Grant Denyer’s recovery
The TV star opens up about the other special woman in his life
Next week will mark one month since Grant Denyer walked away from his near-fatal rally crash. And the star’s horrifying experience is making him reflect on how lucky he is to have such a supportive family and friends – especially his mum, Glenice.
In a candid interview, the Family Feud host – who is in recovery after he slammed into a tree during the Australian Tarmac Rally Championship in Victoria on March 26 – has reflected on life growing up with his single mum, crediting her strength and determination for his success. “We were doing it really tough. We had no money growing up,” reveals Grant.
“She always had a joke, always smiled and never let you know how bad the situation might be.”
Grant – who shares daughters Sailor, five, and 18-month-old Scout with wife Cheryl – went on to explain how his mum was too embarrassed to reveal how she was paying the bills.
“When I was a kid, she told me she was a receptionist in an office. But she wasn’t – she was a house cleaner, but couldn’t bring herself to tell us. She would dress in a business suit to head to work when she left the house. But then, she would get to her cleaning job and get changed to work, then change back into the business suit before she came home each night.”
It was Glenice’s unfaltering courage that helped Grant carve out a 20-year television career.
“She did everything she could for us and did an amazing job. You always felt like nothing was out of reach and that everything was possible,” he says.
And as TV’S biggest award ceremony, the TV Week Logies, approaches this weekend, one thing’s for certain – Glenice will be rooting for her boy, who is up for two awards.
Speaking about his Logie win last year, Grant said his mother reacted in a way he’ll never forget.
“She said to me, ‘ You don’t have a massive ego, which I was worried about. You’re good at what you do, so it looks like my job here is done’. ”
‘She did an amazing job. You always felt nothing was out of reach’