‘I don’t like my relationship with alcohol’: Grant Denyer admits he was often drunk during his appearances as weather presenter on Sunrise
Grant Denyer has spoken out about his problematic relationship with alcohol.
The 43-year-old TV presenter spoke about using alcohol as a crutch on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, with the episode set to air on Tuesday night.
‘I don’t like my relationship with alcohol,’ he began during a candid conversation with his co-stars, as reported by news.com.au on Tuesday.
Coming clean: Grant Denyer has spoken out about his problematic relationship with alcohol. The 43-year-old TV presenter spoke about using alcohol as a crutch on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
Grant admitted he was often drunk on TV while working as the Sunrise weather presenter from 2004 to 2006, and again from 2010 to 2013.
‘When I was doing Sunrise weather for years, the amount of times I was probably still drunk on air in the morning was too many,’ he continued.
He said he only realised the full extent of his issues with alcohol as he prepared to enter the wilderness on I’m A Celebrity.
Inebriated: Grant admitted he was often drunk on TV while working as the Sunrise weather presenter from 2004 to 2006, and again from 2010 to 2013
‘I think I have only just realised that from coming in here, I drink to lessen anxiety,’ he explained.
‘I didn’t really realise I had until I saw the pattern I had from the fear of coming into here and the anticipation of a new gig.’
Grant said his concerns about whether he’d fit in with his co-stars, as well as whether he’d be successful on the show prompted him to drink.
‘When I was doing Sunrise weather for years, the amount of times I was probably still drunk on air in the morning was too many,’ he continued
‘I have been asking myself this question for, far out, five years? “Do I have a problem?” And I think the answer is, “I do!”‘ he confessed.
He said he plans to give up alcohol entirely, and added: ‘I think I need it gone from my life to be able to navigate life better than I have been.’
His comments come just four months after Grant spoke about his addiction to painkillers, which developed after he suffered a back injury.
Reality check: He said he only realised the full extent of his issues with alcohol as he prepared to enter the wilderness on I’m A Celebrity…
Speaking on his podcast, IT’S ALL TRUE?, back in September, Grant recounted being convinced his wife of 10 years, Chezzi Denyer, was being raped by an intruder.
‘Mad s**t that went on… when I closed my eyes and couldn’t tell the difference between reality and my dream,’ he said.
He added: ‘As soon as you close your eyes, you go into your worst nightmares.’
Turning to alcohol: Grant said his concerns about whether he’d fit in with his co-stars, as well as whether he’d be successful on the show prompted him to drink