Throng

7:30pm - Thursday, July 23 on TV 3

Over the last 17 season Survivor host Jeff Probst has said the fateful words "the tribe has spoken" many times. But as the competition for the Survivor: Tocantins sole Survivor continues, who of the remaining seven castaways will these words be directed at this week? Find out when Survivor: Tocantins screens on Thursday, July 23rd at 7:30pm on 3.

Ever since the series premiered its first season in May 2000, Probst has played referee, cheerleader, negotiator, and peacemaker to more than 200 contestants. But despite these many roles one title the host does not want to be associated with is "Survivor prophet", as he says it's impossible to predict the outcome of any given Survivor series.

Probst recently spoke to Canwest News Service, revealing that over Survivor's 17 season run no one personality type has earned the title of sole Survivor more than two years running.

"At its heart, Survivor is not about personality types," says Probst. "Human nature is unpredictable. It's endlessly fascinating - and it's that unpredictability, I think, that has kept Survivor going as long as it has. I know, speaking for myself, that's what's kept me so involved in the show over the years. Human nature is a constant mystery."

According to the host, Survivor has lasted because of its fundamental recognition of human personalities in conflict. In every season, there has been a sense of good and evil, a dramatic arc that is both simple - who will win? - and complex - why will that person win?

For evidence of this theory, Probst suggests fans look no further than 2004's Survivor: All-Stars, which public-relations officer Amber Mariano won after finishing sixth in Survivor: The Australian Outback three years earlier.

"If you had told me, at the beginning of All-Stars, that Amber would win, I wouldn't have believed you," says Probst.

"Amber was helpless in Australia. She didn't have a clue out there; she was completely at the mercy of the elements. And then she goes out and wins All-Stars. That tells you right there how unpredictable this game is. And it's the reason, frankly, why I think so many people have kept watching us."

But what ever the reasons, one thing is for sure, Survivor will not be disappearing from our screens anytime soon. The series has recently been picked up for another two seasons, one of which will be filmed in New Zealand's neighbouring Samoa.

But until that time make sure not to miss the continuation of Survivor: Tocantins, when the series screens on Thursday, July 23rd at 7:30pm on 3.