SBS has announced the 11-part documentary series Alone Australia will premiere with a double episode on Wednesday, 29 March at 7.30pm, and continue weekly from 7.30pm, exclusively on SBS and SBS On Demand.
Ten Australian survivalists will be dropped in the remote wilds of Western Tasmania/ lutruwita, completely isolated from the world and each other, stripped of modern possessions, contact and comforts, to self-document their experience – the last one standing winning $250,000.
Challenged by the merciless forces of nature, hunger, and perhaps the toughest challenge of all: loneliness, who will survive the longest?
Alone Australia is not your average survival series. There are no scripts, no camera crews, no engineered challenges, no voting, no gimmicks, and no help from the production team.
The 10 must do their best to survive and self-document their respective adventures in total isolation, relying completely on themselves for food, water, shelter, and warmth, to stay alive using nothing but what’s in their pack and what the habitat around them provides, all against the backdrop of a landscape that presents as many dangers as it does wonders – an unrelentingly cold and wet Tasmanian West Coast winter.
See also: Alone Australia: Ten survivalists brave the remote wilds of Western Tasmania
With zero information about the other participants, and no knowledge of how many still remain, participants will push themselves for as long as they can. Only when they reach their absolute personal or physical limits will they ‘tap out’, one by one, until only one survivalist remains. It is the ultimate test of human will.
SBS head of unscripted Joseph Maxwell said: “For those not already indoctrinated, Alone is a worldwide sensation. The US and Scandinavian series have been an extraordinary hit with Australian audiences on SBS, becoming the most successful factual franchise in the history of SBS On Demand with more than 10 million hours consumed.
“Now, we’re bringing the first ever local version to Australia, exclusive to SBS. Alone Australia is raw, authentic, and truly unique. At its core, it’s about people – what it is that challenges us, drives us, and motivates us as human beings. The relentless effects of nature, hunger, and solitude result in a very real examination of who we are as people. Across all the stories we tell at SBS, we want audiences to connect to the stories and experiences of diverse Australians.”
ITV Studios Australia head of factual Ben Ulm and executive producer Riima Daher said: “This documentary series is the real deal. There are no production tricks, just ten individuals making ten self-shot documentaries.
“Every attempt, every win, every mistake, near-miss, loss, and lesson learnt. Every thought, new idea, creation and interaction. Every nostalgic reflection, every wobble, and every victorious celebration is right there on camera, captured by each lone, brave storyteller for us to witness.”