Sophie Monk on heartbreak, her single life and who’s hot on Nine’s new Love Island
HER own love life might be in park, but Sophie Monk is revving up again for another reality dating show — this time, as host of Love Island. But she has an admission to make.
TV
Don't miss out on the headlines from TV. Followed categories will be added to My News.
SOPHIE Monk can do sexy, just don’t ask her to read a teleprompter.
The host of Nine Go!’s sizzling new reality dating show, Love Island, knows her limitations and that includes doing anything on TV that requires a degree of seriousness, or reading skills.
But that’s okay, she tells TV Guide — it’s what got her this gig.
“They wanted someone who wasn’t so straighty-180 ... it’s not like I’m going to do the news, or whatever,” she explains.
“Imagine me doing that ... I would screw it up. I can’t read a teleprompter. I’m lucky I don’t have to do it, ‘cos I can’t. They have to write things out for alphanetically [sic] ... is that how you say it?” the former Bachelorette asks, hysterically proving her point.
Laughing at herself, she admits: “I’m terrible! They asked me to do this role, I can’t tell you what one, because they gave the guy his job back. They go, ‘you’ve got the role, you’re gonna host’ and so I went in to read for them. And you know when you can feel all their hearts break? The room just went quiet and I went ‘awww crap ...’ and they went ‘actually, we’ve had a change of plans’ and got the guy back. I was like, ‘f*ck, I can’t read a teleprompter.’ For some reason, you prerecord me and I’ll stuff it up. Go live and I’m good to go,” she says, confidently.
MORE: Sophie Monk was set up to fail on The Bachelorette
MORE: Sophie Monk now open to a European fling
MORE: Stu Laundy breaks silence over mystery woman
Good thing for all involved then that for the next six weeks of this raunchy season, the self-effacing 38-year-old will be almost entirely off script and throwing herself into the action.
Think Big Brother “for just hot people” is how Monk describes the show, which initially sends 10 singles into a purpose-built luxury villa, in Mallorca, Spain; hopeful they’ll couple up, before others are sent in temptation.
The format is a monster hit in the UK, which — like the Aussie version — features Irish radio DJ, Eoghan McDermott, as the cheeky narrator, who keeps viewers up-to-date with who’s hooking up, who’s misbehaving and what the cameras have caught in between episodes.
Monk will play an active role, spending some time interacting with the contestants inside the villa; counselling them through their reality romances.
After her own search for love ended in disappointment — splitting from Sydney publican, Stu Laundy, three months after they were matched on air — Monk says she’s better at dishing out relationship advice than taking it herself.
“Nothing can explain what it’s like in that environment because you’re just so vulnerable. You’ve got to be honest and hope people like you as you.”
For that reason, her Channel 10 experience wasn’t a total loss — revitalising Monk’s media stocks, after the public warmed to her raw honesty and softer side.
She admits it’s not how she thought it would go: “I was really surprised ... I thought it was going to backfire.”
Watching the launch episode from the safe distance of a hotel in Thailand, she thought “‘oh no, everyone’s going to hate me’ and when there was so much support, I thought ‘God, Aussies are good.’ They like honesty ... we can see through bullshit.”
Her humour has long been worn as her armour, so dropping that guard in search of real love forced her “to be strong,” she says.
“I’m not confrontational, but I had to be on that show. It taught me that you’re better off calling stuff out early and not being walked over, instead of it being a big mistake in the end,” she offers.
“I’ve learned now to say it in the moment. You’re moving so fast on those shows, you have to be honest and ask for what you want.”
Time at home with her family on the Gold Coast has helped heal her broken heart, Monk says, especially with number one guy — dad, Andrew.
“It’s been the best. I keep thinking, ‘do I look like a loser, hanging out with dad?’ but he’s my best friend. He’s so funny, passionate, intelligent ... he’s just a legend. It’s so grounding.”
And if there’s one thing she’s most looking forward to about Love Island, it’s getting her gear off in the Spanish sun.
“When I was filming Bachelorette, it was minus two degrees. I was bloody freezing every day. I’d ask to wear a jacket or a sweater and they’d say ‘no.’ All I have to do is have fun, enjoy it and care about them ... which is easy because that’s my nature anyway.”
* Love Island, 8.30pm, Sunday-Thursday, May 27 on 9Go! and 9Now