Grant Denyer vows to ‘man up’ on his struggle with booze in fireside I’m A Celeb chat

Grant Denyer has laid bare his uneasy relationship with alcohol, times he was drunk on live TV and what he’s “not proud” of.

Grant Denyer has spoken out about his relationship with alcohol Picture: Mark Stewart

Gold Logie winning TV star Grant Denyer has vowed to “man up” and deal with his uneasy relationship with alcohol.

Denyer’s demons with booze came under the spotlight during a fireside chat on Channel 10’s I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here on Tuesday night.

“I don’t like my relationship with alcohol,” Denyer told his camp mates. “When I was doing Sunrise weather for years, the amount of times I was probably still drunk on air in the morning was too many.”

Denyer was the Sunrise weather presenter from 2004 to 2006.

“I was a young bloke on television living a great life in a different part of the country everyday,” Denyer told Confidential.

“You tend to have a few beers at night; sometimes it was more than a few, and sometimes I was on air a little worse for wear. There were plenty of times I was on there drunk. But it wasn’t a common occurrence.

“There were times I was doing Dancing With The Stars, as competitor, and I was on Sunrise the next morning, and I was still hammered from the night before, (due to) the stress of doing a live show, doing well, and going out with fellow competitors and rocking up for work the next morning.

“I’m not proud of it, but it’s what young people do,” Denyer said.

Denyer said he doesn’t have a drinking problem. “I’d be lucky to drink three nights a week, but sometimes it’s the amount, (or) an inability to stop, and I do things at a million miles an hour, including drink fast.”

Pettifleur Berenger in glamour mode. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

But he added: “I’m tired of being foggy brained. I want my Sundays back, and that clarity of thought. I use alcohol to cover anxiety and fears. But I’m having trouble untangling myself from using alcohol as a crutch.

“I have to do something about it. It scares me that I’ve been to afraid to say that I’m quitting. That worries me. But I’ve got to man up, do something about it, and put my health first.”

Denyer is competing on I’m A Celebrity for the Smith Family’s Learning For Life program.

Meanwhile, former Real Housewives Of Melbourne star Pettifleur Berenger says she leaned on her early life of struggle and hardship to cope in the reality show wilderness.

Berenger entered the I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here campsite on Tuesday night determined to show her tough roots.

She was born and raised without wealth or privilege in Sri Lanka, and move to Australia in 1983. She is a successful property developer and author.

“I didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth,” Berenger said. “It’s very easy to forget the struggles and hardships. But when I went into the (I’m A Celebrity) environment, it was like — bang, in my head — going back to when I lived in Sir Lanka.

“When people see me on other TV shows, it’s one side of Pettifleur. But I can survive in the jungle.”

Berenger also played down flirty incidents on the show between herself and comedian Ash Williams.

“He’s a good looking guy. He showed some interest in me. But when it comes to guys, I’m not the one who makes the first move,” Berenger said.

“At the end of the day, he’s 20 years my junior, and for him to say he likes me is very cute. When you’re in the jungle, any hug or cuddle is nice.”