GRANT DENYER: OUR DOUBLE JOY
WITH TWICE THE REASON TO CELEBRATE, GRANT AND CHEZZI DENYER ARE ‘DIZZY WITH EXCITEMENT’
He’s faced his fair share of hardship, but Grant Denyer’s got plenty to look forward to with a Gold Logie nomination and a new show – and excitement around their growing brood.
After facing some serious setbacks – including the shock axing of Family Feud and a ‘near-death’ car crash – life’s good again for the popular Ten host, who couldn’t be happier about what the future will bring.
Proud dad Grant and wife Chezzi – who have daughters Sailor, seven, and Scout, two – can’t wait to expand their brood, he tells New Idea exclusively.
‘We’re not expecting at the moment, but never say never!’ Grant reveals. ‘Look, we have two little terrors already so we’re not desperate to have another straight away, but we’d be open to having more.’
And it’s not just his personal life that’s looking up – professionally he’s kicking goals, too.
‘It’s very humbling to be nominated for another Logie, it’s like the last hurrah for Family Feud and it’s nice to finish with a bang,’ says Grant, who was thrilled when the show won a Silver Logie in 2016. ‘Also, my daughters keep fighting over my other one, so if I can get another hopefully they won’t argue so much!’
The ever-cheerful 40-yearold is equally enthusiastic about fronting the Aussie version of Ellen Degeneres’ Game of Games, which features audience members competing in a combined quiz and game show, tackling ‘ridiculous challenges’ to win big cash prizes.
‘The new show is going to be monumental! Crazy, off-the-wall and next level!’ Grant raves.
As a self-confessed Ellen fan, he says he’s ‘dizzy’ with excitement. His daughters have seen the US version and can’t wait to see their daddy work on the Aussie one, too.
‘Sailor laughed out loud... it really made her giggle and I love making silly TV. I enjoy making people laugh and enjoy themselves,’ Grant smiles.
With the Denyers’ Bathurst home in NSW filled with love and laughter, the turnaround in the family’s fortunes is all the more poignant for Chezzi, 40, who bravely revealed her own battle with post-natal anxiety and a ‘mini-breakdown’ to New Idea earlier this year.
‘I feared that if I didn’t get help, they were going to send me away and lock me up – because that’s how crazy I felt at the time,’ she recalled.
Her struggle prompted her to start Mummy Time TV, an online chat show, which is keeping her so busy it may mean baby plans are on hold – for now.
‘Chezzi is really flat out with work so another baby would just add to the craziness!’ Grant says.
While the couple admit they’d love more kids, nothing makes Grant angrier than critics implying having daughters is disappointing.
‘We don’t feel like there’s anything missing,’ he insists.
Meanwhile his family are supporting him through this new chapter 100 per cent.
‘The Logie nomination is obviously brilliant, but the new show is the icing on the cake,’ says Chezzi. ‘It’s going to be the next level of fun.’
Chezzi says this is going to be their best year yet and can’t wait for everything to kick off – especially the Logies.
‘Grant doesn’t know this, but we’re going to head out onto the streets and campaign for his nomination. The girls are really behind him and have been praying every night that he’ll win just so they can have one Logie each!’
Despite having so much on his plate, Grant, who is also a racing enthusiast, hopes his new schedule will free up some time for him to get back behind the wheel – despite his terrifying accident in March last year, when he was involved in a horrific car crash.
‘Obviously not wanting to repeat last year’s drama when I was hospitalised, I’ll be back behind the wheel for sure and Chezzi is very supportive of my passion. She says I’ve got to stay off the roads and keep on the tracks though!’