Cut from Punchbowl doco, but man cleared for Chocolate Frog series

Michael LaHoud, the heavily-tattooed man who caused SBS to pull Once Upon a Time in Punchbowl from its schedule, will appear in STUDIO’s documentary series Taking on the Chocolate Frog.

The 3 part series sees drama coach Grant Thompson (pictured, right) leading former prisoners in a staging of the Aussie play The Chocolate Frog in the former grounds of Parramatta Correctional Centre.

Last December SBS withdrew Northern Pictures’ Once Upon a Time in Punchbowl from it schedule after it emerged that LaHoud had exaggerated his story about incarceration.

In the upcoming Screentime series, which premieres on the SBS-owned STUDIO channel next week, LaHoud (pictured, left) is one of several ex-crims learning Drama for rehabilitation. Grant Thompson is a former Underbelly extras director.

The Chocolate Frog was written by Jim McNeil during his time incarcerated at Parrammatta in the 1970s, and went on to become critically-acclaimed.

A spokesperson for STUDIO told TV Tonight, “Though it came to light that Michael had exaggerated his personal history, it has been verified that he has a criminal past and as such, is valid within the context of this show.

“All information in the final episodes has been deemed as accurate, and the end product is a compelling series.”

A re-edited Once Upon a Time in Punchbowl premieres on SBS ONE on June 18th.

Taking on the Chocolate Frog premieres 9:30pm Monday on STUDIO.