One of CBS’ first celebrity “Survivor” contestants is also a survivor in real life.
Lisa Whelchel, better known as preppy Blair Warner from the 80s sitcom “Facts of Life,” quietly split from her husband of 24 years, Steve Cauble, earlier this year, she reveals to People magazine exclusively.
“The divorce was final on March 1, and (I) went out to be on ‘Survivor’ on March 10,” Whelchel told the magazine. “Going out to ‘Survivor’ was helpful for me, to divert my attention and not just dwell on the loss.”
Welchel and Cauble have three grown children together, and the split is mutual.
“We will always be friends,” she told the magazine. “And we will always be family too.”
Whelchel, who has worked with Cauble, 61, in a Christian ministry since “The Facts of Life” ended in 1988, said she herself was shocked at the decision.
“I just never thought it would happen to me,” she said. “It was painful to realize that it wasn’t going to work out.”
The competitor and avid “Survivor” fan said she happened onto the show by chance after her friends and family encouraged her to audition for it.
“I’ve watched it from the very first episode, and had ‘Survivor’ parties with my family,” she told Entertainment Weekly prior to the show’s premiere Wednesday night.
“A friend of mine said, ‘Let’s just film a little iPhone video of you and you can put it on our Twitter and ask all your followers to retweet it. And maybe they’ll contact you and know you want to be on the show.’ And that’s what happened!”
Whelchel, 49, is one of two bold-faced names who joined the “Survivor” cast this time around.
Fellow contestant Jeff Kent was a baseball MVP who played for the San Francisco Giants.
