What will it cost to tell the Tromp story we all want to hear?

THE Tromp family mystery has captivated a nation for almost a week, raising more questions with every answer. Cue the bidding war.

The Tromp family, from left: Ella, Mark, Jacoba, Mitchell and Riana. Picture: Supplied

IT’S the mystery story that has captivated the nation.

A “stressed” family flees their house, leaving their phones and other valuables in an unlocked home and heads interstate with no specific destination.

Along the way a phone gets thrown out of a car window and the three adult children part company from their increasingly erratic parents. Two of the family make it home. Two end up under mental stress in hospital. Dad isn’t found for five days.

With every answer there are more questions. Everyone wants to hear the full story of the Tromp family from country Victoria and their mystery road trip.

And with current affairs shows such as Sunday Night and 60 Minutes rumoured to be circling, it’s believed the bidding to convince the Tromps to talk will start at $100,000.

And despite shrinking budgets, either of the big guns would be in the chase, former staffers and insiders from both shows say.

“As interview talent, this family is as good as it gets,” said one source.

“They’re an attractive, seemingly well-off family with a bizarre story to tell. There are so many questions remaining, which only they can answer.”

Industry insiders said the story would be worth “at least $100k — possibly much more if a bidding war breaks out. They’d be willing to go up to $200k — keeping in mind that budgets have been cut”.

“I imagine both shows would be after it,” said one network TV executive.

“It would certainly be worth spending the money, as it’s intriguing and bizarre.”

Setting the stage for a bidding war are the fact 60 Minutes needs a fresh victory after a horror year thanks to the spectre of its failed Lebanon kidnap attempt debacle, and rival Sunday Night is now under the eye of former 60 Minutes EP Hamish Thomson.

“It’s the biggest Australian exclusive that we’ve seen for a while, and something like this could bring 60 Minutes back on top of the ratings,” one source said.

Relief Mitchell and Ella Tromp hold a press conference after their missing father Mark Tromp was found. Picture: David Crosling

The Tromp family has made no media comments other than a few press conferences as the search for the father, Mark Tromp, unfolded last week — and then on Sunday after he had been found.

But brother and sister Mitchell and Ella shed few new clues on how the family ended up on their mystery road trip, or why they became separated.

Both said they were “still confused” about last week’s trip, but went with their parents “to see where they were going”.

“It’s hard to explain,” said 25-year-old Mitchell.

“I can see why they [the public] want to know but it’s a family matter and we just want the family to be back together and for everything to work itself out and I think it will.”

The family will be one under siege because everyone wants answers, and the push to get them to sign on to tell the story is expected to be sold as their way of telling it from their side, and a way to get all of the other media outlets off their backs.

Jacoba Tromp remains in a mental health facility, as does her daughter Riana, and police have today charged Ella Tromp with stealing a car, so the push for an exclusive agreement when the family can talk will be on.

Media outside the entrance to Yass District Hospital, where Mrs Tromp was first treated. Picture: Ray Strange.

“They’d be better off signing an exclusive agreement and sitting down for one interview. Then the rest of the media will move on, and they won’t have reporters at their door all day,” said a former network staffer.

“For a story this big, when they know other people are chasing it, they’ll start their offer high at around $100k, so that they’re taken seriously in the negotiations if anyone else is offering big money.

“60 Minutes is going to be hamstrung by their tight new budget, but for a story this big they could be given leeway to negotiate higher. A story like this could be worth as much as $250k.

“They can’t afford for Sunday Night to get a big exclusive like this right now, when they’re already so vulnerable.

“Often it comes down to sending a good producer to negotiate with the talent and form a relationship with them, so they’re trusted to tell the story over someone else.

“The aim is to get them to sign on the dotted line before network executives and managers come into play, and the dollars become ridiculous.”

Neither 60 Minutes nor Sunday Night has commented on whether they are trying to secure the Tromp story.