‘House of Bond’ update: Alan Bond’s heirs slam Aussie’s Channel Nine biopic

Alan Bond’s kin is not pleased at Channel Nine’s biopic of the family patriarch. The family described the show as “inaccurate.”

Channel Nine has released a two-part miniseries of Bond earlier this week. It was a fictionalised rags-to-riches-to-rags account of one of Australia’s richest men. It tells how he became successful in the 1970s and 80s. Bond was declared bankrupt in 1992, however. He later spent time in prison after being found guilty in the largest fraud in Australian corporate history.

A statement released by Bond's family (via Sydney Morning Herald) accused Nine of “sensationalised demonising." The family claimed that the network and its writers and producers did not make an effort to contact them and ensure the accuracy of the story. Bond briefly owned Channel Nine in the late 1980s.

"Despite his shortcomings, the late Alan Bond was a significant contributor to the industry of Australia... the Bond family disassociates themselves entirely from the content of the 'House of Bond' and express their profound disappointment and distress at its inaccurate and sensationalised demonising of Alan Bond," the family said.

Eileen Bond said that she regrets they can’t pursue legal action against the network. She explained that it is impossible to defame a deceased person under the Australian law.

The Bond family also expressed disappointment that Nine aired the drama close to Bond's birthday. The tycoon would have turned 79 this month. He died in 2015 at age 77 due to complications from heart surgery.

Actor Ben Mingay portrayed the role of Allan Bond. “Rake” actress Adrienne Pickering played his wife, Eileen. Rachael Taylor portrayed Bond's second wife Diana Bliss, while Sam Neill starred as Roland “Tiny” Rowland.

Meanwhile, a Nine spokeswoman defended the show, saying the miniseries showed not only Bond's flaws but also his courage and passion. SMH quoted her as saying, "We believe the portrayal of Bond in our miniseries shows the quintessential Aussie larrikin we all knew for his passion, courage to take on the establishment as well as his flaws.”

This is not the first time the network was slammed by famous Australians. Earlier this year, Nine decided not to broadcast “House of Hancock” after mining magnate Gina Rinehart filed a lawsuit.

“House of Bond” aired on Tuesday and Wednesday this week on Channel Nine. The miniseries received mediocre viewership ratings. It only averaged 613,000 viewers across five capital cities of Australia during its debut last Tuesday. The finale episode drew a slight increase with 657,000 viewers tuning in.