“Million Dollar Island” has kicked off with a bang! This new groundbreaking reality competition series has quickly taken the television world by storm. It introduces 100 everyday Aussies to a remote island location, where they battle it out for a share of a whopping million-dollar prize.
Hosted by former “SAS Australia” star Ant Middleton, the contestants undergo a series of challenges, form alliances, and manoeuvre their way through the game while wearing bracelets worth $10,000 each.
While the gist of the show might sound straightforward, there are a lot of behind-the-scenes details that might surprise you. Below, we’ve compiled some interesting facts that went down during filming.
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Want more Million Dollar Island goss? Check out the stories below.
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Contestants had to build their own shelters and organise their meals by foraging on the island and utilising the limited supplies provided at the beginning of the series, putting their resilience to the test.
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When it comes to bathroom breaks, forget about the convenience of flushing or portable toilets. The residents of each camp had to share good ol’ pit latrines (AKA a pit toilet). Yep, you guessed it. Contestants had to dig a hole, and that was their toilet.
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Living off the land came with its own set of challenges, and the players had to become well-versed in nature’s edible offerings.
They faced a crash course in survival skills, from identifying which plants were safe to consume to learning about the marine life that should be avoided.
Oh, and did we mention their encounters with venomous snakes, macaques, and wild boars?
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The cast had a dedicated team of international paramedics, local doctors, and first-aiders who stood by 24/7 to ensure their well-being throughout this arduous journey.
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Upon arrival, they were only allowed to bring a maximum of 10 kilos of luggage, forcing them to prioritise essentials.
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Over the course of the series, the players engaged in 25 challenges, including 15 arena challenges and 10 survival challenges, testing their physical and mental prowess.
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The contestants split themselves into four camps named Log, Rock, Top, and Vine. This formed the basis for their alliances and strategies.
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As if the intense competition wasn’t enough, Mother Nature added her own twist to the mix. The contestants braved scorching temperatures ranging from 25 to 38 degrees, all while grappling with humidity levels ranging from 70 to 90 per cent.
To protect themselves from these intense temperatures, the players went through a staggering 445 bottles of sunscreen.
