the script as a potential sequel to its mini-series, Howzat! Kerry Packer’s War four years ago; but looks likely to be beaten to the punch by rival Seven.

With Howzat! drawing an audience of two million-plus back then, the sporting biopic has plenty of pulling power.

But while his bowling feats have earned him a place in the sporting record books, it’s his salacious love life and pursuit of some of the world’s most beautiful women, especially his relationship with English model, Liz Hurley, which is expected to be at the heart of this drama.

Warne and Liz Hurley’s relationship catapulted the couple into the headlines, but they called off their wedding plans in 2013. Picture: Bradley Hunter

And isn’t there plenty of material to work with - including allegations of extramarital affairs; explicit text messages to a string of women (most recently exposed by Melbourne socialite Brynne Edelsten) which all built towards the breakdown of his marriage to first wife, Simone.

His engagement to Hurley in 2011 consumed the world’s media, but two years later the couple’s wedding plans were “called off.”

While the 46-year-old divorced father of three has long felt victimised for the attention his private life has attracted (after one dalliance with a British nurse reportedly cost him the Australian cricket captaincy), he came to love the glory afforded him in Shane Warne: The Musical, a stage play written by and starring Offspring favourite Eddie Perfect.

Seven will confirm casting at its 2017 programming upfronts next month.

Shane Warne and his first wife, Simone Callahan at the 2009 AAMI Victoria Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne.

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Originally published as Shane Warne’s soap opera life — and many, many loves — poised to get TV treatment on Channel 7