Simon Barnett says returning to Celebrity Treasure Island was something he wasn't sure he was ready to do following the death of his wife Jodi.
The veteran broadcaster also became emotional talking about the brain cancer charity he is competing for on the show.
Barnett said taking part will push him well outside his comfort zone, as he steps back into the competition more than 20 years after his first appearance.
The 59-year-old is joining the show's seventh season, where 16 well-known Kiwis will embark on physical and strategic challenges in the wilderness in a bid to win $100,000 for charity.
Barnett, who finished runner-up in 2004, said he initially questioned whether returning to the show was the right decision.
"I’m not altogether sure, if I’m entirely candid, that I did want to be a part of Celebrity Treasure Island," the MoreFM host said.
“There’s been a lot going on in my life. I thought, ‘do I want to put myself through this?’”
That hesitation came following the death of his beloved wife Jodi in 2023, after her five-and-a-half-year battle with brain cancer. The couple were together for more than 30 years and raised four daughters together.
Barnett said the loss of his wife had "completely destroyed" him and caused him to largely step away from public life.
“I’ve been completely AWOL for two years," he said.
"And then this opportunity came up. I went to my daughters, who are kind of my go-to, and I said yes.”
Barnett will compete representing White Matter Brain Cancer Trust, a Wellington-based charity supporting patients affected by brain cancer and their families.
He said the decision to back the cancer-supporting charity was an "obvious" one, after the organisation supported him through his wife's illness.
"I was delighted when they said you had to name a charity, because they provide a lot of support," Barnett said.
"When the diagnosis comes up, everyone's world just collapses. So, for young people that are suffering, they might give them a trampoline. For a young woman or man about to get married, they'll pay for the wedding."
A visibly emotional Barnett expressed his gratitude for the charity's "exceptional work".
"Brain cancer is such a brutal, disgusting disease because it robs the sufferer of everything," he said.
“Sincerely, a little bit of ego makes me want to win this, but not for myself - $100,000 to them would be life changing.”
'Never seen myself as anything special'
Hosted by Bree Tomasel and Jayden Daniels, Celebrity Treasure Island sees contestants compete in teams in a mix of endurance, strategy and elimination challenges, aiming to outlast each other to reach the final.
Several contestants on this season of the show include rugby star Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, broadcaster Polly Gillespie and Shortland Street actors Ben Barrington and Ria Vandervis.
Despite more than 40 years in broadcasting, Barnett admitted to being more "socially reclusive" than he seemed.
"I've never really seen myself as anything special," he said.
He added that hurting someone’s feelings on the show would be “one of my worst fears”.
“I’m a lover, not a fighter. I'm a peacemaker."
The show's demanding environment would be another big test, Barnett said, particularly the close-quarter living conditions.
“The thing I will probably miss most is solitude. With a lot of personalities and energy, it can be quite draining for someone introverted like me."
Having experienced Celebrity Treasure Island before, Barnett was well aware of the physical toll, recalling he lost around 10kg during his first stint on the show.
This time around, he joked he briefly considered sneaking in one vital piece of contraband before thinking better of it.
"The only thing I thought about smuggling in was protein bars, but they got on to me real quick.
"Then I thought I could maybe sneak in some protein water. But they've already checked my bags."
Celebrity Treasure Island: Wisdom vs Fury starts April 27 and airs 7.30pm Monday to Wednesday on TVNZ2 and TVNZ+.
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