Saturday night saw the long-awaited return of Survivor to UK screens for the first time since 2002, but the majority of viewers were not impressed.
The new series sees contestants test their brains and brawn, as the players compete to outwit, outplay and outlast their rivals to be crowned the Sole Survivor.
The BBC One show is hosted by Joel Dommett and follows 18 contestants who are marooned in a tropical location where they are divided into two tribes.
One by one, players are voted out of their tribes at the Tribal Council until the two tribes eventually merge and the game becomes a head-to-head battle.
They compete against each other in a range of physical and mental challenges for reward or immunity.
It’s back! Saturday night saw the long-awaited return of Survivor to UK screens for the first time since 2002, but the majority of viewers were not impressed
Exciting: The BBC One show is hosted by Joel Dommett and follows 18 contestants who are marooned in a tropical location where they are divided into two tribes
Ultimately, only one person can triumph and wins the cash prize of £100,000 and the title of Sole Survivor.
The first episode of the show saw the contestants arrive at the island and get to know each other in their teams before taking part in challenges to get food and immunity.
The Immunity challenge saw the contestants having to hold a heavy weight attached by a rope above the ground.
The tribes competed against each other to try and hold out the longest, with the team with the first person to drop their weight losing out on immunity.
Unfortunately, Caleton’s Richard let go first and at the Tribal Council, his teammates voted him to be sent home.
Viewers took to social media to share their thoughts on the first episode, but many slammed it as ‘boring’ and ‘a flop’, saying they would not be continuing to watch.
One person wrote: ‘Shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but there’s a reason why the original #Survivor lasted 2 series. It wasn’t good enough. Would rather spend 6 months alone on a desert island than watch a minute of this waste of licence fee money. The Wheel should’ve stayed in this slot.’
Another echoed: ‘#Survivor is definitely not a Saturday night TV show. Saturdays should be for dancing/singing competitions, quiz shows and chat shows. This is boring, come on @BBCOne bring back #TheWheel and all will be forgiven!’
First casualty: One by one, players are voted out of their tribes at the Tribal Council, with Caleton’s Richard being the first to be sent home
Unimpressed: Viewers took to social media to share their thoughts on the first episode, but many slammed it as ‘boring’ and ‘a flop’, saying they would not be continuing to watch
A third tweeted: ‘Bit of a flop I fear’ while a fourth added: ‘Watched for 15 minutes but was absolutely excruciating’.
Someone else said: ‘Is it just me being extra picky or does this episode of survivor feel extremely low energy? Like everyone on the cast seems quite… meh. Where are the personalities? Where is the excitement?’
While a sixth agreed, saying: ‘BBC #survivor #SurvivorUK is totally soulless. Not sure if I’ll keep watching’ and another wrote: ‘Watching this first episode of #Survivor and not sure I’ll be back…’
An eighth said: ‘This may be the first and last time I watch this. Joel whatshisface giving running commentary of the trials in front of the contestants, the ridiculous piece of ‘immunity’ wood, the reading out of nominated names then trying to cause tension as to who is going home.’
Others complained that the show’s host Joel was narrating too much of the programme and begged him to ‘shut up’.
One said: ‘I loved this show when it was originally shown years ago but there’s just too much commentary on this one and it just feels like the Joel Dommett show’.
Another echoed: ‘So I’ve watched the first 15 minutes of #Survivor and I conclude that if I were there, I would sacrifice myself rather than listen to Joel D’s constant commentary!!! FFS SHUT UP!!!’
A third added: ‘Someone tell Joel we don’t need this much commentary, the show is being broadcast on TV not the radio’.
‘Droning on’: Others complained that the show’s host Joel was narrating too much of the programme and begged him to ‘shut up’
Someone agreed, writing: ‘To be honest, I’d vote myself off rather than having to suffer the continual drone of Joel Dommett ‘s voice in my hours of struggle!!’
A fifth tweeted: ‘I normally like Joel, but I really wish he would just STFU’ and another said: ‘Stop narrating. #Survivor doesn’t have, or need, narration’.
A sixth person wrote: ‘WHY is Joel narrating every action… it feels like I’m watching Total Wipeout’ and a seventh added: ‘Joel narrating the tasks like he’s got the audio description voice’.
However, some viewers were fans of the debut episode and praised its return, calling it ‘fresh’ and a ‘good start’, while naming Joel as ‘the perfect host’.
One person said: ‘Well I really enjoyed that – a pretty good start! Thought the opening challenge was fun and well edited, and a good choice of first immunity challenge too.’
A second echoed: ‘Congrats @bbc1 you’ve done it again #Survivor #SurvivorUK is great. Great cast, location, editing and Joel is the perfect host. Maybe UK Mole next?’
Another added: ‘I’d forgotten how good #Survivor was. So good to have it back . Wrong person was the first to be sent home though!’
A fourth wrote: ‘Great first episode of #Survivor! Need more strategy, blindsides and the castaways turning on each other in the next episodes when hunger kicks in’.
While someone else said: ‘Personally, I liked #Survivor. It’s new and fresh for UK television.’
Loved it: However, some viewers were fans of the debut episode and praised its return, calling it ‘fresh’ and a ‘good start’, while naming Joel as ‘the perfect host’
MEET THE CONTESTANTS OF SURVIVOR 2023
Name: Ashleigh
Age: 34
From: London
Occupation: Brand Strategist
Name: Doug
Age: 32
From: Isle of Mull
Occupation: Flood Risk Consultant
Name: Jess
Age: 38
From: London
Occupation: Fitting Model
Name: Lee
Age: 28
From: Belfast (originally Limerick)
Occupation: Professional Boxer
Name: Matthew
Age: 21
From: Cumbria
Occupation: Hospitality
Name: Pegleg
Age: 54
From: St Agnes
Occupation: Surf School Owner
Name: Ren
Age: 28
From: London
Occupation: Network Data Scientist
Name: Sabrina
Age: 45
From: Stroud
Occupation: Ultramarathon Runner, Charity Founder, Author, Mum of 4 and Grandmother of 3.
Name: Tinuke
Age: 30
From: London
Occupation: Professional Roller Skater & Adventurer
Name: Christopher
Age: 36
From: Bridgend
Occupation: Singer/Songwriter
Name: Hannah
Age: 30
From: London
Occupation: Semi-Professional Footballer
Name: Laurence
Age: 29
From: London, born in Vienna, and raised in Costa Rica
Occupation: Entrepreneur, currently doing an MPhil in Artificial Intelligence Ethics at Cambridge
Name: Leilani
Age: 45
From: Hertford
Occupation: Barista and cleaner at a yoga studio
Name: Nathan
Age: 35
From: Manchester (originally London)
Occupation: Fitness Instructor & Operations Manager
Name: Rachel
Age: 40
From: Whitstable
Occupation: Insurance Claims Handler
Name: Richard
Age: 36
From: Dalkeith, Scotland
Occupation: Pensions Manager / RAF Reservist
Name: Shai
Age: 33
From: London
Occupation: Finance Risk Manager
