Australian Survivor: Heroes Vs Villains is back, and while the season has only just begun, host Jonathan LaPaglia believes it’s the best season yet, and hopes viewers will agree.
“Every season we say ‘this is the best season ever!’ and normally, that’s the marketing department, not me,” LaPaglia told The Latch over the phone. “But this season, I’m actually gonna say it.”
Not wanting to discredit the past seasons, LaPaglia added: “I think they’re all good seasons, but this one is a cracker. It really just has some big, inventive gameplay that doesn’t seem to let up, and we have a bunch of twists that land really well.
“Overall, it’s just a great, great season and it certainly felt that way on the ground, and I’m hoping it comes together that way.”
Heroes Vs Villains was first done by the US Survivor back in 2010, and featured all-returning players battling it out for the title of Sole Survivor. The Australian Survivor format is a little different — rather than all-returning players, the cast is made up of half returning players, and half new players, with five returnees on the Heroes tribe, and six on the Villains.
The returning Villains, featured above, include fan favourites Shonee Bowtell and George Mladenov, aka King George of Bankstown, while the returning Heroes, pictured below, include Australian Survivor: Brains Vs Brawn winner Hayley Leake, as well as Nina Twine, the Princess of Survivor.
The first episode kicked off with a bang.
Immediately, Villain Anjali Rao and Hero Rogue Rubin — both new to Australian Survivor — began to ruffle feathers on their respective tribes, with their outspoken and unfiltered nature putting people off.
Then, during the first Immunity Challenge, things took a dramatic turn when Villains George Mladenov and Jackie Glazier, who first competed on Australian Survivor: Champions Vs Contenders, were both injured and sent for medical attention.
The Villains lost the challenge and were forced to head into Tribal Council not knowing whether their tribe mates would be able to return to the game.
After the Tribe had cast their votes, JLP informed them that while they were keeping George for observation, Jackie had fractured her collarbone in the challenge and would not be returning to the game.
Already down a tribe mate, and with George’s fate still up in the air, JLP then presented the Villains with a choice: Either they leave the votes unread and return to tribe, or they read the votes regardless.
Firmly on the side of chaos and drama, Anjali led the charge for the Villains to read the vote — a decision that came back to bite her pretty quickly, as she was swiftly eliminated from the game.
Of course, there can only be one Sole Survivor at the end of the day, and with $500,000 on the line, the game is only just getting started.
Here’s everyone who’s gone home on Australian Survivor: Heroes Vs Villains so far.
Shonee Bowtell
Nina Twine
Simon Mee
Hayley Leake
Shaun Hampson
Shonee Bowtell
Sam Webb
Flick Palmateer
David Zaharakis
Stevie Khouw
Benjamin Law
Jordie Hansen
Paige Donald
Sharni Vinson
Fraser Lack
Sarah Marschke
Rogue Rubin
Mimi Tang
Michael Warren
Anjali Rao
Jackie Glazier (Withdrawn Due to Injury)
Australian Survivor: Heroes Vs Villains airs at 7.30pm, Sunday – Tuesdays, only on 10 and 10 Play on Demand.
Want more Australian Survivor? Read all our content here, and check out the stories below:
- This Is What Brooke Jowett Has Been Up to Since Competing on ‘Australian Survivor: All Stars’
- Australian Survivor’s Johnny Talks ‘The Challenge’ and Whether He’ll Bring Back the Mullet
- We Finally Know When ‘Australian Survivor: Heroes Vs Villains’ Is Premiering
- Meet the Cast of ‘Australian Survivor: Heroes Vs Villains’
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