Survivor host Jonathan ‘THIS IS THE HARDEST ONE YET!'

The Aussie actor reveals how venomous creatures and the harsh outback climate have combined for the toughest season ever

- Laura Masia

When host Jonathan LaPaglia heard that the new series of Australian Survivor would be filmed locally, he was all set to wax up his surfboard – until he found out that, unlike in previous seasons, he wouldn’t be spending two months filming in a tropical location.

This time, Survivor would be trading in sea breezes and palm trees for the red dirt and blistering heat of the Queensland outback.

“When they said they were going to shoot in Australia, I naturally assumed it was going to be coastal – most people did,” Jonathan, 52, tells Woman’s Day. “I thought it would be great that, if I had a minute off, I could catch up on my surfing because I’m such a crap surfer. But no surfboards are required in Cloncurry, that’s for sure.”

Located 770km inland from Townsville, remote Cloncurry’s scorching climate and severe conditions will test castaways and crew more than ever before. But Jonathan is adamant that, with a prize of $100,000 on the line, it’s the perfect location for the next iteration of the show, dubbed Australian Survivor: Brains V Brawn.

“It’s a harsher environment – the temperatures are just so extreme,” shares the Los Angeles-based actor, known for his roles in New York Undercover, Cold Case and Love Child.