Guy Montgomery, the host of the ABC panel show Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont-Spelling Bee, has opened up about his love for words, his former assistant Aaron Chen, and his unexpected friendship with former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. In a candid interview, Montgomery revealed that he has never won a spelling bee himself, recalling a childhood moment when he realized he had been copying a less competent classmate during a spelling test. 'I love all words,' he said. 'They're just out there, doing their best.'
On His Former Assistant and New Co-Star
Montgomery addressed the departure of Aaron Chen, who left the show for the United States, and the arrival of Sam Campbell as his new assistant. 'I do miss Aaron,' he admitted. 'Sam is a fantastic assistant. You're not going to get me that easy! I've been media trained by the guy who does all the professional sports players.' He praised both comedians, saying, 'I hold very few comedians in my esteem as I do Aaron, but Sam is amongst them.'
Memorable Fan Encounters
Reflecting on his most memorable fan interaction, Montgomery recalled a trip to Los Angeles for his podcast The Worst Idea of All Time. 'We were young and silly and we'd stay with fans to save money,' he said. 'One guy took us back to his house and showed us all his guns. He was enthusiastic and lovely, he was just mental.' The experience taught him to be more cautious. 'Maybe we should start paying to stay in neutral settings,' he joked.
Secret Skills and Sleep Superpower
Montgomery revealed that he is exceptionally good at household chores, from cleaning sinks to stacking dishwashers. But his greatest skill is falling asleep. 'In my brain there's this massive power-off button, and I can just feel a hand reaching out to hold down the button,' he explained. 'My partner Chelsea tries to stop me, but it is a very powerful button.'
His Dream Sandwich and Famous Friends
When asked about a sandwich named after him, Montgomery enthusiastically described a decadent creation with fresh mozzarella, rocket, chilli onion jam, butter, avocado, heirloom tomatoes, and both bacon and chicken. 'This is a maybe once-a-month sandwich!' he declared. On famous New Zealanders, he mentioned knowing Flight of the Conchords and Jacinda Ardern, whom he met through his improv comedy troupe. 'She was very friendly to us. She's lovely,' he said.
Space vs. Ocean Death
Asked whether he would rather die at the bottom of the ocean or in space, Montgomery chose space. 'I don't want to get bullied for dying at the bottom of the ocean,' he quipped, referring to the recent submarine tragedy. He added, 'I think it would probably make the news that Guy Montgomery died in space. That's quite a nice thought.'
Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont Spelling Bee season three airs on Wednesdays at 8:35pm on ABC TV. All three seasons are available to stream on ABC iview.
