Everything We Know About ‘Australian Survivor: Heroes V Villains’
Reality TV season is about to truly go off with the return of Married at First Sight, Australian Idol, and Australian Survivor all premiering simultaneously in 2023. Yes, we’ve been spoilt, but yes, I am stressed!
Along with a new Australian Survivor season kicking off, we have a new theme and location. The upcoming cast also features a bunch of all-stars returning to the show that made them legends. I’m talking eternal boss Hayley, King George, and the one and only Shonee.
Survivor superfans, are y’all ready?
Until the new season arrives, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about Australian Survivor:
What’s the theme?
The upcoming season will take on the Heroes V Villains theme. This is an exciting theme as while it’s the first time the Australian version have attempted it, it’s already one of the most beloved seasons of the massive US franchise.
The theme brings together some of the most wholesome and beloved players to compete against some of the more controversial, devious, and chaotic players aka it makes for A+ television.
Who is in the cast?
Heroes Tribe
Leading the Heroes pack is fan favourite and former winner, Hayley Leake, who will return to see if she can become the first double Australian Survivor winner. By her side will be another icon of the game, Nina Twine, the daughter of Survivor royalty, Sandra, who she played with in Blood V Water but Nina was sadly too injured to continue.
Big wave surfer Flick Palmateer is also back with a vengeance after making the top three in Brains V Brawn but losing out to Hayley. Will she have a score to settle with Hayley? Stay tuned!
Eternal nice guys Sam Webb (aka Brooke Jowett’s bestie) and Shaun Hampson (aka Megan Gale’s boyfie) will also return to the game.
In the random inclusion column is Sharni Vinson, an Aussie actress who got her big break on Home and Away before going to star in a bunch of random Hollywood films like Step Up 3D and Bait 3D.
Rounding out the rest of the Heroes tribe will be: writer Benjamin Law, AFL legend David Zaharakis, animal activist Rogue Rubin, tourism pilot Gerry Geltch, lifeguard Matt Sharp, and jillaroo Paige Donald.
Villains Tribe
Someone alert Macedonian Jesus because George Mladenov has snuck back on this show. Despite his constant scheming and back-stabbing, the politician from Bankstown missed out on Survivor glory when Hayley won Brains V Brawn. And now King George is back, but will he hold on to his crown?
Not if Shonee Bowtell has anything to do with it: ICYMI, Shonee is the queen of Australian Survivor. This is Shonee’s third run at the game after first debuting on Champions V Contenders and then again on All Stars.
Last season’s most chaotic player, Jordie Hansen, will also make a comeback, as will Australia’s most successful female poker player, Jackie Glazier.
Shifty players Simon Mee and Stevie Khouw round out the returning all-stars competing this season. The most unexpected inclusion in the cast is The Real Housewives of Melbourne’s Anjali Rao, a former CNN journalist who made a real splash on the reality show’s fifth season.
The rest of the Villains cast will be: Miss World Australia Sarah Marschke, real estate agent Fraser Lack, pole vault champion Liz Parnov, journalist Michael Warren, and luxury car brand manager Mimi Tang.
It’s worth noting that neither David Genat or Luke Toki are in the cast, despite both of the boys attempting to trick their followers on Instagram by inserting themselves into the promos. Nice try, fellas.
Where was the season filmed?
Going all the way back to the Channel 10’s first Survivor season location, the upcoming season was filmed in Samoa.
Has a full trailer dropped?
Yes indeedy. Check it out below and try to contain your excitement (I failed):
When will it premiere?
Australian Survivor kicks off on 30 January at 7:30pm on Channel 10 and 10Play.