Australia’s Got Talent winner Jack Vidgen is the latest to be given the boot on Channel 10’s The Challenge, alongside Love Island Australia star Audrey Kano.
Despite only being on our screens for a two-episode arc, Jack said he had nothing but positives to take away from the experience.
“I’m so lucky that I got to meet a lot of people in a similar industry to me by taking part in the show,” Jack said.
“Looking back, I have realised now that I don’t actually have a lot of friends in the industry, it’s quite lonely, so it was really nice to meet people in the industry and around my age as well.”
WATCH NOW: Jack Vidgen shocks Simon Cowell on America’s Got Talent.
While on-screen drama may seem rampant, Jack said the cast are close in real life.
“It’s so funny watching it back because emotions are so high, there’s so much tension because we are all competing against each other,” he said.
“But outside of the house we all get along really well, it [the house] was just a really tense environment.”
The cast is so close that they maintain multiple group chats, where they offer their thoughts on their edits from each new episode that airs.
“Five episodes could have been made out of that first episode, so much happened, so much was condensed.
“The cast has all these different group chats going on and we’ve been like ‘this is insane that they’ve shown this and not shown that’…..it’s very interesting seeing what actually makes it to air.”
WATCH NOW: Jack Vidgen competes on Australian Ninja Warrior.
And his own edit?
“I’m happy. I feel like I walked out with a squeaky clean reputation still. I did say a few things about people that I am very glad did not make it to air.”
When pressed on what exactly was said, Jack said he “absolutely would not expand”.
So what about preparation? Did Jack do his research about The Challenge? In short, the answer is no.
“I had never heard of the show until Channel 10 reached out and after I was cast I maybe watched one episode of the US version.”
“I wasn’t that well versed with what was going on, I just strapped myself in for the ride. It was fun, I was excited to do a touch trash reality TV because I have never done something like that before.”
Previously the singer has had stints on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, The Masked Singer, Australian Ninja Warrior, and even on a season of America’s Got Talent: Champions.
Speaking about his teammates, Jack noted that there were “no hard feelings” for his teammates, it was “exhausting” frequently being in the bottom two.
“I was f**king exhausted, to be honest from the back-to-back challenges, I was just like give me a break,” Jack tells WHO.
“I rolled my ankle really badly in the first challenge and had torn something in my leg a few weeks prior, I was just not [physically] in a good place.
“But I went in [to the elimination rounds] with a good attitude and all of us really like each other so we just said may the best team win and just got on with it.”
Partnered up with controversial Married at First Sight bride Cyrell in the first elimination, Jack said he got to see a side of her that many don’t see.
“We really bonded, especially on that first night when she had that fight with Audrey where we spoke about what triggered her.
“She’s a fierce momma bear and a wonderful person and ultimately she is just really sensitive.”
So what’s next for Jack Vidgen?
“A few selected people from the show will be on my HeyDoll podcast each week as they are eliminated. I also have a few different projects that I have been working on behind the scenes.”
“I’m just trying to enjoy life and live as authentically as possible at the moment.”
And in news that is sure to both surprise and delight fans, Jack has shared an update on his music career.
“I’ll have some new music coming out early next year and a new song out in a few weeks.”
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
