Unlike the US, Survivor didn't really catch on in the UK, where it initially lasted only two seasons. Given that, you might expect both of them to be terrible, but the first one is actually pretty good, especially towards the end; there is a surprising turn of events, some subtle but (perhaps instinctively) top-notch gameplay at the F3, an amazing character (and even in looks - for the better!) transformation by the runner-up, and an all-time-great FTC performance by the winner. The second season drops the number of contestants from 16 to 12, and this change, combined with the lack of a tribe swap (as was also the case in season 1) basically guarantees a very primitive, almost nonexistent level of strategy where an alliance of 3 people has enough numbers to run the game and the winner doesn't even have to make one tough choice throughout the game; just being "a nice chap" will suffice. There are some fun challenges in both seasons and the casts are decent-to-good (the F3 of season 1 is very good), but the 1st season is the only one you really need to see; the 2nd is strictly for Survivor completists. 22 years later, a reboot came up: it is wildly uneven. The pre-merge is generally poor, "borrowing" some of the worst components of contemporary Australian Survivor (the cheesy music, the overextended, sometimes bordering on sadistic, challenges, the non-elimination episodes, etc.). The early merge is very good, with one Big Move / genuinely shocking blindside after another. The endgame is OK. The winner is both surprising (until very late in the game) and satisfying: the viewer, as well as the other players, underestimate him until it's too late. I would rate the three seasons 7 / 5 / 7 out of 10.
11 Reviews
1st season: surprisingly good / 2nd season: very mediocre / 3rd season: wildly uneven
gridoon202417 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Skip this and watch Australian Survivor instead
shannonripsher085 February 2024
Unfortunately the US version isn't available to UK residents. However after bingewatching the marterpeice that is Australian Survivorm I am mostly comparing it to that show.
To put it shortly....this is mostly garbage.
I LOVE Joel Dommett in the Masked Singer and he makes me laugh in this with his "so bad it's funny" puns but I must admit he is a bit out of place in this show. And yet he is one of my brighter points of UK Survivor.
As for the contestent, it's obvious they have no idea what they signed up for. Whining about being lied to, annoyed that they can't trust anyone. I just found myself rolling my eyes at almost all the players (especially you Lee) because they didn't seem to understand that this a a GAME and that it's supposed to be about STRATEGY and yet there is hardly any strategy in the UK version. Add where are the Idols? And please fix that cheap and nasty parchment paper! The voting is always so cringy to watch because it just looks like normal paper intentionally crumpled up repetitively to give it a tacky look. It's embarrassing to watch poor Joel try to open up and reveal the votes. If you haven't watched Australian Survivor on Amazon prime, it is much MUCH better than this. There is alot less whining and people are more likeable....even the 'villains'
To put it shortly....this is mostly garbage.
I LOVE Joel Dommett in the Masked Singer and he makes me laugh in this with his "so bad it's funny" puns but I must admit he is a bit out of place in this show. And yet he is one of my brighter points of UK Survivor.
As for the contestent, it's obvious they have no idea what they signed up for. Whining about being lied to, annoyed that they can't trust anyone. I just found myself rolling my eyes at almost all the players (especially you Lee) because they didn't seem to understand that this a a GAME and that it's supposed to be about STRATEGY and yet there is hardly any strategy in the UK version. Add where are the Idols? And please fix that cheap and nasty parchment paper! The voting is always so cringy to watch because it just looks like normal paper intentionally crumpled up repetitively to give it a tacky look. It's embarrassing to watch poor Joel try to open up and reveal the votes. If you haven't watched Australian Survivor on Amazon prime, it is much MUCH better than this. There is alot less whining and people are more likeable....even the 'villains'
Survivor ...like it used to be !
Husskade20 January 2024
Well, the U. K ..ie my home finally got round to doing another series of Survivor after many, many years and they seem to have paid a bit of attention to other franchises and basically gone back to early days of the U. S version because that really was the best. (With acknowledgment to Australian version where I'm convinced that at times they're out to kill them) What they haven't done is gone wildly politically correct or at least they haven't smashed it into our faces they've just a shown us Brits as we are. They have done a pretty good cross representation of us Brits...from the posh Toff to the not so posh working class with everything in between. And our nations and regions are shown. And they actually left the survivors with nothing initially, old style, earn your stuff the hard way !
Even Joel isn't as annoying as he can be. My only real and constant gripe is the background music. It's far, far too loud. It's intrusive, relentless and infuriating. On U. K TV we suffer from 'whispering' where for some reason the broadcasters seem to think we don't need to hear the words that are said...they are either drowned out by background music or the voices are so quiet you struggle to hear. Many folk leave subtitles on permanently...it really can be that bad.
So BBC do us all a favour and tweak the sound levels...it spoiling a good programme.
Give it a whirl....these survivors mean business, just like they used to.
Even Joel isn't as annoying as he can be. My only real and constant gripe is the background music. It's far, far too loud. It's intrusive, relentless and infuriating. On U. K TV we suffer from 'whispering' where for some reason the broadcasters seem to think we don't need to hear the words that are said...they are either drowned out by background music or the voices are so quiet you struggle to hear. Many folk leave subtitles on permanently...it really can be that bad.
So BBC do us all a favour and tweak the sound levels...it spoiling a good programme.
Give it a whirl....these survivors mean business, just like they used to.
An unexpected Survivor gem!
salomey518 December 2023
Survivor fan since 2000 here. Despite straying away from the show here and there, I always go back to it.
Season 45 is my first back watching since Covid hit, and boy am I glad I decided to watch this season as it's been really good.
I quickly caught wind of the existence of a UK version (actually, more like a reboot as the UK had previously tried their hand at Survivor in the early 2000s, with poor results) which was airing at the same time as the US version, and figured, winter is coming, I live in Canada and I don't ski, skate or follow hockey, so it's not as if I had better things to do than taking on a double dose of Survivor.
I won't lie, the first couple of episodes were pretty slow. I almost felt like I was being transported back to the first season of US Survivor, watching Richard Hatch figure out how this game worked before everybody else he was playing against on that season.
It was pretty clear from the get-go that most of the cast of this Survivor reboot knew very little about the show and needed some time to understand what the hell they had gotten themselves into, unlike the American contestants who start talking game and building alliances the second they step off the boat.
I think it's also safe to venture that the slow pacing of the early episodes was a way to properly introduce an audience who might not be familiar with the strategic dimension and the cutthroat nature of Survivor; and given how sometimes needlessly convoluted and complicated US Survivor can be these days, with all its twists and idols and amulets and advantages, I'd say it was a wise decision. If a long-time Survivor fan like me can barely keep up with all these trinkets and powers, an audience new to the show has no chance. So keeping things simple and straightforward early on was the right way to go.
The second batch of episodes (UK Survivor aired every Saturday and Sunday night) was better than the first one. Nothing amazing, but still, a neat improvement. Characters were starting to emerge, game talk was happening from several contestants, and things were definitely looking up. And they did keep progressing week after week, and I was thinking, we're started to have a pretty good little season going here... Not great perhaps, but very decent nonetheless.
Then the merge happened. And boy, did almost everyone left kick things into high gear. After this pre-merge which had improved week after week, my expectations for the post-merge had grown, but I'm very happy to say that Survivor UK far exceeded them. Several of those post-merge tribal councils were simply electric, that hanging-off-the-edge-of-your-seat kinda stuff. Seriously, I'm not kidding. This was grade A Survivor, surpassing many US seasons.
Watching these people initially stumble their way through this weird, brutal game of strategy where the pawns are all fellow human beings, seeing them slowly start to understand the game's mechanisms, how to use other people to get yourself further in the game, how to dispose of these same people without pissing them off too much because you'll need their vote if you make it to end, was pure joy.
And while this Survivor UK season was excellent in its own merits, for me, there's a second reason as to why I enjoyed it so much. I'm a bit of a Survivor purist, I like to keep things simple. And while I understand that a game as bare bone as Survivor Borneo would never fly nowadays as it would put north American audiences to sleep, I find Survivor US' habit of continually messing around with the format, insisting on adding often unnecessary twists very irritating.
And while the magic that was Survivor Borneo can never be recreated, Survivor UK allowed me to be transported back to a time when the game was a lot less complicated and completely devoid of the meta aspect of US Survivor, where players now constantly refer to previous contestants or things that took place in earlier seasons. And I don't fault the franchise for that by the way. This show has been on for 23 years, for God's sake, of course it's going to be meta and self-referential, and that too can be a lot of fun.
But what Survivor UK brought back to the show, was its innocence, as dumb as that may sound. I'm aware a few of the UK players were familiar with the US version and some are actual fans, but it seemed pretty obvious most of them knew very little about the show if anything at all. And getting to witness these folks navigate their way through this surreal experience, realize this is a game of numbers, but also a game where very real bonds are formed, and that to get further, they may have to betray people they genuinely like, simply feels like a privilege. Because it felt a bit like getting the chance to hop into a time machine to watch Survivor back in the early 2000s, before it became this super fast-paced meta game plagued with contrived twists and bags of tricks.
Oh, and I'm writing this a couple of hours after watching the finale, and I won't spoil the winner, but I'm happy to say it's a very satisfying one. That's an extra feather in Survivor UK's cap!
Tl;dr: Survivor UK starts off slow, then it gets better, then it gets even better, then it becomes absolutely awesome post-merge, you should go and watch it right now. You can thank me later. :)
Season 45 is my first back watching since Covid hit, and boy am I glad I decided to watch this season as it's been really good.
I quickly caught wind of the existence of a UK version (actually, more like a reboot as the UK had previously tried their hand at Survivor in the early 2000s, with poor results) which was airing at the same time as the US version, and figured, winter is coming, I live in Canada and I don't ski, skate or follow hockey, so it's not as if I had better things to do than taking on a double dose of Survivor.
I won't lie, the first couple of episodes were pretty slow. I almost felt like I was being transported back to the first season of US Survivor, watching Richard Hatch figure out how this game worked before everybody else he was playing against on that season.
It was pretty clear from the get-go that most of the cast of this Survivor reboot knew very little about the show and needed some time to understand what the hell they had gotten themselves into, unlike the American contestants who start talking game and building alliances the second they step off the boat.
I think it's also safe to venture that the slow pacing of the early episodes was a way to properly introduce an audience who might not be familiar with the strategic dimension and the cutthroat nature of Survivor; and given how sometimes needlessly convoluted and complicated US Survivor can be these days, with all its twists and idols and amulets and advantages, I'd say it was a wise decision. If a long-time Survivor fan like me can barely keep up with all these trinkets and powers, an audience new to the show has no chance. So keeping things simple and straightforward early on was the right way to go.
The second batch of episodes (UK Survivor aired every Saturday and Sunday night) was better than the first one. Nothing amazing, but still, a neat improvement. Characters were starting to emerge, game talk was happening from several contestants, and things were definitely looking up. And they did keep progressing week after week, and I was thinking, we're started to have a pretty good little season going here... Not great perhaps, but very decent nonetheless.
Then the merge happened. And boy, did almost everyone left kick things into high gear. After this pre-merge which had improved week after week, my expectations for the post-merge had grown, but I'm very happy to say that Survivor UK far exceeded them. Several of those post-merge tribal councils were simply electric, that hanging-off-the-edge-of-your-seat kinda stuff. Seriously, I'm not kidding. This was grade A Survivor, surpassing many US seasons.
Watching these people initially stumble their way through this weird, brutal game of strategy where the pawns are all fellow human beings, seeing them slowly start to understand the game's mechanisms, how to use other people to get yourself further in the game, how to dispose of these same people without pissing them off too much because you'll need their vote if you make it to end, was pure joy.
And while this Survivor UK season was excellent in its own merits, for me, there's a second reason as to why I enjoyed it so much. I'm a bit of a Survivor purist, I like to keep things simple. And while I understand that a game as bare bone as Survivor Borneo would never fly nowadays as it would put north American audiences to sleep, I find Survivor US' habit of continually messing around with the format, insisting on adding often unnecessary twists very irritating.
And while the magic that was Survivor Borneo can never be recreated, Survivor UK allowed me to be transported back to a time when the game was a lot less complicated and completely devoid of the meta aspect of US Survivor, where players now constantly refer to previous contestants or things that took place in earlier seasons. And I don't fault the franchise for that by the way. This show has been on for 23 years, for God's sake, of course it's going to be meta and self-referential, and that too can be a lot of fun.
But what Survivor UK brought back to the show, was its innocence, as dumb as that may sound. I'm aware a few of the UK players were familiar with the US version and some are actual fans, but it seemed pretty obvious most of them knew very little about the show if anything at all. And getting to witness these folks navigate their way through this surreal experience, realize this is a game of numbers, but also a game where very real bonds are formed, and that to get further, they may have to betray people they genuinely like, simply feels like a privilege. Because it felt a bit like getting the chance to hop into a time machine to watch Survivor back in the early 2000s, before it became this super fast-paced meta game plagued with contrived twists and bags of tricks.
Oh, and I'm writing this a couple of hours after watching the finale, and I won't spoil the winner, but I'm happy to say it's a very satisfying one. That's an extra feather in Survivor UK's cap!
Tl;dr: Survivor UK starts off slow, then it gets better, then it gets even better, then it becomes absolutely awesome post-merge, you should go and watch it right now. You can thank me later. :)
Leave it to Jeff, please
vsutichursell5 November 2023
A poor version of an iconic tv series... just leave it to Jeff Probst! Even though classic phrases are reused by the host - they lack a presence and passion for the game. The tribes start the game with opportunity to take food with them back to camp (potatoes, pineapples - has the production team even watched the original Survivor series?), which seems a huge unfair advantage.
The concept itself of surviving on a remote island for a cash prize is a nice draw. However what keeps the audiences attention is the interpersonal relationships and strategy of the individuals to ultimately back stab and manipulate the players to become the sole survivor. The original American version carries the the tag line "outwit, outplay, outlast" giving the players 3 clear arenas to compete in to win the prize.
The uk version seems to missing this, and for some reason hasn't replaced it with anything, leaving this version lacking in interest and gameplay.
I mean maybe they can learn from their shortcomings and improve in the seasons to follow. Who knows.
Long story short - Jeff Prost the American version producer and host created the show and has so much passion for the project it's pointless having anyone else.
The concept itself of surviving on a remote island for a cash prize is a nice draw. However what keeps the audiences attention is the interpersonal relationships and strategy of the individuals to ultimately back stab and manipulate the players to become the sole survivor. The original American version carries the the tag line "outwit, outplay, outlast" giving the players 3 clear arenas to compete in to win the prize.
The uk version seems to missing this, and for some reason hasn't replaced it with anything, leaving this version lacking in interest and gameplay.
I mean maybe they can learn from their shortcomings and improve in the seasons to follow. Who knows.
Long story short - Jeff Prost the American version producer and host created the show and has so much passion for the project it's pointless having anyone else.
I enjoy it
paulofthespectrum28 November 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Started slowly but some of the characters have grown significantly since it started. Christopher is great as a narrator for his own story. Worth persevering with.
Yes tribal council could be sped up a little but in the Challenge (USA reality competition) they do about two hours of this and call it the reunion and people still tune in. Once Lee called Ashleigh "Airhead Barbie" that lit the fuse and I'm expecting it to be sheer carnage from here on in.
Joel Dommett is good as host and while his commentary on the challenged can be a vital pointless he does stir the pot quite well.
Can't wait for the next one.
Yes tribal council could be sped up a little but in the Challenge (USA reality competition) they do about two hours of this and call it the reunion and people still tune in. Once Lee called Ashleigh "Airhead Barbie" that lit the fuse and I'm expecting it to be sheer carnage from here on in.
Joel Dommett is good as host and while his commentary on the challenged can be a vital pointless he does stir the pot quite well.
Can't wait for the next one.
HORRIBLE. Usually it's the US that butcher remakes of UK shows.
leovincent-129403 April 2024
I've seen every English language Survivor season. This is horrible.
It's as if it was made by people who never watched the show and certainly don't understand what makes it popular.
The players aren't interesting or people you want to watch.
The host, Joel Dommett, is annoying. His little voice is like fingernails across a chalkboard. And unfortunately, he really likes to talk. To make matters worse, they have him doing voice overs to narrate and explain things.
Instead of using the typical Survivor instrumental music, there are CONSTANT vomit inducing pop songs and cover versions of pop songs.
The paper they vote on looks like cheap toilet tissue that has seen action.
From the big things to little things, this UK series is horrible and should be marooned on an island and left for dead.
It's as if it was made by people who never watched the show and certainly don't understand what makes it popular.
The players aren't interesting or people you want to watch.
The host, Joel Dommett, is annoying. His little voice is like fingernails across a chalkboard. And unfortunately, he really likes to talk. To make matters worse, they have him doing voice overs to narrate and explain things.
Instead of using the typical Survivor instrumental music, there are CONSTANT vomit inducing pop songs and cover versions of pop songs.
The paper they vote on looks like cheap toilet tissue that has seen action.
From the big things to little things, this UK series is horrible and should be marooned on an island and left for dead.
Really enjoying it
Arweljos5 November 2023
Reviewing series 3 which is presented by Joel Dommet and has been picked up by the BBC and I am really enjoying it, We are currently 4 episodes in and I'm hooked, I love all aspects of it, there is action, tension, drama and humour to it, from the competitive nature of the physical tasks which are entertaining to watch and emphasises peoples strengths and weaknesses, to the psychological aspect of game playing and such you then see in camp where people attempt to form alliances and divisions and sway others on who to vote out, Joel does a great job presenting it and brings comic relief at times, but is also able to add to the tension and drama when required.
Survivor
studioAT28 January 2024
Come on, own up - who asked for this?
Probably nobody, knowing the BBC. Some boffin probably looked at an algarythm and decided that the numbers/data proclaimed that this show needed, positively needed, to be darkening our TV screens again. It was such a big success when ITV had a go with it back in the day of course...
No it wasn't - it crashed. This version didn't do much better, despite 'Strictly' giving it a massive leg up as its lead in show, and it being mentioned seemingly every two minutes through promos.
It's not very good, the host isn't very good, and overall it reeks of the BBC trying to play to the numbers and a young audience who don't watch TV anyway.
I hope it doesn't survive.
Probably nobody, knowing the BBC. Some boffin probably looked at an algarythm and decided that the numbers/data proclaimed that this show needed, positively needed, to be darkening our TV screens again. It was such a big success when ITV had a go with it back in the day of course...
No it wasn't - it crashed. This version didn't do much better, despite 'Strictly' giving it a massive leg up as its lead in show, and it being mentioned seemingly every two minutes through promos.
It's not very good, the host isn't very good, and overall it reeks of the BBC trying to play to the numbers and a young audience who don't watch TV anyway.
I hope it doesn't survive.
Very boring and slow...
maxim649 November 2023
We almost fall asleep during tribal council...the way they were counting the votes, opening the pieces of paper...so sloooowwww. It needs passion and fun...The American version totally fan for more than 15 years...we also love very much the Australian version...3rd option South African and last the U. K
Even during the episodes there is a lack of passion and motivation...also I notices the edting and post production could improve a bit. The set and lighting atvtribal council could also improve as well.
After watching so many years the U. S version can't wait for another season to start, in this case not sure we will continue.
After watching so many years the U. S version can't wait for another season to start, in this case not sure we will continue.
Season 03
mikehowens2 November 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Fan of American and Australian survivors.
Our UK reboot / season 3 after first two episodes one word sums it up rubbish!
Host has not charisma, over all weak presents.
SPOILER Strength endurance challenge for the first tribal challenge had not buzz or task that builds teamwork within the tribes. There is a reason why all version of survivor have obstacle course which a puzzle or a couple member task to finish.
The endurance challenge that just dragged, and felt let they were filling the hour time slot.
Episode two some how felt even more lifeless and droll.
Will not be watching anymore, maybe if you have never seen any other survivor shows you would like it, but not for me.
Our UK reboot / season 3 after first two episodes one word sums it up rubbish!
Host has not charisma, over all weak presents.
SPOILER Strength endurance challenge for the first tribal challenge had not buzz or task that builds teamwork within the tribes. There is a reason why all version of survivor have obstacle course which a puzzle or a couple member task to finish.
The endurance challenge that just dragged, and felt let they were filling the hour time slot.
Episode two some how felt even more lifeless and droll.
Will not be watching anymore, maybe if you have never seen any other survivor shows you would like it, but not for me.
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