Chappell and Botham's wounds re-opened in Ashes documentary
Ian Chappell and Ian Botham haven't seen eye to eye since 1977, but will hash out their hatred for one another in an upcoming documentary.
The Longest Feud – a Channel 9 documentary delving into the bitter conflict between former Test cricket captains Ian Chappell and Ian Botham – promises to feature some of the most raw, honest and confronting content involving two major sporting figures.
Asked if the hatred between the pair was palpable while on set, creator Luke Tunnecliffe told Yahoo Sport Australia: "I won’t speak to that – I will let the vision do the talking when you see it tomorrow night - but I can guarantee you one thing (and) that this is not put on.
"This is the most genuine feud I've seen."
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Chappell's version of how this long-running spat started has Botham reportedly threatening to glass him before pushing him off a bar-room stool at Melbourne's Hilton Hotel after the pair exchanged words in 1977. Botham's version has him giving the former Australia skipper three warnings before "flattening him" in the bar after Chappell allegedly made disparaging remarks about England players.
The pair has been at each other ever since, clashing heatedly in the Adelaide Oval carpark during the Ashes series in 2010/11 and infamously spending a stint in commentary together without uttering more than a few words. JAMTV approached Chappell and Botham to speak about the feud and got even more than they bargained for when the two agreed to sit down together.
"The two Ians personify everything about the Australia versus England rivalry. But they go way beyond that – they make it very personal, very real and very raw," JAMTV CEO Cos Cardone said.
"An Ashes series is the perfect time to peel back the layers and explore what started this monumental feud, and why it has gone on for so long. It’s compelling and in many ways it's also very confronting."
The preview trailers only reinforce that the enmity is fair dinkum, with both men asked to give an assessment on the other.
Botham on Chappell: "Three words to describe Ian Chappell - sad and lonely.
Chappell on Botham: "He's a bully, he’s a coward, and those are all the good things I can say."
Chappell and Botham keen to hash out nearly 50-year feud
Asked how JAMTV managed to get the two sworn enemies together in the one room, Tunnecliff said: "Myself, Cos Cardone and Eddie McGuire were just tossing around ideas way back when and that came up as a great feud.
"We researched it further and spoke to both of the guys and they agreed to delve into it deeper. It's approaching 50 years so, from our side, it sat perfectly alongside the Ashes.
"They both agreed to do it and then we bought them together (in Australia) earlier this year."
So, who comes out of it looking the bigger man?
"This is a show that ultimately the viewer can make their own mind up on," Tunnecliffe concluded.
"A lot of the other documentaries and long-form things we do, it's pretty clear cut (who comes out on top).
"With this, I'm sure everyone will have conflicting opinions on who's right and who's wrong and how it played out."
The Longest Feud: Chappell v Botham airs 7.30pm Tuesday on Channel 9 and 9Now.
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