A hard time with Soft Cell

Updated as hoax: see below

Some television ideas are pretty atrocious in their ambitions but a planned “reality series” built around Glenn Wheatley would have to be right up there near the top of the list.

Wheatley is currently serving a two and a half year sentence for defrauding the Commonwealth.
However, he has been granted home detention from May 19, which will see him confined to his South Yarra mansion with an ankle bracelet.

Sydney music industry identity Phil Tripp plans to shoot Wheatley’s release and film a reality series built around the former manager with the working title Soft Cell: Music Mogul Mansion’s Crim Crib.

Tripp even plans to use novelty ankle bracelets, similar to the one Wheatley will have to wear as part of his home detention, as a way to merchandise the show.

Tripp refused to comment on whether Wheatley would make any money from the series.

“Glenn has a long and respected history in the music industry, a colourful career, and is an entertaining fellow who deserves a chance to wipe the slate clean and start over,” Tripp said in a press release.

That may well be. But is this the way to achieve that? Does this have the approval of the Parole Board, Mr Tripp? It seems like a sure-fire way to put Wheatley at odds with the community (not to mention the fact that shooting one man in a house is about as dull as Big Brother’s White Room experiment).

So far the series has no network attached, but that hasn’t stopped Tripp from planning to shop it around the free to air and pay television.

“We think this series will not only get him sympathy from the curious public but also help him monetise his situation in a unique way.”

Tripp said TV cameras would follow Wheatley home as he was reunited with his family.

“I think this program will bring him back into the public’s eyes and hearts.

“It’s the Australian story everyone wants.”

No…it isn’t.

UPDATE: But on Melbourne radio today, Tripp said he had played a prank to expose the absurdity of reality television.

He also explained why he did it in a post on music industry website Mess + Noise.

“It was so far-fetched, that I knew everyone would get a laugh, but I doubted that any credible news outlets would run it,” Tripp said.

The hoax story was run in the Herald Sun, The Daily Telegraph and NEWS.com.au, among others.

“As I type this at 9:30, a Today Tonight crew has been despatched to the house, Nine News is rushing a crew here, the Seven morning show’s and Sydney Morning Herald gossip columnist Andrew Hornery are breathlessly putting a piece to air-but they don’t know it’s a hoax… yet. They will,” Tripp wrote.

“So why did I do it? It’s not for my own notoriety. After 20 years of doing it, I’m putting away the PR hat with an amusing and harmless hoax.” news.com.au

Yeah hilarious. Is it still April 1?

Source: news.com.au