Serial reality TV star Jack Vidgen on dating, The Challenge and growing a thick skin

Jack Vidgen has revealed his love life challenges and why he credits reality TV with keeping him afloat through some tough times.

He’s pushed his body to the limits on Ninja Warrior. Sung his heart out on Australia’s Got Talent and The Voice. And braved the jungle on I am a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.

But there is one reality frontier that Jack Vidgen has yet to embrace: dating.

“I mean, I could be tempted,” he says coyly when asked whether he would ever consider doing a series like The Bachelor.

“Whether they want me to do it or not is another question.

“But I mean that’s a whole other world of reality TV that I am not sure I want to get into.”

While he may not have yet spent time in the Bachelor mansion himself, Vidgen recently got the next best thing on Channel 10’s new series The Challenge.

Filmed in Argentina earlier this year, The Challenge saw Vidgen sharing a similarly tumultuous house-share arrangement with Bachelor alumni such as Brooke Blurton, Megan Marx and Konrad Bien-Stephen as well as MAFS star “Cyclone” Cyrell Paule and Love Island’s unfortunately named Grant Crapp.

The series also reunites Vidgen with his jungle campmates David Subritsky – initially a faux famous influencer and now newly-minted reality star – and Olympian Emily Seebohm.

He describes the show (where the mixed bag of reality stars compete in extreme physical challenges in between fighting and getting it on) as “a mix of like Survivor, Ninja Warrior, Big Brother, Jersey Shore and Jerry Springer”.

Jack Vidgen and “Cyclone” Cyrell Paule on the set of the Channel 10 reality TV show The Challenge.

While Vidgen – who admits he finds the online dating world overwhelming – had hoped he might find the man for him inside The Challenge house, all he found on the set was some solid new friendships.

“I definitely had hopes but no one was my type,” he laughs, coyly adding that if there were any hook-ups on the show he didn’t participate.

On that score, seeing the predictably dramatic antics of the dating show veterans on The Challenge has made Vidgen, 25, even more gun-shy about ever having a tilt at reality romance.

For the moment he’s happy to keep his fledgling dating life off camera.

“I haven’t been on a date in four years, doll,” he laughs.

“Between us I have my first date in four years tonight. I have known him for years, so I am not nervous.”

New romance aside, it’s been a month of milestones for Vidgen who also spent the time recording a new song. He says the song, the title of which he’s keeping under wraps but is due to be released in late November, is a bit of a change of pace from his previous work.

“In the past I have really put my heart on my sleeve and with this one I just wanted to have a bit more fun,” he says.

“I just wanted to be a little bit more fun, not have that deep of the meaning behind it and just put out a bit of trashy pop.”

It was through singing that Australia first fell in love with Vidgen. The then 14-year-old was dubbed the Aussie Justin Bieber when he won the 2011 season of Australia’s Got Talent and was catapulted into the spotlight.

Jack Vidgen during the grand final of Australia's Got Talent.

“I felt very protected during the show,” he reflects of child stardom.

“And then I think once the show was over, I felt a bit left to my own devices. And I don’t think as a 14-year-old going through that (experience of overnight success) it’s not the easiest of things, especially in your formative years.

“It’s weird; while I have a beautiful life, it was also quite a lonely one because there’s not really people you can relate to.”

Like a lot of young performers who find fame at a young age, Vidgen admits that his life did spin off the rails for a time. And shortly before going into the jungle, he did a stint in rehab.

“But I am very grateful that it is back on the rails now and keep that train moving,” he laughs.

“But I have a lot of empathy and compassion for those people who haven’t been able to do that. It’s very easy to make fun of them but it’s really hard to get past something like that … at such a young age.”

It’s only now, 11 years after he first stepped on to the AGT stage to audition with a showstopping rendition of Whitney Houston’s I Have Nothing that scored him a standing ovation, that Vidgen is comfortable with his fame and can laugh off the inevitable critics.

“I have grown a thick skin,” he reflects.

Jess Eva, Jack Vidgen and Pettifleur Berenger on I'm A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here in 2021. Picture: Supplied/Channel 10

“During The Voice, when I came back onto the music and TV scene, and I had had a bit of work done and there was a lot of focus on my appearance. And to be honest, I feel like the culture between then and now has changed.

“I look back at some of the articles – commenting on people’s bodies and how they look – even in just the few years that it’s been (since The Voice) it just wouldn’t be OK to say those things now.

“That gives me a little bit of comfort to know that we are progressing and that I was completely crazy to have felt that what was being said about me was really mean.”

While he is still first and foremost a musician, Vidgen credits reality TV with keeping him afloat through tough times.

“I am an independent artist, and a lot of money goes into getting a song out there,” he explains.

“It’s more of a passion project, just to keep singing because, as a musician it’s been very hard over Covid.

“So … I’m very grateful to have a foot in reality TV door, otherwise I’d probably be on the street.”

The Challenge, 7.30pm, Monday, Ten