Castaway | TV Highlights
Castaway on Great Barrier Island
Castaway Tuesday 12 June, 9.30pm
Seven years on from the original, ‘Castaway’ returns with a new shape and new twists but the same underlying intentions: take a group of people as far away from their current lives as possible – geographically, psychologically, and emotionally – to explore what’s really important to them and discover how they shape their community (tonight at 9.30pm on TV ONE). The series is presented by Danny Wallace and filmed on New Zealand's Great Barrier Island.
The people who have been chosen to be castaways reflect many aspects of British life: there is a variety of ages, backgrounds, skills and personalities. But they all have something to offer and strong reasons for wanting to be a castaway. The castaways will spend three months in a remote area of Great Barrier Island, cut off from the world and forced to fend for themselves. The setting is sandy beaches surrounded by the deep blue ocean, green hills and winding streams - the castaways arrived at the end of summer, with the sun shining for 13 hours a day, and temperatures ranging from 15 to 27 degrees Celsius. They also arrived not knowing where or how far away from civilisation they are.
Peter Fincham, a controller at BBC ONE, says he was excited to see 'Castaway' return: "'Castaway' was the original reality show and the genre has evolved enormously since then. The new series will be reflecting this evolution. However, the original purpose, to see how people react once they are taken far away from all that they take for granted remains the same and I will be fascinated to see how our castaways get on."
During this unique experience they will explore the best ways to live in close quarters with people that they may not initially seem to have much in common with, draw on personal skills - or discover new ones - to develop the infrastructure of their isolated location and, in the process, discover more about themselves as individuals. The castaways range in age from 19 to 64 years old and receive no money for taking part in the show.
BBC Commissioning Editor Elaine Bedell says there is a great mix of personalities and backgrounds from around the UK. "They each have their own reason for wanting to undertake this unique experience and we hope that they will all achieve some personal goal or discovery along the way. It's a chance for us all to reflect on what is important to us once the daily commute, the school run and our hectic modern schedule are stripped away."
'Castaway' tonight sees the initial group of 13 castaways arrive on the island.
The 13 castaways are:
* Joe Chicken, 33, an occupational therapist from Kent.
* Alister Cooling (known as Al), 24, an unemployed writer from Leeds.
* Clare Hilley, 22, a student pilot from Surrey.
* Erica Hurst, 22, a lap dancer from Bolton.
* Alasdair Humberston, 19, a psychology student and director of his own web design company, from Northamptonshire.
* Lucinda King, 27, an event project manager originally from Hampshire, now lives in London.
* Hassan Kobeissi, 24, a labourer from Suffolk.
* Wendie Mitchell, 42, a carer and counselling student from London.
* Kenneth Rose, 64, a photographer from Essex.
* Jason Ross, 37, currently unemployed and from Kent.
* Jonathan Shearer, 41, a walks and education officer from Scotland.
* Francie Smee, 56, an administrator from Oxford.
* Gemma Zinyama, 22, a sales executive from Essex.
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Rikki
I like Jon, and Francie and Joe (the coffee guy) and Wendie and Ken - mostly the 'older' ones, guess I can relate to them more.
Didn't mind that Hassan went, and expected that the other one would be Gemma, even if she was funny.
But loved seeing people actually caring about Jon and him caring about himself too -and someone else!
Had me all smiles just like they both were.
Love the romantic bit - who'd have thought that would have happened, what an unlikely couple! I would have been like Francie.
Would love to know if anything comes of it off the island! Maybe Al can tell us, even if he doesn't care!
Not impressed with people going through Jon's things - almost as bad as Lucinda stealing.
Scap
This show is so stupid, yet I cant seem to stop watching it lol.
I really hate Jon, he's just attention seeker. He was kinda funny at first but now i just want to drown him.
Francie is to nice. I really hope she goes psycho. That would be so awesome..if she like had a bitch fight with one of the younger girls. That would make for great tv.
My favourite would have to be that guy who had the coffee.
Oh and I see Big Al has written on here..Hi Big Al.
Its like extremely obvious that you lost a tone of weight while you were on the island...how much did you lose exactly, if you dont mind me asking..it looks like a hell of a lot.
Rikki
Really had to laugh last night - with the stand-off with Jon and Al.
Also Al saying what he thought of Jon. Well guess that answers my query about Jon not being a friend.
Generation gap showing here as it generally does on Survivors!
I would have been very happy with the 'older' castaways on their holiday! Would have enjoyed the company of them all. Guess that shows what generation I belong to.
I would also want to be there defending Jon's little house from being demolished! Viewers decision it said!
He's happier there and so are most other people I'd think. Well, makes for more interesting viewing with expected conflicts with him back in the main hut I guess.
But hey Al, know you're all individuals working hard to get on, not always easy I'm sure!
Do agree with your feelings about Lucinda. No-one should be stealing anyway, and in a situation like this you need to be able to feel you can trust each other. Most certianly everyone else should not have been punished for her wrong doings.
Rikki
Hi Al, Nice to hear from you again.
Yes it does seem odd, you chatting here - and not being on the island! You don't know us of course, but those of us who watch the show feel that we know all of you so well - don't really know the 'real' people of course, we only what we're shown and perceive ourselves!
Really glad to hear that you're still friends with so many! That's what I remember you wanted - to make and keep friends from there!
Often in these shows, everyone goes away back to their own lives and is only too happy to get away from everyone!
Sounds like one big happy family almost - I'd like to think!
And a new baby to be added - he/she will have heaps of uncles and aunties by the sounds of it!
So you see Clare often! Someone you probably wouldn't even have associated with if it wasn't for this expereince. What do you mean about watching you and your friends (and Jon)? Noted the 'and Jon', not a friend I take it.
Must say, my particular favourite character is Jonathan. He helped to make the show as much fun to watch as it is! Maybe better to watch than to live with though I've always thought!
Must have been very difficult getting back to the real world afterwards!
So how many more weeks do we have now?
Alister Cooling
Hi Rikki,
Yeah the experience is well and truly over indeed, in some respects, but in others it's still happening. This is kind of odd speaking to someone who is watching me and my friends(and Jon) on TV now.
I am still good friends with most of the C'aways, particularly Clare. I see her weekly, at least.
Everyone else is doing fine, and I can give you a bit of goss - Erica is now 6/7 weeks pregnant, how brilliant is that.
Jo, yeah not much to say on him. Cat on the other hand, she surprised me. I, obviously, didn't take to her immediately. She arrived at the exact time Clare left, but she had such a bizarre entrance and she was a pleasant woman that it's all good.
When the show finishes, i'll let you know actually what happened(but I won't spoil it for you now!!!).
Thanks
Al
Rikki
Hi Al!
Great to hear from you here!
Guess the experience must be all over for you now then!
We're still seeing it- with the new girl arriving last week, and Joe going all soppy over her - good on him, nice guy I've always thought!
I'm sure we don't see things as they are! That producers edit to show just what they want us to see!
Will have to get back to you!
Alister Cooling(Big Al)
Hi there, i'm just reading your page and the comments from Rikki and it takes me back.
I should point out, I'm Big Al.
I had never been out side the UK before and my first trip was this one. I having nothing but love for NZ and the people I met. It really is a wonderful place.
The show was amazing to do at times difficult(I won't mention any names of who made it difficult but I tell you what, don't believe everything you see!!!).
It was one of the most amazing things I've ever done, in one of the most amazing settings, and if I had my chance again, there is not a thing I would change.
please feel free to contact me on retsilagnilooc@yahoo.co.uk I am always interested in telling people what actually happened;)
Thanks
Big Al
Rikki
Felt really sorry for Jonathan when he was thrown out of the hut last week. Acually sort of like him though he must be annoying too. No more annoying than some of those females though!
Now they're in one hut, Jonathan is laughing in his private little house that he's fixed up. Good on him!
Could understand the other 2 guys who moved out too. Think I'd have been one of them who wanted to get out for a quiet private little place.
Certainly getting more and more difficult to live with each other now.
Still enjoy watching though!
Rikki
Thoroughly enjoy watching this every week! Real characters, seeing how they're getting on - or NOT!
Love watching their interactions and the developments and the commentator who adds to making it so funny.
Rikki
Watched this to see what it was like, expecting to be bored by watching people try to survive - like the last one on a Scottish Island was.
Found it really good and entertaining, laughted through a lot of it!
New people introduced well, so we identified with them easily. Situations talked about and shown in a very humorous way.
So funny watching the sea urchin cut in half and walking across the table still, and none of them knowing what to do with it. Then someone suggested drowning it to kill it!
Very good mix of people - wondered where on earth some of them were found to be in this! Real characters that go to make a very entertaining show - must be very difficut to actually live with some of them though! Good to be able to just watch instead and laugh!