Lynette Forday on Celebrity Treasure Island. Photo / Included
Former Shortland Street star Lynette Forday will give the youngsters a cash fight in the upcoming season of Celebrity Treasure Island. At 54, the actress, Pilates instructor, and motivational speaker is nearly 20 years older than some of the contestants, but judging by her toned abs, that shouldn’t be a problem.
Spy can reveal that an eclectic mix will join Forday to win $100,000 for the charities of their choice. They include actor Eds Eramiha, 35, Jesse Tuke, 30, brother of America’s Cup star Blair, Iyia Liu, 29, former Boss Babes star, and scientist Dr. Joel Rindelaub, 35, who will put his mullet and mustache through their paces.
Forday will be a must in this treasure-finding series set in a remote Northland location. Not only does she have the fitness and physique of someone half her age, she will devote passionate energy to winning the $100,000 for her charity Sticks ‘n’ Stones, which offers classes for children and teens. to make them feel strong and accepted. and bullying is a thing of the past.
“I support S’n’S because I grew up hearing a lot of names, so I have a real passion for helping kids deal with bullying,” she says.
The former professional ballet dancer became a household name after meeting Dr. Grace Kwan had played on Shortland Street. She was one of the first Asian actresses to land a lead role on a primetime show, and later became a motivational speaker with a focus on diversity and acceptance.
Forday, mother of teenage daughter Lucia, struggled to accept her ballerina’s body shape as she found her slim form chubby. Since then, exercising and staying physically strong has been a lifelong focus.
“I used to be a fitness junkie as I went every day but since Covid I’ve become a sidewalk junkie. I walk for hours every day. I’ve become Ponsonby’s Forrest Gump,” she says.
The ‘Ride With The Devil’ star says she loves all things crazy and exciting, so she threw herself into the show but ended up with the infamous puzzle challenges.
dr Rindelaub, known for his humorous take on Covid-19, says he jumped at the chance to escape to a deserted beach in the far north when the country had its worst Covid outbreak earlier this year.
Rindelaub admitted his medical mind wasn’t particularly advantageous when it came to surviving on a beach with a group of prominent strangers. He told Spy that viewers would either absorb his analytical approach on the show … or find it annoying.
Either way, he’s determined to win big bucks for his chosen charity, the South Auckland House of Science.
Fellow contestant Liu benefited from some tips from last year’s CTI finalist Edna Swart, who appeared with Liu on TVNZ+ reality show Boss Babes. Businesswoman Swart warned her former co-star how hard it would be to live in the middle of nowhere, with no communication with the outside world and with very little.
“I’m very carefree and go with the flow, so I did my best and took things as they came,” says Liu. She even survived being terrorized by possums but says the fear of wild attacks was worth it for her charity, Ronald McDonald House.
She hopes viewers will like her positive attitude, but admits she may have upset some by arriving at camp ill-prepared.
Liu isn’t the only CTI performer with a good buddy in last year’s finals. Dancer Elvis Lopeti is good friends with dance star Lance Savali.
We’re hearing that others should pay attention this season, from the 21 Castaway reality stars who don’t mess with Dame Susan Devoy and hilarious Wellington Paranormal star Karen O’Leary.
In the show’s first father-daughter duo, mental health advocate Mike King will fight alongside his 25-year-old daughter, radio host, actress and singer Alex. King senior will be competing for his charity Gumboot Friday, while King junior wants the profits to go to her father’s other charity, I am Hope.
Eramiha could be the one to watch out for this year’s win. His muay thai fighting gives him the physical presence he needs and says he is at camp to provide balance and guide mediator, cook, janitor and, if elected, guide.
Any challenge Eramiha can win is for New Zealand mental health awareness.
Tuke was last on our screens as an America’s Cup reporter for TVNZ and says famous sailing brother Blair gave him sailing tips to sail off the beach like Tom Hank’s character in Castaway Without a Coconut.
Tuke admits he takes the games and the competition far too seriously, and hilariously compares the effect of a beans-and-rice diet on his digestion to the container ship Ever Given clogging the Suez Canal.
Tuke’s chosen charity, Live Ocean, was founded by Blair and his sailing partner Peter Burling.