The good, the bad & the ugly - DAME SUSAN’S ISLAND REGRETS

Looking back at her TV experience, the star admits to feeling squashed by some behaviour

- Rebekah Hebenton

From her days in squash advocating for equality in the sport to speaking out against racism as New Zealand’s race relations commissioner, Dame Susan Devoy has never shied away from making her opinions known. It’s the same attitude she has carried with her since arriving as an intruder on Celebrity Treasure Island.

But watching those sometimes blunt observations back on TV has been confronting for the former world champion.

“I’ve found it really hard – it’s a bit cringeworthy,” admits Susan. “I know I’m opinionated, and I shoot from the hip, but I didn’t realise I was quite that direct.”

That forthrightness has seen Susan end up in a number of conflicts with her teammates, most notably with former Shortland Street star Lynette Friday. Susan says it was a no-brainer that after their many verbal spats, they would end up battling it out in the elimination arena.

Though she triumphed over Lynette, Susan didn’t relish the moment as it meant one more worthy charity missed out on the opportunity to win money.

“Winning money for our charities is ultimately why we’re there,” she explains. “We were polar opposites. She wound me up and I probably did the same to her, but at the end of the day, we mended our bridges.”