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Dr. Will Kirby made a striking return to reality TV with Deal or No Deal Island season 2. Best known as the winner of Big Brother season 2, Kirby solidified his status as a reality television icon following his victory.
Over the years, he has made numerous notable appearances, including hosting Big Brother jury roundtables and guest-starring on The Traitors. He returned to the Big Brother house with the first All-Star season in 2006. It marked his last reality TV participation until he joined Deal or No Deal Island in 2025.
In an interview with People, published on January 14, 2025, Kirby reflected on joining the NBC show and shared that he believed the cast made for a solid next generation of reality TV stars.
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Kirby expressed his love for reality television; however, he acknowledged that his time in the spotlight would eventually come to an end. He admitted it was time to "pass the torch" and praised the cast of Deal or No Deal Island as the "perfect group" to carry it forward.
“I really love what I do for a living. I love reality television and I have been part of it for 25 years. But nothing in life is sadder than a reality television person who doesn't know when to retire. If I'm being really transparent, I think it's time to pass the torch. And this is the best group to pass the torch to,” he said.
Deal or No Deal Island star Dr. Will Kirby shares that he purposefully threw away challenges on the show to face the Banker
After arriving in Deal or No Deal Island season 2 episode 2, Dr. Will Kirby confidently declared himself the “best Big Brother player of all time” and wasted no time critiquing the cast for their lackluster performance. He highlighted their failure to bank more than a single dollar so far.
Kirby was already a well-known reality TV star, so he couldn't hide his TV background like his fellow contestant David Genat. David, the winner of Australian Survivor: All Stars 2020, managed to hide his identity, hoping the other contestants wouldn't see him as a threat. However, Kirby didn't have that leisure.
In his interview with People, the Big Brother alum noted that he was well aware of his reputation, so he decided to come in "hot, guns blazing" and wanted to "win people over.”
Kirby added that, in real life, he was a “meek and quiet and introverted” guy who "reads books and goes to bed at 9:00". He felt he couldn't showcase his true self on Deal or No Deal Island, believing it wasn't good for the show, so he came in "screaming and yelling."
“Not only is that not good for the show, it's just not what people would've believed. So I came in just screaming and yelling. I came here to entertain,” he said.
The Deal or No Deal Island star further shared that while he wanted to win the show, coming in late made things difficult for him.
“I knew the chance of [winning] was small, especially coming in late, especially with my reputation, which is not really deserved at this point,” he continued.
Considering his situation, Kirby recognized his role and purposefully threw away a lot of competition on the show just so he could face the banker.
He explained that this strategy was "statistically" advantageous, as he believed controlling his own fate at the Banker's temple would give him the best chance to succeed.
Deal or No Deal Island season 2 episode premieres every Tuesday on NBC.
