Survivor 2023 line-up: Meet the cast for BBC reboot as release date revealed
Say hello to the new contestants
Survivor is heading back to TV for a brand new series in 2023.
The BBC is set to air a new version of the reality show that only ran for two seasons in the UK, but it has since become a worldwide hit and is now getting a second crack at the UK market.
Here is everything you need to know about the reboot.
Who will host Survivor 2023?
Joel Dommett will be taking on the role of host for Survivor UK, with the presenter previously showing his capabilities as host for shows like Masked Singer UK.
He was first confirmed to be hosting the show in February, and he has said in a statement: “I’m the new host of the UK’s Survivor! I CAN’T BELIEVE IT!
"A huge thank you to the BBC for trusting me with this. It’s such a hugely popular format all over the world and I’m super excited to help bring it to our sweet little country. Let the tribal councils BEGIN!”
Read more: Everything you need to know about Doctor Who
Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment for the BBC, also said: “Having Joel on board is brilliant! With his natural comedic charm we are thrilled that he is going to be on hand guiding, encouraging and challenging our contestants as they all try to be the sole survivor!”
When is Survivor be on TV?
The new series of Survivor will air on Saturday, 28 October 2023 on BBC One. The show will be available to stream immediately afterwards on BBC iPlayer.
Who is in the Survivor 2023 cast?
Applications for the comeback series opened in November 2022, with people applying to become contestants in the hope of winning a £100,000 jackpot.
In early October, we found out who will be taking part in Survivor's new series. Read on to meet 2023's new contestants.
Survivor 2023 contestants
Name: Ashleigh
Age: 34
From: London
Occupation: Brand strategist
Why did you want to be on Survivor?: "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.
"What better test to understand what I’m really capable of than the ultimate challenge?"
Name: Christopher
Age: 36
From: Bridgend
Occupation: Singer/Songwriter
Why did you want to be on Survivor?: "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.
"I thought it’s the best way to push myself, to learn how to survive and do challenges as I’m extremely competitive."
Name: Doug
Age: 32
From: Isle of Mull
Occupation: Flood Risk Consultant
Why did you want to be on Survivor?: "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.
"I came on Survivor to make my family back home on Mull proud, and have the adventure of a lifetime."
Name: Hannah
Age: 30
From: London
Occupation: Semi-Professional Footballer
Why did you want to be on Survivor?: "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!"
Name: Jess
Age: 36
From: London
Occupation: Fitting model
Why did you want to be on Survivor?: "It’s 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!"
Name: Laurence
Age: 29
From: London, born in Vienna, raised in Costa Rica
Occupation: Entrepreneur
Why did you want to be on Survivor?: "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."
Name: Lee
Age: 28
From: Belfast
Occupation: Professional Boxer
Why did you want to be on Survivor?: "I thought it 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."
Name: Leilani
Age: 45
From: Hertford
Occupation: Barista and Yoga studio cleaner
Why did you want to be on Survivor?: "Tongue-in-cheek humour, general immaturity and ignorant bliss mixed with lots of love, cuddles and unity. I haven’t watched Survivor so I didn’t realise there was a psychological aspect to the game. I thought it was just about living right in a jungle and competing in physical challenges, so I had no game plan whatsoever!"
Name: Matthew
Age: 21
From: Cumbria
Occupation: Hospitality
Why did you want to be 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."
Name: Nathan
Age: 35
From: Manchester
Occupation: Fitness Instructor and Operations Manager
Why did you want to be on Survivor?: "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."
Name: Pegleg
Age: 54
From: St. Agnes
Occupation: Surf School Owner
Why did you want to be on Survivor?: "Life experience as a 54-year-old; a Gen X attitude for just getting on with it and not whining and moaning about the hardship of it all."
Name: Rachel
Age: 40
From: Whitstable
Occupation: Insurance Claims Officer
Why did you want to be on Survivor?: "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."
Name: Rach
Age: 23
From: Glasgow
Occupation: Personal Trainer
Why did you want to be on Survivor?: "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."
Name: Ren
Age: 28
From: London
Occupation: Network Data Scientist
Why did you want to be on Survivor?: "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."
Name: Richard
Age: 36
From: Dalkeith, Scotland
Occupation: Pensions Manager / RAF Reservist
Why did you want to be on Survivor?: "I am always looking for a new challenge and this gave me the opportunity to challenge myself physically and mentally."
Name: Shai
Age: 33
From: London
Occupation: Finance Risk Manager
Why did you want to be on Survivor?: "Being a super fan! 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!"
Name: Tinuke
Age: 30
From: London
Occupation: Professional Roller Skater and Adventurer
Why did you want to be on Survivor?: "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."
Name: Sabrina
Age: 45
From: Stroud
Occupation: Ultramarathon runner
Why did you want to be on Survivor?: "It hit me at the right time! If you were told on a cold UK winter 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?!"
When will Survivor 2023 air?
The reality show is currently being filmed in the Dominican Republic, and the BBC has confirmed that it will have an Autumn release on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
What is Survivor?
Survivor is a reality TV competition that sees two tribes of contestants marooned in an isolated location and challenged to set up their own communities with fresh water, food and shelter all having to be found by the teams.
The new series will see 18 contestants who will be left in the Dominican Republic to battle it out over a series of mental and physical challenges.
Read more: Too Hot to Handle: Which couples are still together?
As the teams are whittled down through evictions at the tribal council, the tribes eventually merge with one lucky contestant walking away as the Ultimate Survivor, with a cash prize of £100,000.
The reality TV contest is one of the most successful formats in the world, named ‘Number 1 Best Reality Show of All Time’ by Variety and with 50 international versions to date.
It originally began in Sweden in 1997 where it is still running and also has successful versions in Spain, Turkey, Russia, Norway, Denmark, Italy, France, Australia and many other countries, with the US version set to head into its 43rd season in 2023.
But despite its international success, Survivor only ran for two seasons in the UK, in 2001 and 2002 on ITV.
Kate Phillips, director of unscripted at the BBC, said: "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."
Natalka Znak, CEO of Remarkable Entertainment who will make the series, said: "Survivor is ‘the greatest gameshow on earth’ for a reason - it has everything - reality, adventure, drama, and the ultimate game."
Is there a trailer for Survivor 2023?
Yes, a trailer was revealed for the reality show during the Women's Final at Wimbledon on Saturday, 15 July and it gave a glimpse of the tough assault courses and challenges that the competitors go up against.
Survivor will air on BBC One and iPlayer in 2023.
