While Australian Survivor has always been an individual game, this season it’s all about to change.
WATCH BELOW: First Look At Australian Survivor: Blood V Water
For the first time ever on the series, castaways will be playing with a member of their own family, begging the question, will blood prove to be thicker than water?
Siblings, couples, in-laws, parents and children will all go head-to-head in the highly anticipated new season of Australian Survivor: Blood V Water.
For those of you eager to find out exactly who will be starring in the 2022 season, keep scrolling to see the full list of contestants.
The married couple: Mark Wales and Sam Gash
Battling it out for the title of Sole Survivor will be Australian Survivor Season 2 contender Mark Wales, who will be heading in with his wife Sam Gash.
“Playing Survivor with your spouse is a very dangerous idea. But the good thing is, if one of us wins, we both win,” Mark can be heard saying in the trailer.
Sam and Mark first met and fell in love when they competed on Australian Survivor in 2017, and went on to get married in 2019 and share a son together.
Will their bond stand the pressures of Survivor once more? We’ll just have to wait and see!
The in-laws: Michael Crocker and Chrissy Zaremba
NRL Legend Michael Crocker and his sister-in-law Chrissy Zaremba will also be entering the game together.
For 13 years Michael was an NRL player, before he retired with the Rabbitohs in 2013. He’ll need to dust off his kicks to play this new game that’s set to be an all-new challenge.
While Chrissy may not have a lot of Survivor knowledge, she is playing with Croc to keep his dream of being part of the game alive.
Croc’s strengths in the game will be his observation skills, as well as his brute physical strength. He will build genuine relationships and ascertain what makes people tick, how they behave and then make big moves when the time is right to eliminate his biggest threats.
Although she may not be a superfan, Chrissy is confident and competitive and wants to prove to her kids that she can do anything and to inspire them to do the same in their lives.
The mum and daughter duo: Sandra Diaz and Nina Twine
She’s been hailed the Queen of Survivor US, and Sandra Diaz will be joined by her daughter Nina Twine for the Australian version.
Sandra is a two-time champion of the American series and has competed four times since her debut in 2003 – so we can expect her to give the other castaways a good challenge.
As for her daughter Nina, well Sandra made it pretty clear in a recent trailer that she has full confidence in her.
“I have a secret weapon – my baby girl Nina. Ya’ll better look out, because I taught her well,” Sandra said in the short teaser.
The in-laws: Alex Frost and Jay Bruno
Alex and Jay met after Jay started dating Alex’s sister, former Home and Away star Sam Frost. Now the pair will put their own relationship through a very unique test. A super fan of the game, Alex wants to fly under the radar secretly making moves, while Jay is relaxed but also determined and competitive.
Jay said: “Our strategy is not to blend in but to go with the flow because you don’t know what’s going to happen, you don’t know who’s there and who you’re in with.”
While Sam Frost and Jay are no longer an item, he says that he’s “definitely” still mates with Alex.
The siblings: Amy and Khanh Ong
Victoria Amy and Khanh are set to put their closeness under a microscope.
Charming and disarming, Amy is ready to make a name for herself after living in her older brother’s shadow, while Khanh has a burning desire to win the title of Sole Survivor. And don’t be fooled, he’s willing to do whatever it takes, even if it means he must lie, cheat and steal to get there.
The partners: Ben Watson and Shayelle Lajoie
Partners Ben and Shayelle realise the value of having each other on their Survivor journeys, especially when the going gets tough.
Shay says: “Having him there will be priceless in terms of support. I struggle to not get caught up in my emotions sometimes, so I have to force myself to think my way out it.”
Standing at 6’4”, Ben is a standout in the crowd kind of guy and has a drive to win. He hopes to be a player who is a beast at challenges but also someone the tribe trusts.
The father-daughter duo: David and Briana Goodchild
Briana is competing for the title of Sole Survivor alongside her father, David. Briana says her dad is the skull crusher – the guy who is going to lay down the law while she is the entertainer and social butterfly.
As a Project Manager at a construction firm, David knows himself to be very strategic. He believes in getting the lay of the land, being flexible and making tough ruthless calls when need be. Survivor is Briana’s dream, but one David is more than happy to follow.
The brothers: Jesse and Jordie Hansen
Jesse has a tight bond with his older brother, Jordie who is playing alongside him and although the two claim to be polar opposites of each other, they are dedicated to becoming the perfect team.
As a landscaper by trade, Jordie is used to digging holes and getting himself out of them. And despite the ease of which he makes friends, Jordie knows Survivor is about more than just being mates and is about understanding people
on a deeper level.
Jesse enjoys anything that will challenge him, and he will push through any physical or mental boundaries to get there.
As a professional triathlete in training, Jesse is used to intense endurance, and he even finds comfort in pain. Although he has a cheeky disposition, he does not take failure lightly.
The cousins: Jordan Schmitt and Josh Millgate
Jordan is playing with his cousin Josh and between the two, Jordan is the one who will be diving in headfirst.
Although they are cousins, Jordan and Josh say their relationship is closer than most brothers.
Jordan’s ready to push himself both physically and mentally as far as he can when he hits the mat, to see what he is truly made of. Josh, on the other hand, considers himself a Survivor armchair expert and is excited to see if he can execute the physical, social, and strategic gameplay in real life.
The sisters: KJ Austin and Sophie Cachia
As a Survivor super-fan, Kate (KJ) comes armed with the knowledge she has taken on after meticulously watching past seasons, and is excited to play with her younger sister, Sophie.
Two very different people, KJ is hoping to use some of Sophie’s traits to help her in the game as Sophie is a driven businesswoman who doesn’t take no for an answer.
Sophie’s also hoping to use some of KJ’s Survivor super knowledge to help her gain her footing. “I know how well prepared KJ is so I’ll be going to her for advice, strategy, gameplay, what I would do in a certain situation.”
The identical twins: Mel and Michelle Chiang
Mel is playing with identical twin sister Michelle, who she shares a “twin connection” with.
They’re able to know what each other are thinking and can even feel each other’s pain. Mel is a Survivor super-fan, who wears her heart on her sleeve but is a keen strategist and loves the psychology behind the game.
As a social butterfly, Mel makes friends easily and is planning to make alliances a key part of her game plan. Michelle has built a career on communication and prides herself on catching people out in their lies. As a speech pathologist, she is confident her innate understanding of human behaviour will push her to find out what is driving her fellow tribemates.
The siblings: Andy Meldrum and Kate Tatham
After Kate pushed Andy to apply for Australian Survivor: Champions V Contenders, this is Andy’s shot at redemption. But, Kateis hoping to make her own mark on the game. Planning to use his skills as a professional poker player to read people, Andy’s also ready to try and play a more honest, fun, and good-natured game this time around. Caring and selfless, Kate is used to doing everything for her family but is now taking a chance on herself, determined to make her first time playing the game count
Australian Survivor: Blood V Water begins Monday, 31 January at 7.30 pm On 10 And 10 Play On Demand.
For more Survivor content check out the links below!
Here’s when Australian Survivor is returning in 2022
US Survivor’s Sandra Diaz-Twine says daughter Nina is her ‘secret weapon’ for Blood V Water
One wedding and a baby later! How Mark Wales and Sam Gash found true love on Survivor
Everything we know about Jonathan LaPaglia’s wife Ursula Brooks
Jonathan LaPaglia ditched his career as an ER doctor to follow brother Anthony into acting
From fiery antics to family man: How Michael Crocker’s fiancée changed his life for the better
“It’s an awkward conversation”: Inside Khanh Ong’s refugee journey
‘Ones to watch’: Jonathan LaPaglia dishes on Survivor: Blood V Water contestants
Awkward! Sam Frost’s brother Alex joins forces with her ex Jay Bruno on Survivor
Why Sophie Cachia left her ‘perfect life’ to explore her attraction to women
