BIGGER game play, bigger challengers, and bigger personalities - that’s the mantra of the next series of Australian Survivor.

Newscorp has exclusive access to the first 15 minutes of the first episode of Australian Survivor, which will premiere across Australia at 7.30pm Sunday night.

The first challenge sees the 24 contestants on a barge, and then thrown into the elements straight away.

We can reveal some more exclusive details about this year’s series:

A SUPER Idol will be in play, but exactly what it will mean is a tightly kept secret.

ONE jury villa member is sent home, with a controversy erupting.

THERE are two tribes instead of three.

WILD weather caused serious havoc with the contestants, including one particular day where they were expecting a tsunami warning.

MANY more blindsides compared to last year; nothing will be certain.

A MORAL dilemma will change the course of the game.

A POTENTIAL romance between two of the tribe mates.

Australian Survivor is all finished filming up to the final two - which will be seen later in the year in a live final, tipped to be from Sydney.

Host Jonathan LaPaglia will return to Australia for the live finale, and the reunion special.