The multi-million dollar test: Café owner claiming to be Reg Grundy's long-lost son faces agonising wait before DNA results reveal if he has a claim to the TV legend's fortune
- The man claiming to be Reg Grundy's 'love child' is awaiting DNA test results
- Mr Grundy, who died in 2016, has left behind assets up to almost $900million
- Simon Thomas Russell gave DNA to the determine if Mr Grundy is his father
- Mr Russell served on council in Bayside area, Melbourne, and owns a cafe
The man claiming to be Reg Grundy's 'love child' is facing an agonising wait for test results that will reveal whether he has any claim over the television mogul's fortune.
Simon Russell submitted DNA as part of a court battle to prove he is the long-lost son of the man behind popular shows such as Neighbours and Prisoner.
The results of the DNA test were expected to come back this week but that has been pushed back to Tuesday next week, The Australian reported.
Mr Russell's chances of claiming any of the $900million estate depends entirely on the paternity test results, a Sydney court heard on Friday.
The former Mayor claiming to be Reg Grundy's (right) 'love child' in the fight for a slice of his $900million fortune has been pictured for the first time (left)
Reg Grundy is pictured above with his second wife Joy Chambers in 2005
Mr Grundy - who died aged 92 in 2016 - left behind assets worth $800million overseas and $71million in Australia.
Mr Russell, who was born before Mr Grundy married his first wife Lola Powell in 1954, refused to comment on the pending DNA testing.
'There's no story until the DNA comes in,' he said.
Mr Russell is the owner of Roc Cafe in Black Rock, a Bayside suburb of Melbourne, which has been reportedly closed for weeks, the Daily Telegraph reported.
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The cafe appears to be floundering as it has been shut for the past month and is currently on the market.
Mr Russell is a well-known businessman in the area and served the community as a councillor for over a decade.
He was first elected as Mayor for Sandringham Council in 1994 and was elected as Mayor a second time in 2001 and 2002 for Bayside Council, when the cities amalgamated.
Mr Russell (right), was born before Mr Grundy (left) married his first wife Lola Powell in 1954, refused to comment pending DNA testing
Simon Thomas Russell owns Roc Cafe in Black Rock, a bayside suburb of Melbourne (pictured). The cafe has been closed for the past month and is now for sale
In the most recent 2016 vote, Mr Russell missed out as a candidate for the Southern Ward seat at Bayside.
The businessman and former Mayor, who also served in the army reserve, is a husband and father-of-three who is believed to have moved into the area age 6.
Despite the striking resemblance Mr Russell's legal representation, solicitor Anthea McIntyre, said the information that led her client to believe he could be Mr Grundy's child was private.
Mr Grundy, who also produced the Australian versions of popular game shows Wheel of Fortune and The Price is Right, was thought to have fathered only one child, Kim Robin Grundy, now known as Viola La Valette.
She launched a legal battle for her share of his fortune last year, challenging his decision to leave the bulk of his estate to his second wife Carolyn Joy Chambers-Grundy.
Ms La Valette claimed her father was suffering from Alzheimer's Disease when he made that will.
Grundy died at the age of 92 in 2016, leaving behind overseas assets worth $800million, and $71million locally
Mr Grundy and wife Joy Chambers pictured in 1994. The couple moved to Bermuda in the early 1980s and they were there together the day he passed away
Mr Russell's barrister Nicolas Kirby told the court that DNA samples from both Mr Grundy and Mr Russell were being held at a lab.
Ms La Valette, Mr Grundy's daughter with first wife Patricia Lola Powell, challenged Ms Chambers for her piece of her father's estate.
Ms La Valette is chasing access to documents about her father's mental state and health leading up to his death.
Following her lawsuit, friends of the Grundy family came forward to say they had never heard of the TV legend's daughter before, A Current Affair reported in 2017.
She had not spoken to her father for 22 years up to his death.
The value of a 1.6-hectare property in Bermuda, believed to be the palatial Idolwood Lagoon Estate, is expected to be called into question during proceedings.
Mr Grundy was behind several long-celebrated soap operas and game shows like Sons and Daughters, The Young Doctors, The Restless Years, Sale of The Century and Neighbours.
He also produced ABBA: The Movie alongside Stig Anderson, and was known to keep his private life out of the public eye.
After marrying his first wife in his 20s and divorcing her years later, Mr Grundy lived with his daughter Kim, and his mother in the 1960s while he built his television empire.
Mr Grundy met Joy, an author and actress, when she was a panellist on the game show I've Got a Secret, and married her four years later in 1971.
Grundy was the man behind shows such as Neighbours (pictured) and Prisoner
She went to star in several of her husband's soaps including The Restless Years, The Doctors and Neighbours.
Ms Grundy continues to live in the couple's sprawling Bermuda mansion. However, she did briefly return to Sydney for the court appearance.
The couple moved to Bermuda in the early 1980s and they were there together the day he passed away.
In 1983, Mr Grundy was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, and was made an Companion of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2008.
He was also awarded a PhD by the University of Queensland in 2004.
The value of the 1.6-hectare property in Bermuda, believed to be the palatial Idolwood Lagoon Estate (pictured), is expected to be called into question during La Valette's proceedings
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