Australian Survivor is back again. Credit:Nigel Wright

While the US Survivor has been going strong for 17 years, fronted by its executive producer, Jeff Probst, Australia has had a fractured relationship with the format. Both Nine (2001) and Seven (2006) never got past one season, even with the latter's pulling power in host Dicko and a celebrity cast. But the stars aligned last year for Ten's reboot, hosted by Jonathan LaPaglia. The second season will include a live finale and a reunion special. Seasons three and four are already in the planning stages.

According to Australian Survivor's executive producer, Stephen Tate, the trick is in the location, the casting, and tweaks to the format that make it uniquely Australian. For the second time filmed across the two islands of Samoa, on land owned by local families who provide security to stop locals and tourists from wandering onto the set, the game runs for 55 days, 16 days longer than the US version. Tate insists the players really do rough it, with no toilets or other modern comforts. However, medics and psychologists are always on hand. He says the Australian culture has a significant impact on the nature of the game.

"Australians are genuinely conflicted between mateship and money, which I think is really charming. They find it harder to lie to each other," he says.

The cream of this season's crop is not hard to decipher from the pack of 24 contestants, whittled down from a staggering 21,000 applications, the most attracted by any Network Ten reality show. They are the ones featured on the promos and given nicknames such as "Tarzan" and "Larrikin" early on in the piece. NSW grandfather and lime farmer, Mark H, with his Hoges lexicon peppered with expressions like "duck's nuts", promoting his genuine nature and staying power, is clearly one to watch. It's hinted that Western Australian model Sarah, whom Tate describes as a "student of the game", is way more than a pretty face. Barrel-racing Queensland mum, Tara, is the formidable down-to-earth type, while "loud" and "overconfident" NSW escape room owner, Joan, is likely a villainess. Former SAS commander, Mark W from WA, is the obvious favourite to withstand the conditions.