JAMES BRINGS HOME THE TREASURE 'THAT'S NOT TOO SHABBY!'

The CT/ winner used his 'Musty charm' to beat the competition

- Amy Prebble

Celebrity Treasure Island star James Mustapic is flat-out shocked he beat the likes of league legend Steve Price or media golden girl Matilda Green to win the show.

“It’s crazy!” he exclaims, sitting on the grass behind the Auckland villa he shares with a group of flatmates. “I thought I would go home really early. Every single day, I thought I would be going home. I don’t know how to put it into words. It’s very special. I feel really lucky!”

James, 27, is chatting to Woman’s Day in the backyard, where the flat’s cat Manny is basking in the sunshine, so his flatties don’t get wind of his monumental success before it’s on the telly.

Although the comedian, who charmed viewers with a mix of wry observations and self-deprecating quips, is clearly elated with the win, James admits he does feel a little bit bad for pipping his fellow finalists, Courtney Dawson and Turia Schmidt-Peke, at the post.

“It really was a dream top three. When we got to that yurt thing, we all decided to sleep in a little room that had single bunk beds for our final night instead of being in the big double beds in different places. We were like, ‘Let’s just have one more night together’. We were giggling, eating and having a bit of a gossip – it was so much fun!”

The top three contenders had an even amount of clues to unlock the treasure, so it was really was anyone’s game.