Matt Klitscher
She describes Celebrity Treasure Island as “a silly little show” – but Jane Yee couldn’t be more of a fan! She’s watched every episode of every season and dissects each melodrama-filled moment on her hilariously chaotic Spinoff podcast The Real Pod.
“CTI is such an amazing mix of intense emotion but also ridiculousness,” the Auckland media personality, 44, tells Woman’s Day. “It’s interesting to watch things like Mike King self-eliminating so he can work with suicidal children and then, one minute later, contestants have hooks dangling off their waists and they’re trying to pick up balls.
“It’s stupidly funny seeing the stars in a non-celebrity environment, with the glam stripped back, and I feel like every season gets better.”
Treasure Island: Fans V Faves will certainly be the best series ever for mum-of-three Jane, who felt “excited and sick with disbelief” when she got the call to compete late last year.
“It still feels unreal,” she says, with a massive grin. “But I have an advantage in that I’ve done TV before, so I know a little about how things work. This isn’t entirely new for me and I’m not going to let myself get swept away by the glamour of television.”
Jane admits anxiety could get the better of her during the tough competition.
Indeed, Jane hosted music shows M2 and Squeeze, before becoming a full-time presenter on C4 alongside future “first bloke” Clarke Gayford. Alas, while they still “check in very occasionally”, Jane admits, “We’re not that close any more – I’m not on the guest list for the wedding!”
Of her days in telly, she adds, “I loved that time in my life, but I wish I’d known some of the things I know now. I was encouraged to do a lot of things that I didn’t have the guts to say no to – dumb things, like wearing revealing or unflattering clothes in promo shoots. I wore some terrible, terrible outfits.
“It’s funny to look back on, but there were dynamics where I didn’t feel completely safe as a woman.” (And no, Clarke wasn’t the problem!)
“I’m not on the guest list for Clarke’s wedding!”
Speaking of outfits, Jane initially insists she doesn’t care about being filmed in her togs on Treasure Island, before adding, “Well, I care a little bit, but it’s really important to me to show that any body is a bikini body, so yes, I packed a bikini. This is a body that’s had three children, including twins, so it’s done its work and should be celebrated.”
Apart from “representing a large percentage of the population with my curves and squidgy bits”, Jane’s other goal is simply not to be the first person eliminated from the reality series.
She explains, “I want my kids to get some decent mum-watching time on TV – it’ll blow their little minds – and I’d love to get some money for my charity.”
She’s competing for Autism New Zealand, an organisation close to her heart because her eldest son has the condition.
Jane tells, “Life with him is challenging at times, but no matter how hard it is for us, it’s always harder for him. There are a lot of misconceptions and this really isn’t a world that’s made for autistic people – the more people who can understand the differences, challenges and the amazing things autistic people have to offer, the better we’ll all be.”
She recounts a terrifying moment when her son disappeared from school one day. He was found hiding just half an hour after he vanished, but those 30 minutes were “awful”. Jane recalls, “All the staff were combing the grounds and it had that same vibe of when they’re searching for a body on the news. In that moment, I was like, ‘What if we don’t find him?'”
However, Jane quickly adds, “Yes, it can be tough, but our life as a family is also wonderful. Our house is a very loud, funny, messy, chaotic place that’s full of a lot of love and laughter.”
Trick or treating with her kids.
Being apart from her children will be the hardest part of Treasure Island, says Jane.
“I’ve been away from them for five days before, but this is different because I can’t contact them or even check in. We’ve had some challenges lately and it’s hard to be away, but they’ve each given me a little toy to remind me of them.”
Having “battled severe bouts of anxiety and depression” in the past, Jane notes that there’s a chance she could struggle with her mental health during filming, adding, “I’ve already had some flutters of anxiety.”
But she says, “These days, I’m really proactive about seeing the signs, reaching out to people and making sure things don’t go too far these days. I’ve already spoken to my GP and the production counsellor. I think I’ll be OK. Watch this space!”
