It’s been speculated about for quite some time, but Channel 10 finally confirmed an all-star global version of Australian Survivor last month. The series, aptly titled Survivor: Australia v The World, will see the best of the best Aussie contestants going up against players from the US, South Africa, Finland and New Zealand franchises.
A production insider tells Yahoo Lifestyle that the season was shot over 14 days in Samoa, making it a much shorter series than fans are used to as the Australian version typically films for 47 days and the American edition takes place over 26. Despite its short length, our source says the season is tipped to be the “most thrilling season” that’s ever been filmed.
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“Channel 10 are so thrilled that they may screen the special edition series before the planned Brains v. Brawn II,” they share.
While Channel 10 is yet to officially announce the airdate for Survivor: Australia v The World, here are all the Aussie contestants that are in the cast.
Shonee Bowtell
Cementing her status as the most returned player in Australian Survivor history, Shonee Bowtell is set to compete for a fourth time following her stints on Champion v Contenders in 2018, All Stars in 2020, and Heroes v Villains in 2023.
An insider tells Yahoo Lifestyle that the new mum, who welcomed her first child in January, “couldn’t resist returning for her fourth attempt at the title”.
“There was a thought after recently giving birth that Shonee wouldn’t be able to make it but with the series being less of a commitment it was a done deal. Could the fourth time be the charm?” they said.
Shonee told Yahoo Lifestyle in 2023 that she would “never say never” if she was asked to compete on an international all-stars version of the reality show.
“I feel like every time I play I’m like, ‘Oh god, never again’, and then I wait a year or two and I’m like, ‘Oh life is for living, maybe I will!’,” she remarked. “I’ll never say never. I think if they do America versus Australia I’ll consider it.”
George Mladenov
After wreaking havoc on Brains v Brawn in 2021 and Heroes v Villains alongside Shonee in 2023, George Mladenov is back for a third time to go up against the international players.
The self-proclaimed ‘King George of Bankstown’ is one of the most recognisable faces from the franchise, as well as being one of the most polarising.
“Love him or hate him – the fans will be delighted to see him return,” our source shares.
Kirby Bentley
Fresh after finishing fifth on this year’s season of Australian Survivor: Titans v. Rebels, Kirby Bentley is ready to play the game again.
The AFLW coach, who was known for her strong social and strategic gameplay, told Yahoo Lifestyle following her elimination earlier this year that she would “100 per cent” say ‘yes’ if she was asked to return.
“As a game player now I think that I’ve got so much to learn,” she said. “I’m gonna go and watch a few seasons and now that I understand the game I can actually see what people do well, what they don’t, and try and incorporate that into my game. Knowing the sort of person that I am and how I play, I probably wouldn’t be so forward, but who knows what the game gives.”
David Genat
He may have won Australian Survivor: All Stars in 2020, but David Genat is hoping to become Australia’s first two-time winner when he competes in the upcoming season. The reality star, model and self-proclaimed ‘Golden God’, who first competed on Champions v Contenders II in 2019, was reportedly a last-minute addition to the cast.
“When he heard who was playing he moved heaven and earth to get to Samoa. Could he take out the competition twice?” our source says.
Speaking to Yahoo Lifestyle in 2023, David admitted he was surprised to hear that George had been describing himself as “the best Survivor player Australia’s ever seen”.
“Did George win? I don’t think he’s won. He’s just a big talker,” he laughs. “I didn’t actually get to watch him on the last season, we were away filming [Rush], but I heard he did some really cool stuff.
“I think whatever for me makes that show better, I’m happy for it because I just really think it’s such a great show. And there are great characters on there like George, but I don’t think you can say you’re the best Survivor player if you haven’t won. That makes you the worst! It’s basically like you won it, and then there’s everyone else. He’s in the ‘everyone else’ category.”
Interestingly, David was recently revealed as a contestant on the upcoming second season of the US reality show Deal or No Deal Island alongside four-time US Survivor contestant Parvati Shallow – who Channel 10 confirmed last month will be competing on Survivor: Australia v The World.
Janine Allis
A production insider tells Yahoo Lifestyle that Boost Juice founder and fellow Australian Survivor: Champions v Contenders II contestant Janine Allis received the call after her season’s winner Pia Miranda turned down the opportunity.
“The successful entrepreneur and businesswoman has still been watching each series and has been taking notes,” they share.
Janine, who has since appeared as a boardroom advisor on The Celebrity Apprentice Australia and co-host of Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars since her time on Australian Survivor, told Yahoo Lifestyle in 2022 that she wasn’t sure if she’d ever return to the reality show.
“It’s a hard one because will I ever get that close again?” she remarked. “And we had such a great group. I loved working with David and my best friend Pia. So I don’t know, we’ll see. Never say never, but I think it’s unlikely.”
However, she admitted to Yahoo Lifestyle in March this year that she would be open to the idea of taking part in a global version.
“I think if it was something like [US versus Australia], I would. And as long as my buddies are there!” she said. “If I could get my Sharn [Coombes] and my Lydia [Lassila] and Pia and David – mind you, David would probably vote me off, so maybe not David. But if I got my girls and we did it, it would be so fun.”
Luke Toki
Big Brother VIP winner Luke Toki is said to be turning up the heat with his third stint on Australian Survivor. The ‘people’s champion’, who was the first Australian to compete on the reality show twice, finished seventh during the 2017 season and fourth on Champions v Contenders in 2019.
“There was no doubt the show needed Luke to return this season after winning over audiences in his first two seasons,” our source shared.
Sarah Tilleke
Rounding out the Aussie cast of Survivor: Australia v The World is Sarah Tilleke, who competed alongside Luke in the 2017 season. Sarah was known for her sneaky strategy and ability to utilise other players to her advantage and was notably the person who convinced her friend and fellow model David to audition for the show.
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As for who else is in the cast, Channel 10 has confirmed the three players from the US franchise who are taking part.
These include Parvati Shallow, a four-time Survivor player who cemented her legend status when she won in 2008, Cirie Fields, also a four-time Survivor player who famously made history when she was eliminated from Game Changers without receiving a single vote, and Tony Vlachos, who is one of the franchise’s two two-time winners.
Meanwhile, it’s rumoured that Survivor South Africa winner Rob Bentele, Survivor New Zealand winner Lisa Stanger, Survivor Québec runner-up Kassandre Bastarac, and Survivor Finland runner-up Tommi Manninen are also on the World Tribe.
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