For beloved broadcaster Matt Gibb, there was a heartbreaking motivation for joining the cast of Celebrity Treasure Island.
The former Squirt star signed on for the gruelling competition because he was determined to raise money for the Cancer Society after losing his father to a rare form of skin cancer in February 2020.
“Dad had a really short and intense battle with Merkel cell carcinoma,” Matt tells Woman’s Day, wiping away a tear. “We found a tumour in his neck and thought an operation would hopefully do the trick. But by that point, it had spread too much, so it was just a matter of spending as much time with him as we could. It was four months from diagnosis to us losing him.”
Matt says it won’t be easy for his mum watching his exploits on the reality show!
Matt was living and working in Sydney at the time his dad Eddie was diagnosed but says his employers at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation were incredible and let him spend the time he needed
with his father.
“I am eternally grateful that we were all with him when he passed away and we were all able to be there for the funeral, unlike many families at that time. Just two weeks after his funeral was when the borders closed and restrictions kicked in.”
Matt returned to Australia after the funeral and had to process the loss of his dad in isolation. “It was pretty tough,” he admits. “He was the most loving dad. He would never let you go to sleep without knowing that he loved you. He was everything you’d hope for – caring, sweet and funny. I learnt a lot from him.”
Matt with his dad.
Despite having a great job in Sydney as senior producer for children’s television, Matt started to miss the limelight – he had been on New Zealand screens for more than 20 years, starting on kids’ shows Squirt and Studio 2, before moving to reporting and presenting roles on TVNZ’s Breakfast, Good Morning and U Live.
Matt, 42, says although show business can be tough, the experiences he’s had during his 23-year broadcasting career have been amazing.
“A couple of years ago with Breakfast, we went around the world in a week as part of a competition! Opportunities like that just don’t come along and I’m so grateful for the fact that one audition for Squirt has led me to waking up in Honolulu one day, Vancouver the next and in Buenos Aires by the Friday. You get to the end of a week like that and you just think, ‘What the hell has happened? How am I doing this?'”
“Caring, sweet and funny” – Matt’s memories of dad Eddie.
So although he was doing well across the ditch, he started to worry that he might never get the chance to be on air again.
“The longer you’re away, the less the phone rings,” he says frankly. “The first couple of years I was away, I was working quite a bit back and forth between the two countries, and then obviously that ended with Covid.
“The show pony inside was starting to rear his ugly head and I was like, ‘If I don’t move back and try to get into on-screen work again soon, maybe those opportunities won’t come along.’ Luckily, since I’ve been back, it’s been working out better than I could have hoped for, so the timing was right to come home.”
Indeed, Matt has landed some plum television gigs since his return, including hosting real estate show Country House Hunters, reporting for Breakfast and Seven Sharp, and, of course, his current stint on Celebrity Treasure Island.
Being in New Zealand also means he is closer to his mother Kath. “Initially, I came home to Christchurch and lived with Mum, and being able to spend some time with her was special,” says Matt, who now resides on Auckland’s Karangahape Road. “Staying in my hometown for a few months was amazing.”
Although his mum supports him in whatever he chooses, Matt reveals she’s “not that stoked” about his foray into reality TV.
“She enjoyed Country House Hunters as a show that her friends were watching, and something she was able to sit down and enjoy. I’m not sure how she’s going to go seeing me doing bizarre things and backroom deals with people on Celebrity Treasure Island!”
But the chance to raise funds for the Cancer Society makes all the double-crossing and lack of food worth it.
“Knowing what our family went through at that time and what some of my friends’ families are going through now, I am really passionate about doing anything I can do to raise anything for the Cancer Society. They do incredible work in the community with research and support for families going through the most horrific things.”
Celebrity Treasure Island screens 7.30pm Monday to Wednesday on TVNZ 2.
