News

Bondi Rescue executive producer hits back at Daily Telegraph over ‘rip-off’ claims

Michael Cordell, executive producer of production company Cordell Jigsaw, has hit back at a Daily Telegraph article that accused the production company of not paying key cast of an observational documentary.

Cordell was accused of not paying the 33 individual lifeguards that appear on his show Bondi Rescue, now in its seventh season on Ten, despite the production being a documentary and doing so would create a conflict of interest within the production.

Cordell said in a statement: “We have huge respect for the boys down at Bondi and weʼve made every effort to ensure theyʼre part of Bondi Rescueʼs success.”

“It would be a conflict of interest to actually employ the lifeguards to appear in the series. Nor would Waverley Council ever permit it. However, there are very concrete agreements in place that benefit both the Council and the lifeguards.”

Similar shows like RPA, Border Security, The Force and Recruits make no payments to their participants.

Cordell said: “The Daily Telegraph infers that I have personally profiteered while the lifeguards have been ripped-off. That inference is offensive. I pride myself on being fair to the people I
work with. The facts illustrate that Bondiʼs lifeguards share substantially in the showʼs success.”

Cordell Jigsaw pays a percentage of the show’s budget to the Waverley Council as an access and filming fee, which the production company said goes back into maintaining the lifeguard service.

Cordell also said, despite not being paid to appear in the show, the lifeguards are paid to promote the show when off duty.

The production company also stated that the lifeguards receive the bulk of merchandising income, including that from the Bondi Rescue book and calendar.

While international sales have been healthy, Cordell said, most have been to cable networks with no sales to major free-to-air networks. “After distribution fees and payments to third parties including Waverley Council profit on the series is modest.”

The series is provided to education and institutions and first aid courses at no cost. Cordell also said: “Since Bondi Rescue began drownings across Australia have dramatically decreased. Bondi Rescue has helped saved scores of lives. Thatʼs a better reward than four Logies!”

Cordell Jigsaw also produces Go Back To Where You Came From, which this week sold the format to BBC America and the recently aired telemovie The Great Mint Swindle for Nine. Cordell and partner Nick Murray recently merged with Andrew Denton and Anita Jacoby’s Zapruder’s Other Films.

ADVERTISEMENT

Get the latest media and marketing industry news (and views) direct to your inbox.

Sign up to the free Mumbrella newsletter now.

 

SUBSCRIBE

Sign up to our free daily update to get the latest in media and marketing.