Biopics shown door

CHANNEL 10 has quit the Aussie TV biopic race, saying the trend is on the wane.

The move comes after disappointing ratings for Ten’s Brock and Channel 7’s Hoges: The Paul Hogan Story in recent months.

But Seven and Nine are gambling the trend isn’t dead with biopics on businessman Alan Bond, cricketer Shane Warne, crime figure Mark “Chopper” Read and singer Olivia NewtonJohn in the works.

And motorcycle champion Wayne Gardner is set to get the big screen treatment with a feature documentary by director Jeremy Sims (Last Cab to Darwin).

Ten started the biopic trend with its Hawke telemovie in 2010. Richard Roxburgh played former prime minister Bob Hawke and Asher Keddie was lover Blanche d’Alpuget.

The disappointing ratings for Hoges, with Josh Lawson (pictured) as comedy legend Paul Hogan, could be the final nail in the coffin.

Hoges averaged 837,000 for its first half and 839,000 for its second half – not good enough given its multimillion-dollar budget.