Grant Denyer opens up about his prior struggles with addiction

Content warning: This article deals with addiction and mental health, and may be triggering for some readers.

In a deeply candid interview, beloved television personality Grant Denyer has bravely opened up about his previous struggles with addiction.

Denyer has openly battled painkiller dependency in the past, a battle that emerged following a severe injury sustained during a monster truck accident back in 2008.

During a recent interview on The Jess Rowe Big Talk Show, Denyer took the opportunity to share his story, offering an unfiltered look into the highs and lows of his life beyond the camera.

Denyer recounted a time when his wife spent hours searching for him after he vanished from his home wearing nothing but his underwear.

“I wanted some scotch one night, for whatever reason, and just went wandering around town in my undies, got lost in the fire escape on the way back to the apartment,” he said.

“I did not know where my apartment was and fell asleep in the fire escape. It took Chez three or four hours to find me.”

Denyer delved further into the difficulties he faced during those trying times, revealing the nightmarish hallucinations he experienced.

“When you are under the influence of that kind of power of medication and in that much pain, when you close your eyes at night you go into your worst nightmares immediately and it is every night,” he said.

Denyer has always remained open about his struggles with addiction, during his time on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Denyer opened up about his struggles with alcohol and the realisation that he experiences anxiety. 

The 45-year-old, who spent time in the Australian “jungle” along with other celebrities and media personalities as part of the popular show, even went so far as to say that at times he was likely still drunk while presenting the weather on channel Seven’s breakfast program Sunrise, adding, “I don’t like my relationship with alcohol”.

Denyer revealed that he came to the realisation that his alcohol intake is likely linked to the anxiety he grapples with.

“I think I’ve only just realised from coming in here, that I drink to lessen anxiety, which I didn’t really realise I had until I saw the pattern of fear coming into here [the reality TV show] and the anticipation of a new gig and [concerns of] will I fit in? Is it going to be fun? Am I going to be able to be successful in the challenges? Can I be funny for that long?” he told the other contestants at the time.

“All of these things and … I was like, ohhh! I’m trying to calm all that down. I’ve never put two and two together and I’ve been asking myself this question for – far out… five years? Do I have a problem? And I think the answer is, I do.

“And it was coming in here, watching how I couldn’t control the pace at which I was drinking because I do everything fast but … I was trying to stem the fear of … what we were about to do, and I thought, I think I do that every week.”

If you or anyone you know needs help: Lifeline — 13 11 14; MensLine Australia — 1300 789 978; BeyondBlue — 1300 224 636; Suicide Call Back Service — 1300 659 467; Headspace — 1800 650 890; Kids Helpline — 1800 551 800.