An unusual casting call for a brand new UK reality game show sounds suspiciously like Survivor. Could the format be returning to British television screens after almost 18 years?
Banijay UK—part of global production and distribution company Banijay Group—is seeking contestants for a new competition show called Adventure Island. “We’re making an epic game show for the toughest competitors that have ever lived… the survivors of modern life,” reads the casting call on SROAudiences.com.
Have you triumphed against the odds?
Or stared hardship in the face and won?
Then this is the challenge for you!We’re making an epic game show for the toughest competitors that have ever lived…the survivors of modern life.
Whatever your story, we want to hear it and send you to an exotic location to compete for a life changing amount of money, that isn’t for sharing.
All you have to do now is have a game plan!
Contact us now for more information. More details on the programme will be provided on application but please think along the lines of Castaway meets Last Man Standing.
While the ad doesn’t specifically mention Survivor, the concept of game plans and people competing in an exotic location for a significant sum of money sounds as close as you can get. Although it should be noted that the ad also focuses on real-life hardship—the accompanying application includes the question, “What adversity have you faced in your life so far?”
The reason this could be Survivor in disguise is because Banijay Group acquired Castaway Television Productions in 2017, giving them the right to distribute the Survivor format in the UK. At the time, Banijay Group’s COO Peter Langenberg told Broadcast Now that RDF—the largest UK production company within Banijay—was attempting to rekindle interest in Survivor UK.
“Having hands on the format means we can polish it and come up with Survivor 2.0, because it needs a refresh,” Langenberg said. “It’s a good format—it has to be, it’s in 25 to 30 countries. Look at Love Island, I’m A Celebrity…, The Island—these types of shows work in the UK.”
Two series of Survivor UK aired on the ITV network from 2001 to 2002, but the show never found mass popularity and was overshadowed at the time by Big Brother UK.
Inside Survivor has reached out to Banijay for comment.
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[…] should be noted that this isn’t the first time something like this has happened. Last year, Banijay UK put out a casting notice for a new competition show called “Adventure Island,” which also sounded […]
So I’m guessing this turned out to be The Bridge which is airing on Channel 4 then. Not quite the exotic location they advertised (but i suppose covid put paid to that).
Hi i would love to be on a survival tv show
Hi I would like to abe on the surival show,
Survivor uk could be the escapism all uk residents need right now. Exotic locations, challenges, triumphs and drama is something we all seek, having been locked down for the last year.
A social game that puts people from different stories into the mix together makes for binge worthy television and the fact that the original American Survivor isn’t aired in the uk will give the franchise another fresh start! Bring it on!!
What about the challenge?
Hello I’m curious if there is going to be a UK version of the show.
I find the show amazing and I will want to apply, the only problem being that I’m from the UK.
Is there any scope for maybe a massive international version of the show?
If any of the above do apply I’m your man!
Lol – if my comment leads to me being on the show, I’ll be beyond amazed. That said, I’m almost 60, with a military background.
I’m female, ex-military (in the very distant past), ex-helicopter pilot (also in the very distant past). Now have a PhD in Biological Sciences. I’m a nerd and an introvert. But I know how to figure stuff out.