Ten has revealed the full cast for the upcoming season of Australian Survivor.
Season two of the critically-acclaimed human drama will see the country’s best game players take Australian Survivor to a whole new level. Contestants ranging in age from 20 to 51 are deprived of all luxuries and must fend for themselves for up to 55 days.
An endurance athlete, a barrel racer, a two-time Olympian, a wedding celebrant, a renowned photographer and an international poker player are among the diverse group revealed today ahead of the start of the new series.
Faced with torrential rain and extreme temperatures, contestants will be stripped to their core. The ultimate winner will walk away with a life-changing experience, $500,000 and the coveted title of Australia’s Sole Survivor 2017.
Network Ten Head of Entertainment and Factual Programming, Stephen Tate, said: “More than 20,000 Australians applied to be part of this spectacular series. This year Australian Survivor will offer an exceptionally intriguing cast and even more drama. The contestants are more knowing and they are playing the game much harder.”
The 24 contestants’ bodies will be pushed to the extreme, as they compete in epic, physically-demanding challenges and mentally navigate their way through cunning and strategic gameplay.
Who will have what it takes to win the world’s greatest game?
Introducing The Australian Survivor Class Of 2017:
Aaron ‘A.K.’, 29, Wedding DJ, South Australia
Full-time wedding DJ and self-confessed reality television addict, Aaron is ready to take on
Australian Survivor. A mad sports fan, Aaron will play to win and knows that sitting around idly is not the way to get ahead in the game. Previously a fence installer, he thinks his experience working in the heat and lifting heavy objects will prepare him well for island life. He wants to make his parents and his partner, Bec, proud. His biggest fear is coming second.
Adam, 40, International Poker Player, Queensland
As an international poker player, award-winning salesman and ex-SES volunteer, Adam is a force to with which be reckoned. At over 198 centimetres tall, Adam plans to dominate the game and become a player to remember. As an SES volunteer, Adam has helped with search and rescue operations and that puts him in good stead for the rugged way of life on Australian Survivor. He is also a husband and father-of-two with a strategic mind and the ability to read people and situations. His poker success saw him play in the World Series in Las Vegas last year.
Aimee, 23, Plumber, Victoria
A woman who loves to push herself out of her comfort zone, Aimee is not one to shy away from an adventure. She studied to be a beautician for two years until she realised she could not paint nails and decided to become a plumber. She spends most of her time camping, hiking and riding bikes. Last year she walked over 500 kilometres by herself from Melbourne to Canberra. While she may not have a solid game plan for Australian Survivor, Aimee is looking forward to changing people’s expectations of her.
Anneliese, 23, Student, Victoria
Obsessed and strategic, Anneliese is a super-fan of Survivor who lists Jeff Probst as her celebrity crush. A journalism student in Melbourne, Anneliese is quite the academic. After winning a scholarship to an exclusive school, she knows that she can achieve anything to which she sets her mind. After recently losing 35 kilograms, Anneliese plans to fly under the radar and is ready to play the game as soon as she sets foot on the island.
Ben, 20, Fast Food Attendant, Western Australia
The youngest of this year’s contestants, Ben works as a fast food attendant and lives at home with his parents. Describing himself as odd, Ben is currently single and thinks his lack of flirting skills are to blame. A unique character with distinctive blonde locks, Ben is a super-fan of the series and watched last year’s Australian Survivor with a keen eye. He is hoping to make it to the final merge and play the game as an individual.
Henry, 26, Labourer, South Australia
Henry’s game plan is to deceive his peers by playing the role of a laid-back yoga instructor.
Little do they know he is actually a labourer and a small business owner with a degree in Marketing and Accounting. Henry works in the building industry and owns an online food delivery business, which his late mother helped him establish. He recently put his life on hold to care for his mum as she battled pancreatic cancer and sadly passed away. He applied for Australian Survivor in honour of his mum, who told him to chase his dreams.
Jacqui, 50, Wedding Celebrant, NSW
A self-confessed straight-shooter, Jacqui is one of the oldest contestants on season two of Australian Survivor, but she is not going to let that get in her way. She has something to prove and wants to demonstrate to other women that life doesn’t end at 30. A lover of life and the odd glass of champagne, Jacqui is a wedding celebrant on the NSW North Coast. Married with two kids, she is super-fit and loves running, riding and surfing with her husband Gaz.
Jarrad, 29, Photographer, Western Australia
A renowned photographer, Jarrad loves a challenge and is not afraid to push himself to his limits. In fact, he loves it. The top of his class in high school, Jarrad went on to study law but quit soon after to follow his passion for photography. He now shoots campaigns for various tourism boards around the world and has worked with the likes of Ed Sheeran, Matt Corby and Kate Miller-Heidke. When it comes to the game of Survivor, Jarrad’s competitive nature will come out and he admits that other contestants might not know how to take him.
Jericho, 25, Flight Attendant, Victoria
From the Philippines to Auckland and now Melbourne, Jericho is used to being the new kid in town. But instead of letting his guard down quickly, on Australian Survivor he will be pretending to be someone else entirely. A mega-fan of Survivor, Jericho has his game plan mapped out and is not afraid to show his darker, more competitive side. After studying anthropology, Jericho followed his dream of becoming a flight attendant. Starting as a cabin cleaner and working his way up the ranks, he now works for a major airline, flying internationally.
Joan, 29, Escape Room Owner, NSW
If anyone knows how to handle tough situations, it is Joan. Pregnant at 16, she found herself temporarily homeless but she never gave up. Now a mum of three, Joan runs escape rooms with her partner Frank, designing and facilitating large-scale games and puzzles for groups of friends and colleagues. Joan is confident that her experience in life will help her play the world’s greatest game. A huge fan of the show, it has been her lifelong dream to be a contestant.
Kate, 47, Financial Executive, Victoria
Kate is a successful businesswoman who has lived all over the world, including Västervik in Sweden, Toronto, New York and now Melbourne. After recently resigning from a 17-year career with a global investment bank, where she managed and led teams of over 50 people,
Kate is now looking for her next career opportunity and thought she would give Australian Survivor a crack in the meantime. Kate wants to be a role model for young women, especially her children, who helped her apply for the series.
Kent, 51, Chief Financial Officer, South Australia
A devoted father of three, Kent is no stranger to taking on new challenges and Australian Survivor is no different. At 39, Kent decided to take up swimming and competed in the world-famous Rottnest Island swim in Western Australia. At the age of 50, he swam the English Channel, which was a 13-hour non-stop swim. Working for the past 10 years as Chief Financial Officer at Parliament House in South Australia, Kent says he is good at reading people’s personalities.
Locky, 27, Adventure Guide, Western Australia
An experienced cave diver, base jumper, mountaineer and athlete, there is not a lot that scares Locky. At 195 centimetres tall, Locky is a physical threat and he will not be flying under the radar when it comes to being an asset to his team. He plans to provide for his tribe and give it his all in every challenge. Locky spends half the year in Perth as a roof plumber and the other half in Europe, where he is an adventure guide. Having spent a lot of time outdoors, Locky knew Australian Survivor was the right fit for him.
Luke, 30, Mining Technician, Western Australia
Luke may be a joker but he takes some things very seriously, including his family, his job and reality television. A drilling operator in a Western Australian mine, Luke has recently taken on a desk job to spend more time at home with his two sons and wife, Mary. After growing up with a difficult home life, Luke appreciates his family more than anything and wants to make them proud. He looks forward to having some fun in Samoa and is playing to win.
Mark H, 51, Lime Farmer, Queensland
Mark is a lime farmer from Queensland. A loving and generous family man, he is a hardworking farmer who is keen to give younger contestants a run for their money. A firm believer in doing the right thing, Mark knows that when it comes to Australian Survivor, his moral compass may be tested. Getting into the island vibe, Mark recently visited Vanuatu with his son, where they built a grass hut and ate coconuts for two days.
Mark W, 37, Former Special Ops Commander, Western Australia
Mark is an ex-SAS Troop Commander who has served in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, East Timor and the Solomon Islands, and has recently launched his own fashion label. Currently living in New York, Mark has also completed an MBA and works as a business consultant. He thinks it will be his SAS skills that will help him most on Australian Survivor and he hopes to inspire other veterans to live a full life. Mark also loves cooking, travelling and surfing.
Michelle, 33, Nanny, NSW
Michelle is a woman who knows what she wants and is not afraid to tell people how she is going to get it. A professional nanny in Sydney, she loves going to the races, the beach and catching up with friends. While she admits she is not used to roughing it, Michelle is out to prove that she has what it takes to win. She will use whatever assets she needs to make connections and alliances. Her father passed away in 2008 and she wants to make him proud.
Odette, 32, Podiatrist, NSW
Single mum Odette is a podiatrist in Sydney who has had to push herself every day to be the hero she wants to be for her son. Growing up with an absent father, she was raised by her mother, who sadly passed away when she was 14. Following her mother’s death, Odette worked hard at school and attained a Master’s degree in Podiatric Medicine while attending university during the day, working nights and also looking after her son. Odette is here to play an honest and moral game.
Peter, 22, Digital Advertising Producer, NSW
Peter works in digital advertising and has a laugh that you can hear from a mile away. Describing his laugh as the sound of a dying walrus, Peter is a positive and enthusiastic person who cannot wait to get started on Australian Survivor. Peter gets along with everybody and plans to play a social game on the island.
Sam, 32, Endurance Athlete, Victoria
She stands just under 152 centimetres tall, but don not let Sam’s size fool you. She took up running in 2008 as a break from studying law and after just 16 weeks training, she completed the Melbourne marathon. Her next challenge? The 4 Deserts Grand Slam: four ultra-marathons across Chile, China, Sahara and Antarctica. She made history by becoming the first woman and the youngest person ever to complete the race, which is known as one of the toughest endurance events on the planet.
Sarah, 22, Model, Western Australia
Smart, mature and well-travelled, Sarah plans to make big moves during her time on the island. Being a contestant on Survivor has been a lifelong ambition for Sarah and she wants to win by playing the best game anyone has ever seen. She hopes to be underestimated by her tribe and is not afraid to lie.
Tara, 32, Barrel Racer, Queensland
Mum of three Tara is a barrel racer from Queensland. The job requires serious manoeuvring and concentration and is something she plans to keep a secret from her fellow contestants. Currently studying full-time for a Bachelor of Education majoring in Drama and History, Tara wants to prove that she is much more than just a stay-at-home mum.
Tessa, 29, Doctor, Victoria
Always underestimated by her work colleagues and patients because of her age and gender, Tessa is highly intelligent and ready to compete. Studying to become a doctor, Tessa worked under high-pressure conditions while attending lectures and studying to pass her physician’s exam. She is now one of the youngest doctors at her place of work. Her strategy is to form an all-girl alliance and to work her magic when their backs are turned. She is not afraid to lie, cheat and steal to win Australian Survivor.
Ziggy, 26, Former Olympian, NSW
A two-time Olympic athlete and two-time Olympic medallist, Ziggy (real name: Nicola) thinks she has what it takes to survive in Samoa. Ziggy represented Australia in water polo at the London and Rio Olympic Games. She has recently retired from the pool and is working as a radiologist in Sydney. The daughter of a triathlete, Ziggy has tried every sport under the sun and stays fit by running, surfing, yoga and lifting weights. A former lifesaver and ironwoman, Ziggy says her water polo experience will also help her strategise and play the game.
