Where original ITV Survivor UK winners are now after reboot on BBC
Survivor UK once boasted a £1million prize pot when it first launched on ITV all the way back in 2001 – but what happened to its stars?
With a reboot underway on the BBC, The Mirror takes a look back at the popular programme's first-ever seasons and its winners. Its concept has remained the same as 18 hopefuls battle it out in tropical remote conditions to be crowned the Sole Survivor.
The show didn't last long on ITV so only two have ever been crowned winners, a stark contrast from the USA version of the show which has run on CBS for 45 seasons. Survivor first aired in Sweden in 1997 and there have been 50 adaptations commissioned around the world to date.
Charlotte Hobrough
Charlotte took home the life-changing £1million (PA)
Charlotte later returned to work as a police officer (PA)Charlotte emerged as the winner of the first-ever season of Survivor UK in 2001, also known as Survivor: Pulau Tiga, which was filmed on the remote Malaysian island of Pulau Tiga from May 21 to July 25, 2001. At the time, Charlotte, a police detective constable from Rhoose, Wales, achieved an impressive 7-0 jury vote victory over Jackie Carey in the final showdown.
She took home the life-changing £1million and credited herself for being "wonderfully nice and wonderfully awful". She explained: "You've got to be slightly devious and plot behind people's backs." At the time she said she would spend the money enjoying herself and giving her family a "wonderful life". She added: "I don't feel like a millionaire but when I pop to the Porsche garage I think I will."
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Despite being catapulted into the spotlight with lots more TV gigs, including presenter roles on both Channel 4 and ITV, Charlotte returned to work as a police officer, where she is thought to still work. The Standard reported how Charlotte said upon returning to work: "I'm back at work because I miss the challenge of being in the police force. Winning Survivor was a wonderful experience but it's time to get back to normality."
Jonny Gibb
Jonny was season two's winner and was another police officer (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
He later quit TV and fame and returned to the police force too (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)Survivor UK's second and last-ever winner was another police officer, Jonny Gibb. Filmed in the Bocas del Toro archipelago of Panama and running from March 13 until May 29 2002, Gibb rose to the top and claimed the £1million prize.
The Ultimate Survivor from Edinburgh defeated teacher Susannah Moffat in a 7-0 jury vote. After the show he attempted media careers, including jobs as a DJ before trying out for a presenter gig at STV, something he didn't manage to achieve.
It was later reported back in 2010 that Jonny had been welcomed back into Lothian and Borders Police to reprise his role as a Detective Constable after "finding his millionaire lifestyle too tame". Per The Scotsman, A friend reportedly said: "He's not going back for financial reasons as he has been very sensible with the money. He's just a bit of an action man."
This weekend, Survivor UK made its comeback on BBC1 with 18 hopefuls selected from across the country to battle it out to be crowned the Sole Survivor. They have the chance to walk away with a cash prize of just £100,000 if they can endure tough conditions, betrayal and psychological games.
However, many fans didn't appear to be impressed with the new series as they turned it off during the first episode complaining it was "dull" and better suited to another channel. Taking to social media, one viewer said: "I'm bored already #Survivor."
Another added: "Good grief. Is this really what the # BBC think the great British public wants to watch on a Saturday night?" Someone else commented: "#Survivor on @BBCOne is c***. Gave it 20 minutes and it's dull. Bring back #TheWheel."
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