Twenty-four castaways will battle it out alongside a loved one when Australian Survivor: Blood V Water premieres on Monday, 31 January at 7.30pm, on 10 and 10 Play on demand.
Siblings, couples, in-laws, and parents and children will all go head-to-head and test the strength of their bonds as they play the world’s toughest game. Survivor is ultimately an individual game, so what happens when you play bound to another player? Is it possible to betray the ones you love?
Competing in Survivor: Blood V Water are:
Alex, 26, Warehouse Operator, Victoria
Jay, 34, Drummer, Victoria.
In-Laws
Alex and Jay met after Jay started dating Alex’s sister. Now the pair will put their own relationship through a very unique test. A superfan of the game, Alex wants to fly under the radar secretly making moves, while Jay is relaxed but also determined and competitive.
Jay and Alex
Amy, 24, Beautician, Victoria
Khanh, 30, Restaurateur, Victoria
Siblings
Amy and Khanh are set to put their relationship under a microscope. Charming and disarming, Amy is ready to make a name for herself after living in her older brother’s shadow, while Khanh has a burning desire to win the title of Sole Survivor. And don’t be fooled, he’s willing to do whatever it takes, even if it means he has to lie, cheat and steal to get there.
Amy and Kahn
Andy, 49, Advertising Consultant, Queensland
Kate, 46, Mum, Queensland
Siblings
After Kate pushed Andy to apply for Australian Survivor: Champions V Contenders, not only is it Andy’s shot at redemption, but Kate hopes to make her own mark on the game. Planning to use his skills as a professional poker player to read people, Andy’s also ready to try and play a more honest, fun, and good-natured game this time around. Caring and selfless, Kate is used to doing everything for her family but is now taking a chance on herself, determined to make her first time playing the game count.
Kate and Andy
Ben, 33, Tradie, Queensland
Shayelle, 31, Bio Medical Student, Queensland
Partners
Partners Ben and Shayelle realise the value of having each other on their Survivor journeys, especially when the going gets tough. Shayelle says: “Having him there will be priceless in terms of support. I struggle to not get caught up in my emotions sometimes, so I have to force myself to think my way out it.” Standing at 6’4”, Ben is a standout in the crowd kind of guy and has a drive to win. He hopes to be a player who is a beast at challenges but also someone the tribe trusts.
Ben and Shayelle
Chrissy, 42, Teacher, Queensland
Croc, 41, Ex-NRL Player, Queensland
In-Laws
While Chrissy may not have a lot of Survivor knowledge, she is playing with Croc to keep his dream of being part of the game alive. Croc’s strengths in the game will be his observation skills, as well as his brute physical strength. He will build genuine relationships and ascertain what makes people tick, how they behave and then make big moves when the time is right to eliminate his biggest threats. Although she may not be a superfan, Chrissy is confident and competitive and wants to prove to her kids that she can do anything and to inspire them to do the same in their lives.
Chrissie and Croc
David, 51, Project Manager, Queensland
Briana, 26, Digital Producer, Queensland
Father & Daughter
Briana is competing for the title of Sole Survivor alongside her father, David. Briana says her dad is the skull crusher – the guy who is going to lay down the law while she is the entertainer and social butterfly. As a Project Manager at a construction firm, David knows himself to be very strategic. He believes in getting the lay of the land, being flexible and making tough ruthless calls when need be. Survivor is Briana’s dream, but one David is more than happy to follow saying: “I’ve been vortexed into this dream and I’m pumped. We’re gonna smash it because our relationship together is strong. We’re both ambitious, both fierce.”
Brianna and David
Jesse, 22, Triathlete, ACT
Jordie, 25, Landscaper, Victoria
Brothers
Jesse has a tight bond with his older brother, Jordie who is playing alongside him and although the two claim to be polar opposites of each other, they are dedicated to becoming the perfect team. As a landscaper by trade, Jordie is used to digging holes and getting himself out of them. And despite the ease of which he makes friends, Jordie knows Survivor is about more than just being mates and is about understanding people on a deeper level. Jesse enjoys anything that will challenge him and he will push through any physical or mental boundaries to get there. As a professional triathlete in training, Jesse is used to intense endurance and he even finds comfort in pain. Although he has a cheeky disposition, he does not take failure lightly.
Jordie and Jesse
Jordan, 29, Personal Trainer, Victoria
Josh, 31, Pilot, Victoria
Cousins
Jordan is playing with his cousin Josh and between the two, Jordan is the one who will be diving in headfirst. Although they are cousins, Jordan and Josh say their relationship is closer than most brothers. Jordan’s ready to push himself both physically and mentally as far as he can when he hits the mat, to see what he is truly made of. Josh on the other hand, considers himself a Survivor armchair expert and is excited to see if he can execute the physical, social, and strategic gameplay in real life.
Jordan and Josh
KJ, 37, Ex Flight Attendant
Sophie, 31, Company Director, Victoria
Sisters
As a Survivor superfan, Kate (KJ) comes armed with the knowledge she has taken on after meticulously watching past seasons, and is excited to play with her younger sister, Sophie. Two very different people, KJ is hoping to use some of Sophie’s traits to help her in the game as Sophie is a driven businesswoman who doesn’t take no for an answer. Sophie’s also hoping to use some of KJ’s Survivor super knowledge to help her gain her footing. “I know how well-prepared KJ is so I’ll be going to her for advice, strategy, gameplay, what I would do in a certain situation.”
KJ and Sophie
Mark, 42, Ex SAS Commander, Victoria
Sam, 37, Endurance Athlete, Victoria
Husband & Wife
Mark was last seen on Australian Survivor Season 2, where he formed a power couple with fellow castaway Sam. The two fell in love, were married in 2019 and have a son together. Last time Mark played Survivor, he thought being fit and strong would be enough to go far in the game, but he quickly realised this was not the case and that his social game would need to improve. He won’t be making the same mistake twice. Sam’s mantra is “composure and calm, this is a marathon not a sprint”, and says she doesn’t have a game play as she wants to adapt to the people she is playing with.
Mark and Sam
Mel, 33, Chiropractor, Victoria
Michelle, 33, Speech Pathologist, NSW
Identical Twins
Mel is playing with identical twin sister Michelle, who she shares a “twin connection” with. They’re able to know what each other are thinking and can even feel each other’s pain. Melissa is a Survivor superfan, who wears her heart on her sleeve but is a keen strategist and loves the psychology behind the game. As a social butterfly, Mel makes friends easily and is planning to make alliance a key part of her game plan. Michelle has built a career on communication and prides herself on catching people out in their lies. As a Speech Pathologist, she is confident her innate understanding of human behaviour will push her to find out what is driving her fellow tribe mates.
Mel and Michelle
Sandra, 47, Queen of Survivor, USA
Nina, 24, Accounts Clerk, USA
Mother & Daughter
Sandra is a two-time Survivor US winner and now she is ready to take on Australian Survivor and defend her international Survivor throne. Sassy and outspoken and having been a part of Survivor US five times, she is excited to be playing with a family member for the very first time. While she might be the Queen, Sandra has never played Survivor: Blood V Water and is hoping not to impact Nina’s game. Sandra says: “I’m set in my ways but having Nina out there will remind me, ‘Sandra, tone it down.’ It’s a whole different game, it’s a whole different place, it’s a whole different theme so I can’t be the same Sandra as before.” Playing in the shadow of her mother’s Survivor legacy doesn’t intimidate Nina, who is ready for the challenge. Nina says: “The best advice my mum has given me is to keep your head down but your ears open. You don’t want the target to be on you, you want it to be on somebody else, so that has been really helpful.”
Sandra and Nina