A familiar voice to generations of New Zealanders is swapping the airwaves for the beach waves, with broadcaster Polly Gillespie joining this year’s cast of Celebrity Treasure Island but admitting to a good dose of nerves.
Gillespie, who has built a decades-long career across radio and television, says the decision to take part came down to pushing herself following a quieter stretch in her life.
“I’ve spent the last few years not being as adventurous as I used to be,” she says. “I thought, 'It’s time to not do that. I don’t want to be afraid of life.'"
Gillespie first rose to prominence as part of The Hits’ ZM breakfast show, which she co-hosted alongside her former husband Greg Kiriama for more than 20 years.
Since then, she has worked across multiple radio networks, including stints on Today FM, and has appeared on a range of television programmes particularly in music and entertainment.
Beyond broadcasting, she has also written columns and developed a strong presence on social media.
Despite that experience, Gillespie admits that signing up for Celebrity Treasure Island came with plenty of nerves and a conscious decision not to over-prepare.
“Honestly [I'm] quite anxious,” she said of her feelings prior to filming.
'I didn’t do any homework because I didn’t want to frighten myself. I thought if I see what other people do, I’m going to run. So, I'm just going in blind."
Early impressions of her castmates were positive, with Gillespie describing them as "really, really good people", though she was under no illusions about what her personal strengths were.
“Clearly mine will not be lifting boulders or kayaking,” the 62-year-old laughs.
'I don’t need to be the boss'
Instead, Gillespie says her people skills and temperament will be key to navigating the social side of the game.
“I’m a good listener and a team player. I don’t need to be the boss, but I’ll support whoever is.”
Gillespie is competing for Kidney Health New Zealand, a cause she says is deeply personal with several members of her family having been involved in kidney donations, including her former partner and relatives.
“It’s something that’s touched our family in a big way,” she said. "There’s a lot of people on the waiting list, so I wanted to do my bit to raise money and raise awareness."
Life on the island in Northland also strips back competitors' everyday comforts, something Gillespie says will take some adjustment.
“I’ll miss having a pen and paper to write,” she says. “That’s how I process things.”
While she admits she hasn't always been a regular viewer of reality television — sometimes finding it “a bit embarrassing” — she believes that distance might work in her favour.
“I’m quite observant. I think I’ll just be watching and seeing how things play out.”
The overarching goal, Gillespie says, is simple: embrace the experience and see where it leads.
“I’ve learned not to have expectations,” she says. “Whatever happens, happens.”
Celebrity Treasure Island starts April 27 and airs 7.30pm Monday to Wednesday on TVNZ2 and TVNZ+.
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