Warnie (miniseries)

''Warnie'' is an Australian television miniseries based on the life of cricketer Shane Warne, that aired on 25 June and concluded on 26 June 2023.

Plot

Part 1

A voiceover plays with Shane commenting on his rise to cricket, his scandals and how he received Queen's Birthday Honours and even a State Funeral.

Shane ( Alex Williams) is seen in his hotel room where he is recovering from shoulder surgery and he is set to be dropped from the side as he isn't match fit, he manages to convince the captain Steve Waugh (Tom Stokes) he is fine to play the match. Shane reveals that he played the match with an injured shoulder.

Shane in a flashback is seen during his days playing for St Kilda, when he receives a letter saying that his services for the team were no longer required, he begins taking odd jobs including a delivery job.

Shane begins his career by playing in the local competition and even goes to the Academy where he says due to his fitness he didn't stay long but it is also where he met Terry 'TJ' Jenner ( Anthony Hayes) and he begins training under him and he learns how to spin bowl.

When Shane is given the opportunity to play for Australia when he receives a call while he is at home, he celebrates with his family when he is told he will be playing for Australia. Shane is later dumped from the team after his first match and his mentor TJ Jenner tells him that if he trained he would be good enough to play again, and he tells Shane he has an opportunity that he cannot waste.

Shane meets Simone Callahan ( Marny Kennedy) at a cricket event and the two begin a relationship where he breaks the rules to see her in the hotel after he cannot take her on the team bus. Simone is worried after her friend Julie says that she isn't worried about the match but what comes after it in the groupies, Simone says to her that he is a good guy and loyal.

Shane goes to a nightclub where he bets and loses money in the casino when he reveals that's where he met a bookmaker named 'John' who bet on cricket. John tells him he has made him so much money and offers him $5000 on casino chips and Shane declines until he meets him again with $5000 in cash, again Shane uses it to gamble. But the media have a field day when they spot him smoking at the same nightclub after he promised a quit aid that he would stop.

As Shane and Mark Waugh (Ben Hall) face Malcolm Speed (Andrew Blackman) after allegations of a 'bribe' where made against another team's captain, Speed tells the both of them that the scandal and bookmaking deal with need to be made public to save the face of Cricket Australia. Shane and Mark agree, but when Shane tries to leave he is told to stay.

Shane's bowling legacy is made when he bowls the 'ball of the century' when he bowls the Gating Ball during the ashes test.

Later when Shane and Mark face the CEO of Cricket Australia he makes them come clean to the public and says that this is the only way to get on top of the scandal that is about to erupt, they all front the media to where Shane and Mark reveal they both received payments for telling opposing team captains pitch details and weather conditions, Shane's parents watch the press conference from home, Shane and Mark deny allegations of match fixing. Shane later reveals that he received a fine of $8000 and Mark received a $10,000 fine.

While Shane is playing away on tour Simone is in hospital with Brigette after the birth of her child watching him play.

Shane bowls in the nets with TJ and TJ sees that he is having trouble with his bowling and he asks what's happening, Shane sees his bowling finger is swollen and his shoulder is hurting and asks for advice, TJ replies if he knows a good surgeon, Shane says he can't take time away from the game. But Shane undergoes surgery on both his finger and shoulder and when he attempts to play he is almost dropped from the side by Steve.

Shane reveals that after he has one bad game he wanted to quit due to media attention he was receiving and Steve pulls him aside after the game and says that he knows Shane is anything but a loser and he wants him to focus on the team and winning.

When Shane injures his shoulder again and faces surgery, he undergoes intense rehab with the teams physio Errol and when his mother (Jacquie Brennan) comes in and says that he isn't looking "crash hot" and fat shames him after putting weight on after surgery and Shane tells her that he can't run at the moment, she tells him to just "take a pill".

Shane later phones Simone and is woken up by the call and Shane says that he took a pill that was on the banned substance list and reveals that he failed a drug test and his career is on the line.

Part 2

Shane learns from his brother Jason, that the drug he had used to lose weight mask it in his system. When Simone points out that he did recover very quickly, Shane bites back, saying that he had the help of a world class rehab team, Shane says that if he blames his mother he will look like a 'dickhead', Jason says that 'that horse bolted' and that no one is blaming Brigitte.

Shane deals with the public fallout of his drug scandal. He faces a secret disciplinary meeting where his mother reveals that she told Shane to take the pill to 'get rid of his double chin'. She is questioned by a hearing lawyer (Georgina Naidu) if she knew the pills were banned under the Cricket Australia Drug Policy and she says that it wasn't banned in her house as she had taken 'heaps of them'. Shane is subsequently banned from playing cricket for 12 months.

While Shane is serving his suspension, his family visit and Shane is livid that he can't even bowl a ball to his son in the park or play in a local competition. Brigette apologies to him but Shane assures her that it wasn't her fault. Keith ( Jeremy Stanford) is furious over the whole situation and calls it a 'witch hunt'. Shane talks with Simone who says that he can appeal his ban or they can fine him, but it won't stop him.

The fallout continues, with Shane facing more scrutiny from the media over his texting scandal with a UK nurse. Simone tells Shane the media are camped outside the house and even woke up one of the children.

Shane faces the media and expresses regret over what transpired and how he let down his family, Simone watches on and speaks with TJ. When Shane finishes his interview he speaks with TJ who is furious with him and says that he needs to stop causing controversy.

Shane is forced into a meeting with CEO, Speed and makes him read all his recent articles from all over the world. Speed tells Shane that he is being stripped of the vice captaincy and Shane asks if it will be temporary if he can make the scandals go away. Speed looks at Shane and tells him that if that were to happen he would consider it, but he asks Shane if he himself can realistically see his scandals cease to occur.

Shane faces scrutiny again in 2005 over another cheating scandal involving British student, Laura Sayers (Dannielle Woodward). Laura sells her story to the press in exchange for £10,000 and a holiday. Shane hears the news from his brother Jason (Darcy Kent) and asks if there is anyway to kill the story, Jason tells him that there isn't. Shane is then forced to reveal to Simone that there has been another girl. An argument ensues and Simone storms out of the house into a media circus waiting outside. The affair leads to the breakdown of their marriage, and Simone moves back to Australia with the children.

Shane reveals he is retiring from cricket due to his marriage breakdown. He faces the media and tells them that the final two test matches will be his last. The press ask if he can become the world's greatest wicket taker, and Shane says that he has backed himself before and will continue to do so. During his final two test matches Shane takes his 700th wicket and after his retirement he becomes a spokesmen for the game. He meets Elizabeth Hurley and the two embark on a relationship.

Following his retirement, Shane receives a call from TJ's wife Ann, requesting he visit. Shane drives to see TJ who is recovering from a major heart attack. TJ tells him to watch what he did during his final match. When Shane tells TJ that there is someone who will be better then him, TJ tells him to shut up and watch.

Shane ends his relationship with Liz Hurley as their schedules collide when they want to spend time with each other and he realises he can't do long distance anymore. He is then seen joining his family back in Melbourne for a BBQ.

A montage of Shane's highlights play as the credits role.

Cast

The cast for the two-part drama was announced Wednesday, November 9, 2022.

* Alex Williams as Shane Warne
* Marny Kennedy as Simone Callahan
* Anthony Hayes as Terry 'TJ' Jenner
*Jacquie Brennan as Brigitte Warne
* Jeremy Stanford as Keith Warne
*Shanti Kali as Elizabeth Hurley
*Andrew Blackman as Malcolm Speed
*Daniel Cosgrove as Michael Clarke
*Tom Stokes as Steve Waugh
* Ben Hall as Mark Waugh
*Darcy Kent as Jason Warne
*Dannielle Woodward as Laura Sayers

Production

Hours after the series was announced, Shane Warne’s eldest daughter, Brooke Warne, accused Nine of being “beyond disrespectful” and “insensitive” to greenlight the series just a few months after her father's death, and also claiming that “it’s just a ratings ploy”.

The miniseries went into production after Channel 9 and ScreenTime had talks with the family. The family later lent their support to the production, closely collaborating with the family. The family before the release of the series were offered a preview screening but some members declined to watch the preview screening.

Reception

The trailer for the miniseries was released during NRL State of Origin's first game. It received an icy reception with media users calling it 'disgraceful'., the trailer was officially released on social media on June 6.

After airing on 25 and 26 June, the show received mostly negative reviews, critics remarked that the series was too focused on the sensationalist parts of his life. Warne's ex-wife Simone Callahan slammed the series calling it 'unkind' and 'mean spirited.'Warnie TV series: Simone Callahan slams Channel 9’s new show, Shane Warne , news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site

Viewership

See also

* List of Australian television series

References

Biographical television series
Nine Network original programming
Shane Warne
2020s Australian television miniseries
2023 Australian television series debuts

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