Survivor U.K. (2023)

Survivor U.K. (2023) is the first season of the BBC incarnation of the British reality show, , and the third season overall.
The season's early gameplay was largely driven by physical strength, with weaker players being largely targeted. Following a mock vote and a tribe switch, the strategic game went into full force, with Ren Elvidge and Shai Ravindra being caught for their deception. At the merge, Ashleigh Bishop and Christopher Haul flipped on Lee Reeves, who outed them as a 'power couple'. Ashleigh was voted out shortly after, leaving Christopher as a clear target. However, the former Caletón members capitalised on the opportunity to form a majority and blindsided Doug Swinbanks. However, in a shock reversal of fortune, the former La Nena members then convinced Matthew Haywood to flip on his alliance, and strategic and physical force Tinuke Oyediran was blindsided. After her ally Nathan Dyke found a Hidden Immunity Idol and Christopher won immunity, Laurence Cardwell then became collateral damage, before Nathan, Pegleg Bennett and Hannah Baptiste were all voted out in quick succession for being jury threats before the Final Tribal Council.
After 34 days in the Dominican Republic, Matthew Haywood defeated Leilani Sen and Christopher Haul in a 6-1-1 jury vote to become the Sole Survivor.
==Production==
This season is the second iteration of Survivor to air in the United Kingdom. Survivor (U.K.) first aired on ITV in 2001 as Survivor (U.K.): Pulau Tiga but received poor ratings and comparatively less media attention than the Channel 4 reality TV show Big Brother, which first aired in July 2000. A second season, Survivor (U.K.): Panama, was commissioned, and multiple changes were implemented to increase viewership, including audience voting and a reduced cast, but ratings didn't increase and the show was cancelled following the airing of Panama.
Since 2017, there were rumours that the BBC was planning a new iteration of Survivor (U.K.), with a source telling The Sun in April 2022 that the BBC would revive the series. On September 5, 2022, the BBC confirmed that a new season would be produced for them, featuring 18 castaways divided into two tribes competing throughout 16 hour-long episodes to win £100,000—equivalent to roughly US$120,000. The season was filmed in Playa Caletón, in the Dominican Republic, and was hosted by comedian Joel Dommett.
==Twists/Changes==
* Tribe Divisions: The 18 castaways are divided into 2 tribes of 9. No unifying theme was used in dividing the tribes.
* Hidden Immunity Idol: A Hidden Immunity Idol is hidden at each of the tribes' camps.
* The Outpost: On Day 6, each tribe had to choose one person to visit the Outpost. There, the person had to choose one of three options to take back to their camp—a large fish; a small fish with a clue to the location of the Hidden Immunity Idol, which they had to reveal to another tribemate of their choice; or a baked potato with a Hidden Immunity Idol clue, which they could keep for themselves.
* Tribe Switch
**Mock Vote: At the Day 10 Tribal Council, instead of voting someone out of the game, the tribe was instructed to vote for a member to join the rival tribe.
**Summit: On Day 14, each tribe had to choose three people to attend a summit. There, each group of three had 5 minutes to pick two of themselves to switch to the other tribe.
*Caged Idol: On Day 27, a locked lobster cage containing a Hidden Immunity Idol was placed in camp. The castaways had to find a key to unlock the cage, with a clue to its location atop the cage.
*Extra Vote: A castaway would get the right to vote twice at the same Tribal Council. This item, then referred to as an unknown advantage, was awarded to the highest bidder at the Survivor Auction.
*Final Three: For the first time in Survivor (U.K.), the Final Tribal Council featured three finalists.
*Increased Jury: For the first time, the jury comprised eight members, one more than in previous seasons.
==Castaways==
Contestant	Contestant 	Tribe Affiliation	Tribe Affiliation 	Tribe Affiliation 	Tribe Affiliation	Finish	VotesAgainst
Contestant	Contestant 	OriginalTribe 	FirstSwitchedTribe	SecondSwitchedTribe	Merged Tribe 	Finish	VotesAgainst
 	Richard Kinnear McKell36, Dalkeith, MidlothianPensions Manager/RAF Reservist	 	rowspan="3" 	rowspan="4" 	rowspan="7" 	 	7
 	Sabrina Pace-Humphreys45, Stroud, GloucestershireCharity Founder 	 	 	5 	 	 	
 	Rach Carstairs23, Glasgow, ScotlandPersonal Trainer 	 	 	7 	 	 	
 	Rachel Golding40, Whitstable, KentInsurance Claims Handler 	colspan="2" 	 	5 	 	 	
 	Ren Elvidge28, London, EnglandNetwork Data Scientist 	colspan="3" 	 	5 	 	 	
 	Jess Woburn38, London, EnglandFitting Model 	colspan="3" 	 	4 	 	 	
 	Shai Ravindra33, London, EnglandFinance Risk Manager 	colspan="3" 	 	4 	 	 	
 	Lee Reeves28, Belfast, Northern IrelandProfessional Boxer 	colspan="3" 	rowspan="11" 	 	7 	 	
 	Ashleigh Bishop34, London, EnglandBrand Strategist 	colspan="3" 	 	15 	 	 	
 	Doug Swinbanks32, Isle of Mull, Argyll and ButeFlood Risk Consultant 	colspan="2" 	 	 	7 	 	
 	Tinuke Oyediran30, London, EnglandProfessional Roller Skater 	colspan="2" 	 	 	4 	 	
 	Laurence Cardwell29, London, EnglandEntrepreneur 	colspan="3" 	 	7 	 	 	
 	Nathan Dyke35, Manchester, EnglandFitness Instructor/Operations Manager 	colspan="3" 	 	8 	 	 	
 	Pegleg Bennett54, St Agnes, CornwallSurf School Owner 	colspan="2" 	 	 	6 	 	
 	Hannah Baptiste30, London, EnglandSemi-Professional Footballer 	colspan="3" 	 	4 	 	 	
 	Christopher Haul36, Bridgend, WalesSinger/Songwriter 	colspan="3" 	Runners-Up 	12 	 	 	
 	Leilani Sen45, Hertford, HertfordshireBarista/Cleaner 	 	Runners-Up 	colspan="2" 	5 	 	
 	Matthew Haywood21, Cumbria, EnglandHospitality Worker 	colspan="2" 	 	Sole Survivor 	1 	 	
==Season Summary==
In the beginning, 18 contestants were divided into two tribes: Caletón and La Nena. Though La Nena fared slightly stronger in challenges, both tribes kept an even number of members during the early phase of the game. Both tribes decisions on voting tended to boil down challenge strength in the early stages of the game. On Day 10, Leilani was voted out of Caletón but instead of being eliminated, she was sent to La Nena – the series' first tribe switch.
Shortly after, there was a second tribe switch in which two members from each tribe changed. As a result of this switch, Caletón started to lose frequently. However, Doug and Pegleg, who were new to the tribe, managed to survive the votes by forming strong relationships with the original Caletón members.
On Day 19, the two tribes merged into Calena. Despite planning an alliance, the original La Nena members proved to be too dysfunctional to work together, causing multiple schemes that resulted in the elimination of original La Nena member Lee. Consensus targets Ashleigh and Doug were then targeted and voted out – both of whom originated from La Nena, giving original Caletón the lead in numbers. Sensing trouble, outsider Christopher planned with ex-Caletón member Matthew to flip on his alliance by telling him he was at the bottom of it and that Tinuke was running it. The plan worked and the flip initiated a streak of Caletón members being eliminated.
The final 6 of the series was divided into three tight duos: Christopher and Matthew, Nathan and Leilani, and Hannah and Pegleg. Each duo was fighting for the votes of another to gain a majority, resulting in Hannah and Pegleg being the swing vote. Ultimately, they chose to vote out Nathan alongside Christopher and Matthew. Christopher and Matthew then used this as leverage to recruit Leilani into their alliance and voting out Pegleg and Hannah as revenge at the final 4 and 5 respectively, making them the final 3 contestants. During the Final Tribal Council, the jury mostly discarded Leilani's gameplay, considering it incompetent. Christopher received mixed reactions from them for his frantic gameplay and shaky relationships but was praised for his challenge ability. On the other hand, Matthew's well-timed gameplay decisions and strategic use of his young age to be underestimated was applauded by the jury, which led them to award him the win in a 6–1–1 jury vote.
==Voting History==
==Trivia==
* This is the first season of Survivor (U.K.) to feature 18 players.
* This is the first season of Survivor (U.K.) to air on the .
* This is the first season of Survivor (U.K.) to feature Hidden Immunity Idols.
* This is the first season of Survivor (U.K.) to feature a mock vote.
* This is the first season of Survivor (U.K.) to feature a tribe switch.
==References==
Category:Survivor (U.K.)
Category:Survivor (U.K.) Seasons
Category:Survivor U.K. (2023)
Category:Seasons