SAM & MARK ‘Our marriage is stronger than ever'

Returning to reality TV wasn’t an easy decision for this power couple

- Wade Sellers

Samantha Gash and Mark Wales thought Australian Survivor was behind them. Having fallen in love during the 2017 season of the reality TV series, they had moved on with their lives by getting married and having a son, Harry, now three. Life was good!

“We’ve been pretty much by each other’s side since we met,” says Sam. “We’re a partnership in everything. We both run our own businesses and pursue independent goals, but we have the backing of each other to do it. We have a foundation of family and love and connection.”

Adds Mark, “Our values are pretty similar. We both like to work hard, we both love our friends and family.”

When the couple were invited to return to play in this year’s Blood V Water season, however, it was too good an offer to refuse. “If it wasn’t for Survivor, I wouldn’t have this life,” says Sam. “This game means a lot to us – it’s why we’re passionate about it.”

That’s not to say there weren’t major considerations – most significantly, leaving Harry behind with Sam’s family.

“The first thing was excitement, the second thing was can we actually logistically and mentally do this, because we’ll both be away from Harry,” she says.