Australian Survivor stars reveal if the gruelling reality show is actually FAKE

Australian Survivor stars reveal if the gruelling reality show is actually FAKE – amid rumours they don’t really rough it in the wilderness

With this year’s season of Australian Survivor: Brains vs Brawn under way, former stars of the hit reality show have revealed how much of it is actually real.

According New Idea on Thursday, most of what is shown on screen actually happens.

Host Jonathan LaPaglia revealed the contestants are all forced to sleep outside, where they’re subjected to the elements.

Reality bites: With this year’s season of Australian Survivor: Brains vs Brawn under way, former stars of the show have revealed how much of it is actually real. Pictured: Jonathan LaPaglia

In a 2019 interview with TV Week, Jonathan said that while he’d return to his hotel in Fiji after a long day of filming, the contestants would all go back to their camp.

The 51-year-old added that there was often bad weather, which had a tendency to hit hardest in the middle of the night. 

‘I mean, I get woken up in my hotel room and I’d hear all the noise, and I’d think, “Those poor guys are out there!”‘ he said.

Get real: According to New Idea on Thursday, most of what is seen on screen actually happens

Get real: According to New Idea on Thursday, most of what is seen on screen actually happens

‘There were a lot of late nights for those guys, and it was pretty intense at times.’ 

Meanwhile, former Survivor star Rohan MacLaren told news.com.au that once you arrive in the jungle, you’re cut off from the rest of the world.

He revealed that he and the other contestants in his series were escorted from the airport to the island where filming took place ‘in vans with blacked-out windows’.

The great outdoors: Host Jonathan LaPaglia revealed that the contestants are all forced to sleep outside, where they're subjected to the elements

The great outdoors: Host Jonathan LaPaglia revealed that the contestants are all forced to sleep outside, where they’re subjected to the elements

‘It felt like I’d been abducted for the first five minutes, it was just missing the bag over my head,’ he confessed. 

‘Then it got quite serene. It was a nice time to sit and think. I prefer the blacked-out van. You really feel like you’re in the wild.’ 

The show’s contestants are also forced to live off rations, with former participant Monika Radulovic revealing what they ate.

Limited options: Steve 'The Commando' Willis told NW that each contestant was only allowed the clothes on their back plus five other items

Limited options: Steve ‘The Commando’ Willis told NW that each contestant was only allowed the clothes on their back plus five other items

In an interview with Now To Love, Monika revealed they’d be given ‘a small portion of rice and kidney beans’ each day, in addition to whatever they could forage.

‘After a while, the beans and rice especially with some toasted coconut on top of it tastes good. We just didn’t have enough to satisfy us; we had a cup per meal,’ she said.

Fellow ex-contestant Sharn Coombes told TV Week she was ‘shocked’ by her weight loss on the show. 

Life of luxury: In a 2019 interview with TV Week, Jonathan, 51, revealed that while he'd return to his hotel in Fiji after a long day of filming, the contestants would all go back to their camp

Life of luxury: In a 2019 interview with TV Week, Jonathan, 51, revealed that while he’d return to his hotel in Fiji after a long day of filming, the contestants would all go back to their camp

‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen myself that thin ever. I was also amazed at the muscles underneath there!’ she admitted. 

Meanwhile, Steve ‘The Commando’ Willis told NW that each contestant was only allowed the clothes on their back plus five other items.

‘You couldn’t take a pocket knife or a torch or a book or a pillow or any comfort items. You had your clothing items, and a little bag to carry your stuff in, and a water bottle,’ he said.

Shocked: Ex-contestant Sharn Coombes said she was 'shocked' by her weight loss on the show

Shocked: Ex-contestant Sharn Coombes said she was ‘shocked’ by her weight loss on the show

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