Grant Crapp will appear in The Challenge Australia. Photo: The Challenge Australia.
South Coast tradie Grant Crapp will be back on the small screen soon, this time in one of the world’s most successful television franchises, The Challenge.
The former Canberra sparkie who found social media fame as the first winner of Love Island Australia will be up against the likes of Olympian Emily Seebohm, pro boxer Sugar Neekz Johnson, singer Jack Vidgen, Survivor’s Johnny Eastoe, MAFS’ Ryan Gallagher, and 16 other reality TV stars from shows such as MasterChef, Ninja Warrior, The Bachelor and I’m A Celebrity.
Hosted by Brihony Dawson and filmed in Buenos Aires, Argentina, The Challenge Australia will see an algorithm randomly pair challengers to compete in gruelling physical contests, test strategies, survive eliminations, and cutthroat alliances to win daily challenges and eliminate their opponents.
The final male and female challengers will be declared Challenge champions by the end of the season, winning $100,000 each in prize money and their entry into the first-ever The Challenge: Global Championship, where they will represent Australia in hopes to be the first Challenge World Champion.
With 38 seasons under its belt, The Challenge is one of the world’s most successful television franchises.
Grant said it was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up but it came at a higher personal cost than he expected.
Now running his own construction company in Malua Bay, GDC Carpentry and Electrical, Grant knew it would be difficult to juggle but he hadn’t factored in how much he would miss his young family.
With a toddler and another baby on the way, Grant said he struggled being away for the time it took to record the series.
“The challenges were hectic but I actually found the mental strain of being away from home the hardest part,” Grant said.
“Charli is growing up so fast and I hated missing seeing her change and develop. My partner, Lucy, did an amazing job keeping everything together while I was away.”
Grant found leaving his toddler, Charli, at home one of the biggest challenges. Photo: Kim Treasure.
Grant said reality TV was a very different experience the second time around.
“The Challenge is very different to Love Island, it’s a lot more competitive, a lot more physical than Love Island, which was really just based on your looks,” he said.
“There’s a lot on the line, big prize money. It’s a lot more exciting.
“My motivation for this is proving something to myself and helping set my family up financially. Winning Love Island didn’t really mean anything but going into this, having the last name that I do – Crapp – it makes me want to push myself even more. I’m challenging myself and pushing myself to the limit to win this.”
It’s been a gruelling preparation for Grant, training six days a week with Batemans Bay personal trainer Scott Buck to reach his peak fitness level going into the competition.
But given the controversy that surrounded Grant’s last win – and the hate he and Lucy were subjected to – going back into the reality-TV world was a difficult decision.
“It’s been a few years since I was on TV,” he said. “Coming out of it you are constantly getting flogged online, you get trolled – I’m still getting trolled to this day – so you have to think, is it worth going back in there?
“You are going to get people like that coming at you. That’s a negative, but there’s a lot more positives. I’m just focused forward, the rest is just rubbish.”
The Challenge Australia will air soon on Network 10. The full cast is:
- Brittany Hockley – Podcaster, Radio Host and Actor
- Jack Vidgen – Australia’s Got Talent Season 5 / I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Season 7 / Ninja Warrior Season 6 / The Masked Singer Australia Season 3
- Cyrell Paule – Married At First Sight Season 6
- Ryan Gallagher – Married At First Sight Season 5 / I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Season 6
- Brooke Blurton – The Bachelor Australia Season 3 / Bachelor In Paradise Australia Season 2 / The Bachelorette Australia Season 5 / Podcaster
- Ciarran Stott – The Bachelorette Australia Season 5 / Bachelor In Paradise Australia Season 3 / The Bachelorette Sweden
- Brooke Jowett – Australian Survivor Season 3 / Australian Survivor All Stars
- Emily Seebohm – I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Season 8 / Ninja Warrior Season 6 / Olympian
- David Subritzky – I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Season 8
- Konrad Bien-Stephen – The Bachelorette Australia Season 5
- Jessica Brody – The Bachelor Australia Season 7 / Bachelor in Paradise Australia Season 3
- Billy Dib – Pro Boxer
- Suzan Mutesi – Actress/Influencer
- Troy Cullen – Ninja Warrior Seasons 3, 4 and 5
- Sugar Neekz Johnson – Pro Boxer
- Marley Biyendolo – Big Brother Australia Season 13
- Megan Marx – The Bachelor Australia Season 4 / Bachelor In Paradise Australia Season 1
- Kiki Morris – The Bachelor Australia Season 4 / Bachelor In Paradise Australia Season 3
- Conor Curran – MasterChef Australia Season 13
- Johnny Eastoe – Australian Survivor Season 4
- Audrey Kanongara – Love Island Australia Season 3
- Grant Crapp – Love Island Australia Season 1.
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