It’s official — after 20 years, Survivor UK is coming back for a brand new season to air on BBC One in 2023.
After years of rumors and speculation, today, Monday, September 5, the BBC has officially announced that Survivor UK will return next year for a 16-episode season. Each episode will run for 60-minutes in what the BBC describes as “the ultimate physical and psychological gameshow” that will see “players compete to outwit, outplay and outlast their rivals to be crowned the Ultimate Survivor.”
Details on a host, location, cast, and broadcast schedule have not yet been revealed, but the BBC has confirmed the season will feature 20 castaways carefully selected from across the U.K., who will be marooned in a tropical location. It’s also confirmed that the cast will be divided into two tribes and will merge “following a number of eliminations that will take place at the iconic tribal council.”
“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.
Banijay UK company Remarkable Entertainment is behind the series, led by leading entertainment producers Natalka Znak and Claire O’Donohoe, the duo behind the recent Big Brother UK revival. Banijay acquired the rights for Survivor UK back in 2017 when a deal was reached with Castaway Productions.
“Survivor is ‘the greatest gameshow on earth’ for a reason – it has everything – reality, adventure, drama, and the ultimate game. I can’t wait to be boots on the ground, working with Paul Osborne, Stephen Lovelock and the fantastic team at Remarkable to make this epic series for the BBC,” stated Znak, CEO Remarkable Entertainment.
Two seasons of Survivor UK aired on the ITV network from 2001 to 2002, but the show never reached the same success as it did in the United States. Newsreader Mark Austen hosted the first season, with England cricketer Mark Nicholas taking over for the second season.
Stay tuned to Inside Survivor for more info in the coming weeks.
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