We’ve finally found a television format Australians like just as much as cooking and renovating: real-life political drama.

ABC’s The Killing Season has rocked Aussie living rooms, with the melodramatic look into the Rudd/Gillard years igniting our hunger for more insider intrigue.

The first two parts of the three-part series attracted 968,000 and 986,000 viewers respectively – figures just shy of the ratings of MasterChef and House Rules on the same nights.

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Thanks to Sarah Ferguson’s foreboding voiceover and morose imagery, the showdown was imbued with extra gravity, making it all the more gripping.

Inspired by the show’s success, here is our wishlist for other duels from Australian folklore we’d love to see get the Killing Season treatment.

The Tassie Tiger mauls the PUP

Lambie and Palmer in happier times. Photo: Getty

The Palmer United Party is no longer united.

In fact, the chance of niceties between Jacqui Lambie and Clive Palmer resuming looks as likely as the timely completion of Clive’s Titanic II.

In a move that can only be described as “going rogue”, Senator Lambie voted against all government legislation, spoke out against colleagues and refused to attend meetings. 

She then resigned from the PUP in November 2014 and by April this year Palmer announced he was suing her for $2 million. 

Like Lambie, Palmer is known for his less-than-refined turn of phrase and surprising honesty.

Both have a tendency to shoot from the hip and a scripted version would surely produce compelling yet hilarious television.

Stumped Gilchrist, bowled Warne: the imperfect dismissal

The cricketing greats never got on. Photo: Getty

Although equally excellent in their field and revered by the nation, Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist just didn’t get along.

We’ve never really got to the bottom of why, although people close to the pair have offered their own takes.

One Australian player told the Herald Sun it began in a state game in the late 1990s when Warne hit Gilchrist with a torrent of sledging. Apparently Gilly never got over Warne’s banter that day.

The relationship turned particularly sour in 2000 when Warne was sacked as vice-captain for sending lewd text messages to an English nurse.

The decision split the Aussie camp in two and Warne and Gilly were vocal advocates on separate sides of the argument.

In retirement the pair have distanced themselves from the feud, however we’d love to know once and for all what they think of each other.

Balance the books but don’t take the reins

They ruled Australia for more than 11 years but shared considerable tension.

Peter Costello served as Treasurer in John Howard’s government from 1996 to 2007, yet in his autobiography Howard called Costello “elitist”.

“So Peter, about those plans to step down …” Photo: Getty

Costello was the longest-serving Treasurer in Australian history, delivering 10 surpluses.

Howard, meanwhile, was the first sitting Prime Minister to lose his seat since 1929, something Costello wasn’t particularly impressed by.

“It’s a self-serving account,” wrote Costello of Howard’s 2007 election loss summation.

“He appears to be incapable of taking responsibility for the defeat of the government and for losing his seat of Bennelong.

“There’s no point in trying to blame other people. He was the leader. He was responsible.”

Howard intended to hand over the Liberal leadership [thus the role of Prime Minister] to his Treasurer before the 2007 election.

But Howard said “Peter’s inept handling” of the succession plan becoming public, prompted a change of heart, leading to Howard taking the Liberals to defeat in 2007.

Costello also claimed that “if I had run against Howard in 1995, I might have beaten him [to the Liberal leadership]”.

More where that came from, thanks.

The Bold & the Beautiful: Pilbara Edition

Bianca has the keys and control of the family trust. Photo: Vogue Australia

The mining billionaire’s public battle for control of a trust fund with her children is finally out of the courts, so it might be the perfect time to hear the full story.

According to the judge, Mrs Rinehart went to “extraordinary lengths to maintain control directly or indirectly of the trust”.

The lengthy battle finished with eldest daughter Bianca in control of the $4 billion fund.

Only one of the children – Ginia – supported her mother during the case and it would be very interesting to hear her perspective.

While her other children – Bianca, Hope and John – might be happy to stay out of the public eye for now, you never know when a person as powerful as Mrs Rinehart may want to air her grievances.

Cash to Burn: Behind The Wiggles

Sam Moran aka The Salaried Wiggle Photo: Getty

Popular Australian performance group The Wiggles always put on a pretty cheery face for the kiddies, but there has been plenty of cash-fuelled controversy behind their smiling facades.

When Greg Page (aka the yellow Wiggle) left the band because of illness he was paid out millions by his founding partners.

Sam Moran replaced the lead singer but on a comparatively meagre salary to the original member’s multi-million dollar earnings.

Moran became known as the “salaried Wiggle” and was ostracised by the rest of the group despite 10 years of service as a back-up and then lead singer.

It’s also been suggested the plan to bring Page back was kept from Moran right up until it was announced, giving him little time to say farewell.

Anthony Field (the blue Wiggle) is the only remaining original Wiggle.

The inside story is a tale both parents and slightly more mature former Wiggles fans might both enjoy.