Alone Australia

Last updated

Alone Australia
Genre Reality
Survival
Based on Alone
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes35
Production
Running time60 minutes (including ads)
Production company ITV Studios Australia
Original release
Network SBS
Release29 March 2023 (2023-03-29) –
present

Alone Australia is an Australian survival reality television competition series on SBS which premiered on 29 March 2023. [1] It follows the self-documented daily struggles of 10 individuals as they survive alone in the wilderness for as long as possible using a limited amount of survival equipment. The participants are isolated from each other and all other humans, with the participants having to self-document and film their experiences themselves. They may "tap out" at any time or be removed due to failing a medical check-in. The contestant who remains the longest wins a grand prize of $250,000.

Contents

In early 2022, an Australian version was announced by SBS following the success of the American version on the network and its streaming counterpart SBS On Demand. The series is produced by ITV Studios Australia, with the first season taking place around a remote lake in Tasmania's West Coast [2] during winter 2022. The American version of the show also airs on Pay-TV channel A&E via Foxtel. [3] An Alone pop-up channel began broadcasting on Foxtel on 24 February 2023 and ceased broadcasting on 20 March 2023. [4]

The first season was won by Gina Chick after surviving 67 days alone, making her only the second female and oldest contestant in the history of the Alone worldwide to win. [5] The second season was won by Krzysztof Wojtkowski, surviving 64 days alone without eating meat. [6] In June 2023, the series was nominated for the Logie Award for Most Outstanding Factual or Documentary Program, [7] but it lost to The Australian Wars . [8]

Casting for Season 4 began in February 2025. [9]

Format

Contestants are dropped off in a remote wilderness area, far enough apart to ensure that they will not come in contact with one another. [1] The contest typically begins in mid-to-late autumn; this adds time pressure to the survival experience as the approaching winter causes temperatures to drop and food to become scarce. Although terrains may differ in each contestant's location, the drop-off zones are assessed in advance to ensure a similar distribution of local resources is available to each contestant.

Contestants each select 10 items of survival gear from a pre-approved list of 40, and are issued a kit of standard equipment, clothing and first aid/emergency supplies. [10] They are also given a set of cameras to document their daily experiences. Attempting to live off the land for as long as possible, the contestants must find food, build shelter in order to survive while enduring deep isolation, physical deprivation and psychological stress of being alone.

Contestants who wish to withdraw from the competition for any reason (referred to as "tapping out") may signal a rescue crew using a provided satellite telephone. In addition, medical professionals conduct periodic health checks on the contestants and may, at their discretion, disqualify and evacuate anyone they feel is unable to continue participating safely. The last remaining contestant wins a $250,000 cash prize. [11]

Episodes and results

SeriesLocationEpisodesOriginally releasedDays LastedWinnerRunner-up
First releasedLast released
1 South West Tasmania, Australia1129 March 2023 (2023-03-29)25 May 2023 (2023-05-25)67Gina ChickMike Atkinson
2 South Island, New Zealand1027 March 2024 (2024-03-27)29 May 2024 (2024-05-29)64Krzysztof WojtkowskiSuzan Muir
3 West Coast Range, Tasmania, Australia1226 March 2025 (2025-03-26)TBATBATBATBA

Season 1 (2023)

Episodes

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleOriginal release dateAus. viewers
11"The Drop"29 March 2023 (2023-03-29)212,000 [a] [12]
"Travellers, there is no path. Paths are made by walking." - Antonio Machado
22"Fired Up"29 March 2023 (2023-03-29)212,000 [a] [12]
"There's no harm in hoping for the best as long as you're prepared for the worst." - Stephen King
33"Unforced Error"5 April 2023 (2023-04-05)193,000 [13]
"Hunger is the handmaid of genius" - Mark Twain
44"Head Games"12 April 2023 (2023-04-12)N/A
"The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places." - Ernest Hemingway
55"Spent"19 April 2023 (2023-04-19)233,000 [14]
"He who has a why to live can bear almost any how" - Friedrich Nietzsche
66"Sink or Swim"26 April 2023 (2023-04-26)231,000 [15]
"The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle." - Pierre de Coubertin
77"Trapped"3 May 2023 (2023-05-03)230,000 [16]
"There's something to be said for hunger: at least it lets you know you're still alive" - Margaret Atwood
88"Severed"10 May 2023 (2023-05-10)229,000 [17]
"Solitude, isolation, are painful things, and beyond human endurance" - Jules Verne
99"Making Moves"17 May 2023 (2023-05-17)203,000 [18]
"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." - Thomas Edison
1010"The Dark of Night"24 May 2023 (2023-05-24)245,000 [b] [19]
"Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go" - TS Eliot
1111"The Storm"24 May 2023 (2023-05-24)245,000 [b] [19]
"By endurance we conquer" - Ernest Shackleton
1212"The Reunion"25 May 2023 (2023-05-25) [c] 123,000 [20]
Hosted by Amanda Keller, the ten contestants meet to discuss their Alone experience.

Notes

  1. 1 2 Figure averaged across both premiere episodes
  2. 1 2 Figure averaged across both finale episodes
  3. ↑ The Reunion was made available to stream on 24 May 2023 on SBS On Demand immediately after the broadcast of the final two episodes on SBS. The reunion was broadcast the following day on SBS

    Results

    Name [21] AgeStateOccupationStatusReason for Elimination
    Gina Chick 52NSWRewilding FacilitatorWinner - 67 daysWinner
    Mike Atkinson45NSWSolo Adventurist64 days (medically evacuated)Low blood pressure and malnutrition
    Michael Wallace43NSWVet and Bush Regenerator32 daysMissed family
    Kate Grarock41ACTWildlife Biologist22 daysMissed family
    Chris Bakon39TASArmy Veteran12 daysWanted to leave on a high after experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder
    Duane Byrnes35NSWWildlife and Environmental Officer10 daysStruggled with isolation
    Peter Athanassiou31NSWHunting Guide3 daysStruggled to find food; fell and injured knee
    Jimmy Lassaline22SAFarmhand and Engineering Student2 days (medically evacuated)Developed COVID-19, which caused his heart to beat at twice the usual rate
    Beck Henog42VICSchool Teacher2 daysMissed family; could not start a fire due to wet materials
    Rob Kelly41VICPlanning and Environmental Manager2 daysMissed family

    Season 2 (2024)

    Episodes

    No.
    overall    		No. in
    season    		TitleOriginal release dateAus. viewers
    131"Episode 1"27 March 2024 (2024-03-27)262,000 [22]
    "Beauty is terror. Whatever we call beautiful, we quiver before it" - Donna Tartt
    142"Episode 2"3 April 2024 (2024-04-03)287,000 [23]
    "The most important factor in survival is neither intelligence nor strength but adaptability" - Charles Darwin
    153"Episode 3"10 April 2024 (2024-04-10)314,000 [24]
    "Necessity is the mother of invention" - Richard Franck
    164"Episode 4"17 April 2024 (2024-04-17)305,000 [25]
    "Life is a circle. The end of one journey is the beginning of the next" - Joseph M. Marshall III
    175"Episode 5"24 April 2024 (2024-04-24)253,000 [26]
    "When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on" - Franklin D. Roosevelt
    186"Episode 6"1 May 2024 (2024-05-01)264,000 [27]
    "Anywhere the struggle is great, the level of ingenuity and inventiveness is high" - Eleni Zaude Gabre-Madhin
    197"Episode 7"8 May 2024 (2024-05-08)298,000 [28]
    "The triumph can't be had without the struggle" - Wilma Rudolph
    208"Episode 8"15 May 2024 (2024-05-15)304,000 [29]
    "Hunger is a powerful reorganiser of the conscience" - Margaret Atwood
    219"Episode 9"22 May 2024 (2024-05-22)276,000 [30]
    "Now is the winter of our discontent" - William Shakespeare
    2210"Episode 10"29 May 2024 (2024-05-29)345,000 [31]
    "As man disappears from sight, the land remains." - Māori Proverb
    2311"Reunion Special"29 May 2024 (2024-05-29)214,000 [31]
    Hosted by Hamish Blake, the ten contestants meet to discuss their Alone experience.

    Results

    Notable among the Season 2 contestants was Leanne, the wife of Season 1 contestant Rob.

    Name [32] AgeStateOccupationStatusReason for Elimination
    Krzysztof Wojtkowski39VICAquaculturalistWinner - 64 daysWinner
    Suzan Muir54VICWilderness Adventure Guide63 daysHomesick
    Andreas Lundin42NSWPersonal Trainer and Subsistence Hunter57 daysLost 30% body weight, not willing to risk health and sanity
    Tamika Simpson51QLDOff-Gridder and Former Police Officer53 daysDid not want to kill animals for food
    Rick J. Petersen58QLDSurvival Educator and Former SAS Soldier38 daysMissed family
    Jack55NSWTradesman and Wild Game Hunter16 daysLack of food
    Chace Leitch27QLDDefence Force Combat Engineer10 daysMissed family, wife pregnant
    Jason Allwood36NSWYouth Worker and Jungai8 daysMental health concerns, lack of food
    Leanne Mitchell41VICWorld Heritage Aboriginal Programs Officer4 daysMissed family
    Mike Hayes60NSWResilience Coach2 days (medically evacuated)Chest pain

    Season 3 (2025)

    Episodes

    No.
    overall    		No. in
    season    		TitleOriginal release dateAus. viewers
    241"Episode 1"26 March 2025 (2025-03-26)214,000 [33]
    "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" - Mary Oliver
    252"Episode 2"26 March 2025 (2025-03-26)214,000 [33]
    "We will either find a way or make one" - Hannibal
    263"Episode 3"2 April 2025 (2025-04-02)258,000 [34]
    "We are the sum total of our hungers" - A. W. Tozer
    274"Episode 4"9 April 2025 (2025-04-09)244,000 [35]
    "And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul" - John Muir
    285"Episode 5"TBATBD
    296"Episode 6"TBATBD
    307"Episode 7"TBATBD
    318"Episode 8"TBATBD
    329"Episode 9"TBATBD
    3310"Episode 10"TBATBD
    3411"Episode 11"TBATBD
    3512"Episode 12"TBATBD

    Results

    Name [36] AgeStateOccupationStatusReason for Elimination
    Ben Grieger38SAEnglish Teacher
    Ceilidh Marigold34QLDDisability Services Officer
    Corinne Ooms38TASFood Safety Consultant
    Karla Pound35QLDExpedition Leader
    Muzza (Murray) James63VICBushman
    Shay Williamson30New ZealandProfessional Trapper
    Tom Covell33NSWEcologist
    Yonke van Geloven52VICFarmer & Permaculturalist
    Eva Angophora31NSWRewilding Facilitator17 daysLack of food
    Matt Allwood31WAIndigenous Youth Worker16 daysMissed family

    Reception

    Critical reception

    The series received positive reviews in its first season. David Knox of TV Tonight rated the series 4½ out of 5 stating, "Above all, there’s nothing else like this on television and that -alone- makes it worth checking out". [37] Wenlei Ma of News.com.au gave a positive review stating, "That insight into human nature at its limit is the gem in this series." [38]

    Viewership

    Although overnight ratings for the first two episodes, played as double episode, averaged 212,000 viewers, total numbers reached 761,000, an increase of 138%, making it one of SBS's most watched series for 2023. [39] The third episode averaged 195,000 viewers overnight, and reached 791,000 in total numbers. [40] The fourth episode averaged 205,000 viewers overnight, and reached 826,000 in total numbers. [41]

    See also

    References

    1. 1 2 "'Alone Australia': SBS reveals release date of global hit series". SBS. Special Broadcasting Service. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
    2. ↑ Cain, Sian (28 March 2023). "'It was horrible. It was glorious': Alone – the most gruelling show on TV – comes to Australia". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 29 March 2023.
    3. ↑ "Alone". Foxtel .
    4. ↑ Perry, Kevin (26 January 2023). "FOX FUNNY, NAT GEO and NAT GEO WILD channels to be removed from FOXTEL and FETCH platforms". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
    5. ↑ Knox, David (25 May 2023). "Gina wins Alone Australia". TV Tonight . Retrieved 16 September 2023.
    6. ↑ Gold, Sean (5 October 2023). "Alone Gear Lists | Winner Picks and Stats". TruePrepper. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
    7. ↑ Knox, David (19 June 2023). "2023 Logie Awards: Noms". TV Tonight. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
    8. ↑ Knox, David (30 July 2023). "2023 Logie Awards: Winners". TV Tonight. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
    9. ↑ Fairall, Amy (24 February 2025). "Alone Australia Season 4 is Casting Now!". We Are Explorers. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
    10. ↑ Xavier, Elise (10 July 2015). "History's "Alone" Survival Gear Lists - Season 1 (Known Rules Included)". More Than Just Surviving. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
    11. ↑ "History Channel Looks for "Alone" Contestants Season 2 - LiveOutdoors". LiveOutdoors. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
    12. 1 2 Knox, David (30 March 2023). "Hard Quiz tops entertainment, Alone lifts SBS". TV Tonight . Archived from the original on 12 April 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
    13. ↑ Knox, David (6 April 2023). "Alone Australia becomes biggest show of the year for SBS". TV Tonight . Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
    14. ↑ Knox, David (20 April 2023). "Travel Guides tops entertainment, strong night for SBS". TV Tonight . Archived from the original on 19 November 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
    15. ↑ Knox, David (27 April 2023). "Travel Guides, 1% Club score on Wednesday, SBS booms in Total TV". TV Tonight . Archived from the original on 9 April 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
    16. ↑ Knox, David (4 May 2023). "Travel Guides drives Nine to winning Wednesday". TV Tonight . Archived from the original on 9 April 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
    17. ↑ Knox, David (11 May 2023). "Travel Guides, The Weekly win Wednesday slots". TV Tonight . Archived from the original on 9 April 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
    18. ↑ Knox, David (18 May 2023). "Travel Guides tops entertainment, Alone Australia huge lift in Total TV". TV Tonight . Archived from the original on 9 April 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
    19. 1 2 Knox, David (25 May 2023). "Travel Guides, 1% Club battle in entertainment on Wednesday". TV Tonight . Archived from the original on 7 April 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
    20. ↑ Knox, David (26 May 2023). "Nine simply the best on Thursday". TV Tonight . Archived from the original on 10 April 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
    21. ↑ Knox, David (14 February 2023). "Alone Australia: meet the cast". TV Tonight. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
    22. ↑ Knox, David (28 March 2024). "The 1% Club UK scores, Alone debuts on quiet Wednesday". TV Tonight . Archived from the original on 31 March 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
    23. ↑ Knox, David (4 April 2024). "Home & Away tops entertainment, ABC scores with 7:30 on Wednesday". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
    24. ↑ Knox, David (11 April 2024). "Battle for entertainment eyeballs on Wednesday". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
    25. ↑ Knox, David (18 April 2024). "Front Bar gamble paying off for Seven". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
    26. ↑ Knox, David (25 April 2024). "Wednesday 24 April 2024". TV Tonight . Archived from the original on 25 April 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
    27. ↑ Knox, David (2 May 2024). "Home & Away tops entertainment on Wednesday". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
    28. ↑ Knox, David (9 May 2024). "Wednesday 8 May 2024". TV Tonight . Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
    29. ↑ Knox, David (16 May 2024). "Gruen digs into Hubbl, Home & Away tops entertainment". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
    30. ↑ Knox, David (23 May 2024). "Home & Away, 1% Club UK give Seven easy Wednesday win". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
    31. 1 2 Knox, David (30 May 2024). "1% Club UK and Gruen draw in Wednesday viewers". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
    32. ↑ "Alone Australia Season 2 Returns 27 March | Meet the Cast". SBS . 15 February 2024. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
    33. 1 2 Knox, David. "Wednesday 26 March 2025". TV Tonight. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
    34. ↑ Knox, David. "Wednesday 2 April 2025". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
    35. ↑ Knox, David. "Wednesday 9 April 2025". TV Tonight. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
    36. ↑ "Meet the trailblazing cast of 'Alone Australia' Season 3". SBS . 12 February 2025. Archived from the original on 22 March 2025. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
    37. ↑ Knox, David (26 March 2023). "Alone Australia review". TV Tonight . Retrieved 5 April 2023.
    38. ↑ Ma, Wenlei (31 March 2023). "Alone Australia captures humans at their absolute limit". News.com.au . Retrieved 5 April 2023.
    39. ↑ Knox, David (6 April 2023). "Alone Australia becomes biggest show of the year for SBS". TV Tonight . Retrieved 16 April 2023.
    40. ↑ Knox, David (6 April 2023). "Wednesday 5 April 2023". TV Tonight . Retrieved 16 April 2023.
    41. ↑ Knox, David (13 April 2023). "Wednesday 12 April 2023". TV Tonight . Retrieved 21 April 2023.
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