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Survivor UK: Exactly What To Expect From BBC One’s New Survival Series
Starting this Saturday at 8pm
By | 1 month ago
It’s a show that’s been running for 23 years and a whopping 45 seasons in the US: Survivor. You might remember a British version on ITV running for two years and two seasons in 2001 and 2002 before being axed in favour of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!. Over two decades later, Survivor is making a return to the UK, starting on BBC One on Saturday 28 October 2023 at 8pm. If you need to jog your memory or you’ve never heard of it before, here’s exactly what to expect from Survivor UK this weekend.
Survivor UK: Exactly What To Expect From This New BBC Series
What Is Survivor?
Survivor is a reality competition TV franchise that places two groups of strangers on isolated islands, leaving them to find food, fire and shelter for themselves. Meanwhile, the contestants – who are in rival ‘tribes’ – compete in challenges testing their physical and mental abilities, winning rewards and immunity from elimination. And it’s that elimination system that sets Survivor apart from other competition series: the contestants vote each other out at ‘tribal council’ sessions, preceded by a typically heated discussion chaired by the series host. (It’s thought that The Traitors was inspired by Survivor‘s social elimination format.) The contestants are progressively eliminated until only one remains, who is given the title ‘Sole Survivor’ and a cash prize.
As series presenter Joel Dommett says: ‘The way I’d explain Survivor is that it’s as complicated or simple as you want it to be. At its essence, Survivor is people surviving on an island trying not to be voted off by their tribe in order to win £100,000. That is it at its absolute simplicity but then there’s loads of really amazing layers to it; you have hidden immunity idols, then you have immunity challenges, you have reward challenges.’
It’s a TV franchise with dozens of nation-specific versions across the globe, from France (where it’s called Koh-Lanta) to Italy (L’Isola dei Famosi) to Australia (simply Australian Survivor), to the most famous version in the US. So, why is it only just returning to the UK?
Survivor UK: The History
The origins of Survivor can be traced back to 1992, when British TV producer Charlie Parsons developed the format for production company Planet 24. But it wasn’t until 1997 that the first rendition of Survivor made it to TV, and this was in Sweden under the title Expedition Robinson, a series which is still running today. In 2000, American producers decided to make their own version, calling it Survivor and airing it on CBS with Jeff Probst hosting. Still running today and airing two seasons every year, it is the most successful American reality TV show of all time.
The UK version of Survivor first aired on ITV in 2001, beating out the likes of Big Brother in ratings. But, unsatisfied with their millions of viewers, ITV cancelled the series after only two seasons, and launched the eerily similar series, I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, in 2002. (Note: American broadcaster CBS did actually try to sue ITV for this, but the case didn’t hold.)
In September 2022, the BBC announced the series would return to UK screens. But why now? Ironically, while ITV’s Big Brother is seeking to reignite candid, unfiltered reality TV, the likes of The Apprentice and The Great British Bake Off – both pre-recorded competition shows – point to a gap in the market for Survivor. Indeed, back when it premiered, Survivor beat Big Brother in viewer ratings. Only time will tell what happens with the 2023 reboots, but we anticipate a cult following in the same style of The Traitors, which debuted in the UK in November 2022 and follows a similar format. On that note: The Traitors is set to return to BBC One at some point in the near future, and we’re thinking this new series of Survivor will bump series two of The Traitors into early 2024.
‘Survivor is a global television hit and to be able to bring one of TV’s most successful formats to audiences in the UK in a uniquely BBC way is a very exciting prospect indeed,’ said Kate Phillips, Director of Unscripted at the BBC, upon the announcement in September 2022. Natalka Znak, CEO Remarkable Entertainment (the series producers) added: ‘Survivor is “the greatest gameshow on earth” for a reason. It has everything: reality, adventure, drama, and the ultimate game.’
Joel Dommett
Comedian Joel Dommett was announced as the series presenter in February 2023, with applications open to the public until March. Dommett says: ‘I’m aware of how much of a huge format it is around the world – it’s probably one of the biggest and to be trusted with it is a huge compliment. I think it’s really great, and hopefully long may it last, it feels like it’s a really good time for it. I feel like there’s a lot of shows that happened over the last 20 years that led us to this point and I feel like people are going to welcome it with open arms. Anyone who knows the Survivor format already will know they’re in for an absolute treat, and if you don’t then I’m confident you’re going to love it.’
Eighteen people have been carefully selected from across the UK to star, divided into two tribes and ready to compete against each other in the battle for prizes, immunity, and that final £100,000 prize.
Meet The Contestants
Contestants were selected from a pool of applications from the general public across the UK, and 18 made the cut. There’s a mixture of ages but mostly people are 30-somethings, with Pegleg flying the flag for Gen X and youngsters Matthew and Rach representing Gen Z. Here’s who we’ll see on the show, plus why they signed up.
Ashleigh
34, London, Brand Strategist
‘I love every opportunity to live life to the fullest and to challenge and push myself. Whether it’s in work e.g. starting my own business, in fitness with my boxing or in life and taking on skydiving, I have always wanted to test my limits. I suffer from imposter syndrome and struggle to believe in myself, so this is why I push myself, to try and find my limits. What better test to understand what I’m really capable of than the ultimate challenge – Survivor!’
Christopher
36, Bridgend, Singer/Songwriter
‘I wanted to be a contestant on Survivor because I wanted to take myself out of my comfort zone and face my fears. I wanted to undertake the hardest challenges, on land, in the air or in the sea. I want to prove to myself that I have got what it takes, that I can achieve anything. The idea of having nothing but the clothes on my back seemed a million miles away from what I do in real life. Having all luxuries taken away and food restricted whilst having to undertake the toughest game show on earth just excited me. I thought it’s the best way to push myself, to learn how to survive and do challenges as I’m extremely competitive. I am at the stage in my life where I am more confident and determined to do something which I feel I can do well with the determination and competitive spirit to outwit, outplay, and outlast.’
Doug
32, Isle of Mull, Flood Risk Consultant
‘When I was younger I vividly remember watching the original UK Survivor back in 2002. As a family we loved the show, even going as far as re-enacting some of the original challenges. When I saw that it was returning to TV in the UK I wasted no time in putting my application in. Next thing I know – I’m on a desert island building a shelter from bamboo! I came on Survivor to make my family back home on Mull proud, and have the adventure of a lifetime.’
Hannah
30, London, Semi-Professional Footballer
‘Survivor really became my go-to TV show to watch during lockdown. I got totally hooked, binge-watching season after season and the more I watched, the more I thought: “I’d absolutely love to be on that show!”’
Jess
38, London, Fitting Model
‘[Survivor] is the ultimate challenge of a lifetime and I fancied doing something wild as I approach 40. I also thought the £100K might come in handy!’
Laurence
29, London (born in Vienna and raised in Costa Rica), postgraduate student at University of Cambridge
‘Coming across Survivor and getting chosen to be one of the contestants was an enormous coincidence as I run a health-tech start-up selling anti-hangover capsules with the same name as the show! The show hit the spot as I felt I’d become too comfortable in life and I’ve come to depend on all sorts of unnecessary creature comforts. It was time to shake things up a bit and prove to myself that I could live on bare necessities, in order to appreciate the luxuries of life. I wanted to see whether my character would remain the same when put to the test, or whether I would crack under pressure like most other fellow soft millennials.
‘I also celebrate absurdity – and instead of doing the rational thing and working in some dull accountancy firm towards buying an overpriced house and a boring retirement, I would much rather do something absurd like this. I crave new experiences. As George Mallory said, on why he wanted to climb Everest: “Because it is there.” And finally, I thought I could at least make a big enough fool of myself on national television to amuse myself for the next few years.’
Lee
28, Belfast (originally Limerick), Professional Boxer
‘I thought [Survivor] was a great opportunity to test myself and let the world see me for who I really am. Survivor shows people at their most vulnerable selves and I was excited for the Irish and British public to see me as my true authentic self.’
Leilani
45, Hertford, Barista & cleaner
‘A friend saw the application and said I should apply. I was at a crossroads in my life and looking for a new direction so it came along at the perfect time.’
Matthew
21, Cumbria, Hospitality
‘I wanted to be a contestant on Survivor because I knew this was the ultimate challenge! An amazing chance to really get stuck in and see what I’m made of. I turned 21 a few months ago and I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my summer, I’m so thankful for the opportunity. I really wanted to push myself to the limits and I genuinely mean that – this is a dream. I was looking forward to playing the game of Survivor because there’s so much to think about, it tests you physically and mentally and I was ready for both challenges!’
Nathan
35, Manchester, Fitness Instructor & Operations Manager
‘I very much believe in the concept of Kaizen (a Japanese term for continuous improvement) and I try to apply this concept to every part of my life. When I reflect on when I’ve grown the most, it has always been on the back of significantly challenging times, adversity, or hardship. So, when the opportunity to be a part of one of the most challenging experiences someone can face, I needed no convincing.’
Pegleg
54, St Agnes, Surf School Owner
Pegleg didn’t share why he signed up, but when asked what he learned from the series, he said: ‘That I can bite my lip and not tell people just how stupid they are, that I could go more extreme living and surviving than this and that I can still give the youngsters a run for their money.’
Rachel
40, Whitstable, Insurance Claims Handler
‘I have always been an adventurous, strong, outdoorsy, sporty person who loves a challenge and my mum knew I had wanted to take part in a show like this for years so when she saw an advert for contestants online she tagged me in it. My motivation was that I wanted my children to know that not having a dad around does not mean that one parent isn’t enough and to show them that anything can be achieved if you put your mind to it.’
Rach
23, Glasgow, Personal Trainer
‘I had actually never heard of Survivor until the start of this year when I watched the Australian series and immediately knew that this would be something that I would enjoy. My boyfriend and I binge-watched every single series and I fell in love with the show. I love challenges and adrenaline rushes so taking part in Survivor was a perfect match for me.’
Ren
28, London, Network Data Scientist
‘Survivor has been my all-time favourite show since I found it when I was 14; “obsessed” is an understatement. It combines so many things I love into this intense and awesome package where you get to do stuff you don’t get to regularly as an adult. I also just love the mental and social aspects of the game – it’s not about playing the game you want to play, it’s about playing the game the jury wants to see you play.’
Richard
36, Dalkeith, Pensions Manager/RAF Reservist
‘I am always looking for a new challenge and this gave me the opportunity to challenge myself physically and mentally.’
Sabrina
45, Stroud, Author & Charity Founder
‘It hit me at the right time! If you were told on a cold UK winters night about a show that was highly likely to be filmed on a tropical island, involved physical and mental challenges, and meant you couldn’t be contacted for the whole time you were there – wouldn’t you be interested?!’
Shai
33, London, Finance Risk Manager
‘Being a super fan [made me want to sign up]! I remember watching the show as an 11 year old in Sri Lanka where I grew up till the age of 17 and have watched most previous seasons across the 23 year period. When the opportunity arose, I jumped at it! Who wouldn’t want to be stranded on a random island with nothing but basic rations against a bunch of random strangers, competing in the best game ever!’
Tinuke
30, London, Professional Roller Skater & Adventurer
‘I have always loved the show alongside all other survival shows since I was a kid. I was so excited when I saw it was coming to the UK. I want to go on the show for my late parents and to prove to myself that I am so much stronger than I thought I was. This is a complete game-changer for me, I am ready to change my life and fill it with adventure and challenge and this is the first stepping stone to get me there. I am ready to leave behind the troubles and grief of my past and prove that anyone can turn around any dark experience. You always have more in the tank than you think you do, and I am ready to show that! I want to be a massive inspiration for anyone who has also experienced deep loss and sadness.’
What Is Tribal Council?
Tribal Council is the voting system on Survivor – which means the public don’t have any say in who stays and who goes. In essence, teams battle at challenges to win immunity, and the losing tribe will find themselves at Tribal Council, where each person writes down their vote of who should be sent home on a slip of paper, then read out by presenter Joel Dommett.
Before voting, contestants air their gripes in a conversation led by Dommett. ‘I’m the pot stirrer!’ Dommett says. ‘I’m asking those questions that they don’t want to ask themselves and they have to answer. So I’m basically just teasing stuff out of them; it is so much fun. What’s beautiful about it is that they might go to Tribal Council and they all are confident, they’re like, “Yeah, we all know what’s going to happen”. Then by the end of Tribal Council, they think something completely different because it all goes out the window as one person says something or another person says something accidentally. It’s like throwing the cat amongst the pigeons a bit. My job is to create a little bit of havoc!’
How To Watch Survivor UK
Survivor UK will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Saturday and Sunday nights, beginning on 28 October at 8.25pm and continuing on 29 October at 8pm. There will be 16 episodes, meaning we expect the series to run for eight weeks and conclude on 17 December 2023. bbc.co.uk
All images © BBC/Remarkable.
