Jackson Warne has offered a deeply personal insight into life with one of Australia’s greatest sporting icons, opening up about the profound emotional toll of losing his father, cricket legend Shane Warne. Speaking exclusively to Hamish McLachlan on Unfiltered, the 26-year-old reflected on the man behind the global fame, describing a father whose warmth, humour and authenticity shaped not only his family, but also millions of people around the world.
Shane Warne, widely regarded as Australia’s greatest ever spin bowler, died in March 2022 from a suspected heart attack while staying in a luxury villa in Thailand. His passing sent shockwaves through the sporting world, with tributes flowing from former teammates, rivals, fans and leaders across the globe. Yet for Jackson and his siblings, the loss went far beyond the public mourning of a cricketing giant — it was the sudden absence of a father whose presence filled every room he entered.
In the Unfiltered interview, Jackson spoke candidly about the extraordinary charisma that defined his dad both on and off the field. Despite the larger-than-life persona seen by fans and media, he said the Shane Warne Australians adored was exactly the same person at home.
“He was so engaging, so genuine and so honest. He always tried to make any situation so funny,” Warne said on Unfiltered.
“Everything was fun. If he was on the cricket pitch, in the commentary box, on the golf course, in person at dinner in a function room, he was always himself. And I think that’s why so many people liked him, because he was so relatable.
“He could talk to the person in the smokers at Crown at 2am, he could talk to the Prime Minister, he could talk to anybody about anything and that person would always end up leaving with a smile which I think is one of the coolest abilities people can have in the world.”
The younger Warne explained that this rare ability to connect with anyone, regardless of status or background, was central to his father’s appeal. It was not something that could be taught or manufactured.
“They call it charisma - you either have it or you don’t.”
Throughout the interview, McLachlan and Warne reflected on how Shane Warne’s influence extended far beyond wickets taken or matches won. While his record-breaking achievements on the pitch revolutionised spin bowling and redefined what was possible in the art of leg-spin, his son believes his greatest legacy lies in how he made people feel.
In what Jackson described as a privilege, he was able to witness first-hand the ripple effect his father had on those around him.
“I got to see dad leave this trail of glow with people he came into contact with which I find is just so special,” the son of one of the world’s greatest bowlers said.
For Jackson, this “trail of glow” was evidence of a man who understood the struggles of life and chose positivity in response. Shane Warne’s own journey was marked by controversy, physical challenges and relentless scrutiny, yet he remained determined to bring joy to others whenever possible.
“He made people feel very good. He understood how hard life can be so he wanted to make people as happy and as positive as many times a day as he could,” Warne said.
“That’s probably one thing I miss the most ... the amount of people I know never got to meet him or the people who did get to meet him will never get to see him again because he always made people smile.”
While the world remembers Shane Warne as a fearless competitor who intimidated the best batters of his era, Jackson’s memories are of a father who thrived on laughter, conversation and connection. That contrast, he explained, has made grieving particularly complex, as public celebration and private loss continue to intersect.
The interview took a heartbreaking turn when Jackson recalled the moment his life changed forever — the phone call no child is ever prepared to receive. He described being at his mother’s house with his girlfriend and sister when his phone rang.
“I was at my mum’s house with my girlfriend and my sister. I got this phone call from Andrew Neophitou who was with dad at the time overseas and he was panting,” Warne said.
“I also thought when I saw his name pop up, that it was a bit wierd that he was calling me. I know he’s with dad, why would he be calling me and not dad calling me.
“So I answer and he’s panting and he said, ‘Look Jacko, I just want to let you know your dad’s had a massive heart attack and we’re doing everything we can. We’ll be in touch soon.’”
Jackson described the disbelief that followed, struggling to reconcile the news with the image he had of his father as someone almost indestructible.
He remembers hanging up the phone and looking at his mother, his partner and his sister, unable to process what he had just heard.
“A heart attack? You’re telling me dad’s just had a heart attack. We’ve seen dad go through motor bike accidents, car accidents, media stuff, life stuff... He’s been through so much adversity his entire life since he was 20 years old,” he said.
“I literally look at dad as superman, I’ve seen him go through so much s*** his whole life, that a heart attack is not what’s going to get him.”
But hope quickly turned to devastation when the second call came, this time from James Erskine, another of Shane Warne’s managers.
“And then an hour later, when we get the other phone call from James Erskine, dad’s other manager. He said: ‘Look Jacko, unfortunately just wanted to let you know, your dad’s passed away from a heart attack’.”
Jackson admitted that his immediate reaction was not sadness, but anger — a raw and confronting emotion that caught him by surprise.
“My first emotion was really angry.
“I was really angry because if he’s passed away from a heart attack, it means it could be something to do with smoking , something to do with diet, something to do with all these things.
“I was really angry that’s how dad went out.”
That anger, he explained, came from love and a sense of injustice — the feeling that someone who had survived so much adversity should not have been taken so suddenly. It is an emotion many families experience in the wake of unexpected loss, particularly when the person feels larger than life.
More than two years on, Jackson Warne continues to navigate life in the shadow of an enduring legacy. The Unfiltered interview offered viewers a rare glimpse into the personal cost of sporting greatness, reminding audiences that behind every legend is a family learning how to live without them.
While Shane Warne’s records, highlights and impact on cricket will be replayed for generations, his son’s words reinforce that his greatest achievement may have been far simpler — making people smile, feel valued and leave every interaction a little lighter than before.
