Channel Ten has confirmed that Australian Survivor will be returning in 2018. The announcement was made at the network’s upfront held last Thursday in Sydney. It will mark Ten’s third season of the hit reality-show which they revived in 2016 after a ten-year hiatus.
https://twitter.com/channelten/status/928537037543636993
Branded Champions v Contenders, next year’s series will pit “champions of public life” against “everyday Aussies” in a battle for $500,000. It’s Australian Survivor’s first move into themed seasons – something now a regular feature of its US counterpart – and perhaps a sign of the influence of CBS, the global entertainment giant which recently acquired Channel Ten.
As reported by Hit.com.au, the 2018 series “will see champions from fields such as sport, entertainment and all walks of public life take on everyday Australians in the ultimate game of survival.” Jonathan LaPaglia will also return as host, but it is not yet known if the series will remain in Samoa, the location of the first two seasons.
While the news of a third season is a cause for celebration for Australian Survivor fans, the theme is sure to bring some trepidation. The mention of “champions from sport and entertainment” immediately brings to mind D-list celebrities, something which plagued Australian Survivor in 2006 on the Seven Network’s “celebrity” edition. The series tanked in the ratings and was not picked up for a second season.
However, a closer look at the casting page for Season 3 provides a more positive outlook. “Are you an Australian champion in your chosen field wanting to be Australia’s Sole Survivor?” the application asks. A “champion in your chosen field” could mean many things and is obviously not limited to celebrities.
It won't be Celebrities imo. It will be basically the same cast as S1 and S2 but with a separation of the "champions" and the people with "normal" jobs imo.
— Matt Tarrant (@MattTarrant) November 10, 2017
As pointed out by Season 1 contestant Matt Tarrant, the cast of the first two seasons could be separated into “champions” and “contenders” based on this description. For example, as a magician, Matt would fall into the “champions” tribe under the entertainment bracket, alongside former sport stars, like cricketer Lee Carseldine and rugby player Barry Lea. Season 2 castaway, Sarah Tilleke, a model and former reality-star, would also likely find a home on the “champions” tribe under this ruling.
In terms of “everyday Aussies,” the tribe would most likely be made up of those with, what Matt calls, “normal” jobs. Luke Toki from Season 2, a Mining Technician, and Aimee Stanton, a plumber, would find themselves considered “contenders” had their season included such a theme. As we’ve seen with many US seasons, the themes are generally broad in scope, and production will find a way to make a person fit. Hopefully the casting for Australian Survivor will remain the same, and the Champions v Contenders theme is merely a marketing tagline.
Despite the show’s declining ratings – the Season 2 finale drew in 787,000 viewers, down from 1.082m viewers who tuned into the conclusion of Season 1 – the second season of Australian Survivor was widely popular online amongst the Survivor fanbase, both in Australia and abroad. Its excellent casting, improved challenges, and compelling gameplay made for an all-time classic season. So putting all worries about the theme aside, the renewal is excellent news for the Survivor franchise.
You can now for apply for Australian Survivor: Champions v Contenders.
What do you think of the Champions v Contenders theme? Are you excited that Australian Survivor is coming back? Let us know in the comments.
Header Photo: Channel Ten
Written by
I really don’t care what the theme of a season is, they just shoehorn anybody they want into whatever theme they’re given to work with. Just give me quality contestants, preferably with the majority being fans of the show, and I’ll keep tuning in every week. Judging by the last 2 seasons of Australian Survivor, I don’t think we have anything to worry about. I’m more concerned about next seasons US cast, they look a little too Big Brothery to me.
Next year’s Survivor cast is deceiving on the surface I think. At least half of them are Survivor superfans/big fans.
No matter the theme, I am going to watch this. Even though it’s CBS now and will resemble the American version even more, it’s probably going to stay excellent like S2 was. I hope, anyway.
Also Flick pointed out this:
https://twitter.com/FlickSurvivorAU/status/929211475612205056
So that’s still really solid in the ratings!
Season 2 of Survivor Australia is what the original Survivor used to be. Absolutely loved it. My only rgert is that Luke didnt win.
[…] the first two seasons, this will be the first themed edition for Australian Survivor, as the castaways are set to be divided into tribes of […]
[…] the first two seasons, this will be the first themed edition for Australian Survivor, as the castaways are set to be divided into tribes of […]
[…] was revived in 2016 by Channel Ten and has so far aired two seasons. The upcoming season is titled Champions vs. Contenders, which is set to pit “champions of public life” against “everyday Aussies” in a battle for […]
Must say the Aussie survivor show is the best. I really also love the champs/contenders theme. Both seasons are the best ever. Oh and bring Lydia back. She deserves to go farther if not win. Voted off because they were scared of her! That is the worst reason to vote someone off. Shows how small you are and that you really aren’t a champion. Very weak in all manners. Weak character, weak in selfesteem, weak in empathy, weak in confidence, weak in mind. Cockroaches are great survivors. Be a man, be a woman face your fear of Lydia and let her play. And wtf is wrong with the champs this season? Seriously, Luke should have been the first one out! They got rid of the ballerina first. Shows the athletes weren’t thinking. To become a great ballerina takes grit, tenacity, true strength and determination. She would have been a marvelous asset, better than Luke, I think. Seriously go back and see how many times Luke really messed up. Way more than he helped. And Daisy, yeah Andy spilled the beans about your friend’s idol, but it was to inform them that the champ guys had at least one between them. You should have had them vote for Sammy but went along with the split vote like Andy suggested. You could have come out looking wronged or victim to the remaining champ and kept contender strong. You could have gotten rid of Sam or Andy later. Eh, am really liking Austrailian Survivor a lot.