Celebrity Treasure Island is billing itself as New Zealand's biggest reality TV show and we are predicting that if not too much of the rumoured drama on-set in the South Pacific doesn't end up on the cutting room floor, the show will live up to the hype.
Next Sunday radio stars Athena Angelou and Sam Wallace, Olympians Barbara Kendall and Eric Murray, former league star Gary Freeman, actors Jodie Rimmer and Karl Burnett, singers Moses Mackay and Ladi6, athlete and influencer Lana Van Hout, former reality stars Lily McManus and Rosanna Arkle, boxer Shane Cameron, TV presenters Shannon Ryan and Matty McLean and former All Black Zac Guildford will hit the screen on TVNZ2, attempting to win $100,000 for their chosen charities.
TV queen Dame Julie Christie is said to have lapped up being back on the scene in Fiji — where so many famous reality scenes have played out in past series — and Spy has heard stories of alleged chauvinism, weatherman rivalry, possible romance and bromance, and the odd tantrum.
We hear some of the men weren't very woke and were perceived as sexist by other competitors, writing off the chances of the female contestants as true competition early on in filming.
In a game of strategy, this is done at their peril. And we hear the men who had those views soon realise there are a lot of strong women in the show who are a force to be reckoned with.