Alone Australia

Last updated

Alone Australia
Genre Reality
Survival
Based on Alone USA
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes23
Production
Production locations Southwest Tasmania (Season 1)
South Island, New Zealand (Season 2)
Running time60 minutes (including ads)
Original release
Network SBS
Release29 March 2023 (2023-03-29) –
present
Related
Alone

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] however lost to The Australian Wars . [8]

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. [9] 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. [10]

Episodes

Season overview

List of Alone Australia seasons
SeriesLocationEpisodesFirst AiredLast AiredResults
WinnerRunner upDays Lasted
1Southwest Tasmania, Australia1129 March 202325 May 2023Gina ChickMike Atkinson67
2South Island, New Zealand1027 March 202429 May 2024Krzysztof WojtkowskiSuzan Muir64

Season 1 (2023)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleOriginal air dateAus. viewers
11"Episode 1"29 March 2023 (2023-03-29)212,000 [lower-alpha 1] [11]
22"Episode 2"29 March 2023 (2023-03-29)212,000 [lower-alpha 1] [11]
33"Episode 3"5 April 2023 (2023-04-05)193,000 [12]
44"Episode 4"12 April 2023 (2023-04-12)N/A
55"Episode 5"19 April 2023 (2023-04-19)233,000 [13]
66"Episode 6"26 April 2023 (2023-04-26)231,000 [14]
77"Episode 7"3 May 2023 (2023-05-03)230,000 [15]
88"Episode 8"10 May 2023 (2023-05-10)229,000 [16]
99"Episode 9"17 May 2023 (2023-05-17)203,000 [17]
1010"Episode 10"24 May 2023 (2023-05-24)245,000 [lower-alpha 2] [18]
1111"Episode 11"24 May 2023 (2023-05-24)245,000 [lower-alpha 2] [18]
1212"Alone, The Reunion"25 May 2023 (2023-05-25) [lower-alpha 3] 123,000 [19]
Hosted by Amanda Keller, the ten contestants meet to discuss their Alone experience.

Season 2 (2024)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleOriginal air dateAus. viewers
131"Episode 1"27 March 2024 (2024-03-27)262,000 [20]
142"Episode 2"3 April 2024 (2024-04-03)287,000 [21]
153"Episode 3"10 April 2024 (2024-04-10)314,000 [22]
164"Episode 4"17 April 2024 (2024-04-17)305,000 [23]
175"Episode 5"24 April 2024 (2024-04-24)253,000 [24]
186"Episode 6"1 May 2024 (2024-05-01)264,000 [25]
197"Episode 7"8 May 2024 (2024-05-08)298,000 [26]
208"Episode 8"15 May 2024 (2024-05-15)304,000 [27]
219"Episode 9"22 May 2024 (2024-05-22)276,000 [28]
2210"Episode 10"29 May 2024 (2024-05-29)345,000 [29]
2311"Reunion"29 May 2024 (2024-05-29)214,000 [29]
Hosted by Hamish Blake, 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

Season 1 Contestants

Name [30] AgeStateOccupationStatusReason for Elimination
Gina52NSWRewilding FacilitatorWinner - 67 daysWinner
Mike45NSWSolo Adventurist64 days (medically evacuated)Low blood pressure and malnutrition
Michael43NSWVet and Bush Regenerator30 daysMissed family
Kate41ACTWildlife Biologist22 daysMissed family
Chris39TASArmy Veteran12 daysWanted to leave on a high after experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder
Duane35NSWWildlife and Environmental Officer10 daysStruggled with isolation
Peter31NSWHunting Guide3 daysStruggled to find food; fell and injured knee
Jimmy22SAFarmhand and Engineering Student2 days (medically evacuated)Developed COVID-19, which caused his heart to beat at twice the usual rate
Beck42VICSchool Teacher2 daysMissed family; could not start a fire due to wet materials
Rob41VICPlanning and Environmental Manager2 daysMissed family

Season 2 Contestants

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

Name [31] AgeStateOccupationStatusReason for Elimination
Krzysztof39VICAquaculturalistWinner - 64 daysWinner
Suzan54VICWilderness Adventure Guide63 daysHomesick
Andreas42NSWPersonal Trainer and Subsistence Hunter57 daysLost 30% body weight, not willing to risk health and sanity
Tamika51QLDOff-Gridder and Former Police Officer53 daysDid not want to kill animals for food
Rick58QLDSurvival Educator and Former SAS Soldier38 daysMissed family
Jack55NSWTradesman and Wild Game Hunter16 daysLack of food
Chace27QLDDefence Force Combat Engineer10 daysMissed family, wife pregnant
Jason36NSWYouth Worker and Jungai8 daysMental health concerns, lack of food
Leanne41VICWorld Heritage Aboriginal Programs Officer4 daysMissed family
Mike60NSWResilience Coach2 days (medically evacuated)Chest pain

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". [32] 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." [33]

American conservative cultural podcaster Matt Walsh called the show "Unintentionally the funniest thing on TV right now. It’s basically "Alone: DEI Edition." He compared the show unfavorably to the American original, saying, "The American version features gritty, skilled survivalists. The Australian version was more worried about checking diversity boxes so the contestants are totally clueless, incompetent, and just crying through the whole thing." [34] [35]

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. [36] The third episode averaged 195,000 viewers overnight, and reached 791,000 in total numbers. [37] The fourth episode averaged 205,000 viewers overnight, and reached 826,000 in total numbers. [38]

See also

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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. ↑ Xavier, Elise (10 July 2015). "History's "Alone" Survival Gear Lists - Season 1 (Known Rules Included)". More Than Just Surviving. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  10. ↑ "History Channel Looks for "Alone" Contestants Season 2 - LiveOutdoors". LiveOutdoors. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  11. 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.
  12. ↑ 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.
  13. ↑ 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.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ 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.
  16. ↑ 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.
  17. ↑ 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.
  18. 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.
  19. ↑ 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.
  20. ↑ 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.
  21. ↑ Knox, David (4 April 2024). "Home & Away tops entertainment, ABC scores with 7:30 on Wednesday". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  22. ↑ Knox, David (11 April 2024). "Battle for entertainment eyeballs on Wednesday". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  23. ↑ Knox, David (18 April 2024). "Front Bar gamble paying off for Seven". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  24. ↑ Knox, David (25 April 2024). "Wednesday 24 April 2024". TV Tonight . Archived from the original on 25 April 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  25. ↑ Knox, David (2 May 2024). "Home & Away tops entertainment on Wednesday". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  26. ↑ Knox, David (9 May 2024). "Wednesday 8 May 2024". TV Tonight . Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  27. ↑ Knox, David (16 May 2024). "Gruen digs into Hubbl, Home & Away tops entertainment". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  28. ↑ Knox, David (23 May 2024). "Home & Away, 1% Club UK give Seven easy Wednesday win". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  29. 1 2 Knox, David (30 May 2024). "1% Club UK and Gruen draw in Wednesday viewers". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  30. ↑ Knox, David (14 February 2023). "Alone Australia: meet the cast". TV Tonight. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  31. ↑ "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.
  32. ↑ Knox, David (26 March 2023). "Alone Australia review". TV Tonight . Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  33. ↑ Ma, Wenlei (31 March 2023). "Alone Australia captures humans at their absolute limit". News.com.au . Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  34. ↑ Williams, Steve, "Anti-woke American Matt Walsh unleashes at Alone Australia with blistering review: 'Utterly embarrassing'", Daily Mail , 6 May 2024
  35. ↑ Foster, Ally, "American podcaster brands Australia ‘lamest country on earth’ in bizarre rant", News.com.au , May 17, 2024
  36. ↑ Knox, David (6 April 2023). "Alone Australia becomes biggest show of the year for SBS". TV Tonight . Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  37. ↑ Knox, David (6 April 2023). "Wednesday 5 April 2023". TV Tonight . Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  38. ↑ Knox, David (13 April 2023). "Wednesday 12 April 2023". TV Tonight . Retrieved 21 April 2023.
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