In the four short years since her Aussie television screen debut in 2019, Abbie Chatfield has quickly established herself as one of Australia's most prominent and entertaining media personalities.
With a podcast, a live radio show, TV show hosting duties, multiple appearances on various reality TV shows as both a contestant and a judge, it's safe to say Abbie Chatfield is a multi-hyphenate embodied.
Off the back of the release of FBoy Island, hosted by Abbie Chatfield, we asked her to spill the tea on what it was like to host the show, as well as how she parlayed a single appearance on a reality TV show into Aussie household name status.
ICYMI, FBoy Island follows three Aussie women as they attempt to find love, but with a twist as they have to figure out which 12 of 24 men are 'nice guys' — and which 12 self-identify as 'FBoys'.
1. Tell us in your own words what you would describe your career and yourself as today.
"I’m clearly very fortunate to be in a place with my career where I have opportunities to do so many different forms of media such as podcasting, radio, TV and social media. I think having ADHD allows me to juggle so many jobs, and keep passion for them all. I feel like my career has come at me so quickly, it can sometimes become overwhelming. In saying that, though, the variety keeps me excited and motivated to do what I do."
2. Obviously the first time the Australian public got to know you was when you were on The Bachelor Australia — going into the mansion, was there a game plan? Did you anticipate how popular and successful you’d become? Or have you been planning and working for this career well before then?
"I had zero game plan. I had applied as a bit of a joke and got on [the show]. Six weeks later, I'm chatting with Osher. I went back to my normal 9-to-5 for six months after the show. I didn’t see it as a career-changing moment, I saw it more as a silly new life experience.
The only planning I had was leaving my 9-to-5 job to make some money off Instagram before going back to another job in property. Everything has just kind of happened organically and I think that’s partially due to me having ADHD — planning isn’t my friend, but I’m also really good on the fly."
3. What’s been involved since then in terms of building your media career?
"It’s been a really involved process, a lot of steps along the way. The most pivotal part of my career was creating the podcast [It's A Lot] and hence a really strong audience and community."
4. What are some of the biggest milestones in your career so far?
"Winning an AACTA, winning I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!, getting to be a judge on The Masked Singer Australia, scoring my own radio show [Hot Nights with Abbie Chatfield], and of course, hosting FBoy Island."
5. And what have been some of the biggest challenges?
"Definitely the mental health aspects of this career; the pressure, the expectations and the desire to take every opportunity you’re offered — and then burning out — is all a lot to deal with."
6. We’ve touched on this already, but in a nutshell, how would you describe how you went from being a reality TV contestant to a reality TV host?
"It was a really long journey of working really hard and constantly, and staying true to myself. Hosting is a skill that I’ve had to learn and I definitely was shit at [it] initially when I hosted Love Island Afterparty, but I’ve been fortunate enough to have really great people in the industry teach me and mentor me on- and off-set in order to not only harness the skills required to host a TV show, but also to be able to handle such a huge change in my life. People like Chrissie Swan and Osher Günsberg have been pivotal in my career."
7. FBoy Island isn’t the first time you’ve hosted a program. How do you choose what projects you want to be involved in or host?
"I have to really love the show, first and foremost; I need to love watching it if there is a version that already exists. I also have to believe in the format and agree with the ethos or premise of the show."
8. Can you tell us more about why you wanted to host FBoy Island?
"I was lucky enough to be sent the US episodes and I finished two seasons in five days, staying up until four in the morning addicted to the concept. Nikki Glaser does such a fabulous job of hosting the US series, with comedy at the forefront and I was thrilled at the prospect of being able to do that myself in the show.
The format itself is cathartic to watch and be involved in because the three women really are in control and they’re able to come into the show with a sense of scepticism rather than being expected to believe everything they see at face value, much like dating in the real world. The show is completely self-aware, it’s funny, and it’s also hopefully, a little bit educational to any FBoys watching. There are lots of learning moments for the FBoys both on- and off-screen that can be shared far and wide."
9. What was a highlight of hosting the show?
"Finale! I’ve never seen anything more intense on reality TV, but that’s all I can say about it."
10. Finally, what advice do you have for anyone who wants to do something similar?
"The way that I got here is extremely unconventional and without The Bachelor Australia I wouldn’t be here, so I’m not sure that I can give tangible advice.
I would say that my career has been based off resilience and a willingness to speak up for what I believe is right. I don’t think that’s a direct path to what I’m doing, but I think it’s important that people do so — no matter where they are in life."
