I was in New York on September 11, 2001. When I came back, I was broken and my relationship with Cymone fell to bits – we were together for seven years. I had PTSD, and it wasn’t until years later I sought proper treatment.
I co-hosted Australian Idol from 2003 to 2009. Marcia Hines was one of the judges. Marcia is so professional, a really impressive woman. Following the success of Idol, I moved to America with my girlfriend at the time, who later became my first wife.
While I was in the US, two things showed up. One, that I had a terrible problem with alcohol and needed to get sober. And two, that I worked really hard hosting Live to Dance to 10 million people, which was unbelievable. I’d stopped drinking, but I still hadn’t looked at the reasons why, and so it was no surprise I ended up divorced [in 2011].
Günsberg with his second wife, Audrey Griffen.Credit: Getty Images
In 2014, while still living in America, I came back to Australia to film season two of The Bachelor. That’s when I met my wife, Audrey. I’d requested my usual make-up artist, but she had another job and recommended Audrey, this beautiful, stunning Fijian lady with Disney princess eyes.
Audrey and I just talked for the first week, and then I asked her to come to a stand-up show. I was quite [mentally] unwell at the time, but was honest about what was going on in my head. Her daughter Georgia was 10 when we met. She was this smart, joyful kid who would not stop dancing. I’d play ukulele, and she would sing, and we’d make up choreography.
I fell in love with Audrey, but, without a doubt, I also fell in love with Georgia. From that day on, I became focused on all the things I’d seen my mum do. We married in 2016.
So What? Now What? (Penguin Random House Australia) by Osher Günsberg is out now.
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