Whilst Survivor is known for epic gameplay and strategy, the challenges really do put contestants to the test, often pushing them to their absolute breaking points.
From brute strength, endurance, mind boggling puzzles and more, no international iteration of Survivor designs challenges quite like the Australian version.
So how exactly are these challenges brought to life?
Well according to the show’s Executive Producer David Forster, there’s an entire ”challenge” team that works months in advance behind the scenes to pitch, build and yes – even safety test – challenges for our castaways to endure.
Often, inspiration is drawn from other challenge-based reality television shows from across the world including the series that started it all, US Survivor which has aired for more than two decades.
No matter the challenge on Survivor, you are sure to be put to the test.
(IMAGE: Ten)”A lot of our challenges we’ve taken and modified for our game as well. We’ve also invented challenges that they’ve taken as well. There’s a bit of an exchange of ideas between all [Survivor] franchises,” David told Pedestrian.TV.
Of those different franchises, the US is entering season 44, Australia is currently in season 10 and South Africa has just wrapped season nine.
There have been an additional 25 plus other international iterations of the smash hit reality show.
So far, each season of Australian Survivor has had roughly 40 challenges (both reward and immunity), with each challenge modified to ensure everyone is not only on the same playing field but forced to use a wide variety of skills from balance, to strength, to problem solving and more.
“So, we come up with a range of different things that fit every type of skill so it’s not just all puzzles, David said.
Often the challenges require a lot of teamwork.
(IMAGE: Ten)But before the ”approved” challenges even make it to fruition, Jonathan LaPaglia has previously said that often they are modified in some way.
“There are times when we will test them and they don’t quite play out the way we anticipate,” the long time host said.
“They’re more difficult or not difficult enough, so they’ll modify stuff along the way. You know, add more to it [or] take something away. There’s definitely a lot of testing that goes into it.”
The Survivor Brains vs Brawns finally individual immunity challenge was one of the most brutal endurance challenges in the shows history.
(IMAGE: Ten)Speaking to TV Week prior to the season 10 launch in January 2023, Jonathan even admitted to attempting the challenges himself, to varying degrees of success….
”I’ve attempted most of the challenges, particularly the trickier elements,” Jonathan said.
”When I’m creating commentary in the moment it helps if I have some understanding of what the players are going through.”
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