Network 10 has confirmed a world-first ‘Rivals’ theme for Australian Survivor in 2027, alongside a cast of 24 new players set to face off against their matched rivals in Malaysia.
The confirmation follows TV Blackbox’s exclusive report in July that the 2027 season would carry the ‘Rivals’ theme, while many of the cast names have emerged online in recent days — potentially prompting 10 to bring forward its official announcement.
In addition to previous reporting that AFL stars Adam Cooney and Heath Shaw would feature in the 2027 season, 10 has now confirmed the pair alongside the full cast for Australian Survivor: Rivals.
Among the familiar faces heading into the game are Wentworth star and The Amazing Race Australia contestant Bernard Curry, The Block twins Alisa and Lysandra Fraser, actor Lincoln Lewis, media personality Christian Wilkins, Olympic champion Kerri Pottharst, former NRL star Robbie Farah, former netballer Sharni Layton and broadcaster Mitch Churi.
The cast also includes model and Big Brother VIP contestant Ellie Gonsalves, travel creator Jorden Tually, who has reportedly been trying to get onto Australian Survivor for several years, and journalist and digital storyteller Yusuf Omar, all of whom bring sizeable social media audiences to the game.
Meet the Australian Survivor: Rivals cast
The full cast confirmed by Network 10 is:
- Adam Ashley-Cooper, 42, NSW
- Adam Cooney, 40, VIC
- Alisa Fraser, 42, SA
- Bernard Curry, 52, QLD
- Christian Wilkins, 31, NSW
- Danielle Scott, 36, NSW
- Ellie Gonsalves, 35, QLD
- Emily Jones, 34, NSW
- Eva Bantin, 51, NSW
- Heath Shaw, 40, VIC
- Jorden Tually, 32, NSW
- Josh Robinson, 26, VIC
- Kaitlyn Souksamlane-Tan, 36, NSW
- Kate Allan, 36, NSW
- Kerri Pottharst, 61, NSW
- Lincoln Lewis, 38, QLD
- Louie Liu, 37, NSW
- Lysandra Fraser, 42, SA
- Mitch Churi, 30, NSW
- Portia Ferdinand, 27, NSW
- Robbie Farah, 42, NSW
- Sarah Yatim, 31, NSW
- Sharni Layton, 38, WA
- Yusuf Omar, 36, QLD
Network 10 says the 24 castaways have been divided into 12 pairs of rivals, with each contestant matched against someone with similar strengths, physicality, intelligence, drive or charisma.
The confirmed rival pairings are former AFL stars Adam Cooney and Heath Shaw, The Block twins Alisa and Lysandra Fraser, actors Bernard Curry and Lincoln Lewis, media personalities Christian Wilkins and Mitch Churi, Olympians Kerri Pottharst and Danielle Scott, and rugby stars Adam Ashley-Cooper and Robbie Farah.
Other pairings include Ellie Gonsalves and Kaitlyn Souksamlane-Tan, Emily Jones and Portia Ferdinand, Eva Bantin and Kate Allan, Jorden Tually and Yusuf Omar, Josh Robinson and Louie Liu, and Sarah Yatim and Sharni Layton.
A world-first ‘Rivals’ theme
TV Blackbox first revealed in July that the 2027 season would carry the ‘Rivals’ theme, with the concept now officially confirmed by Network 10 as a world-first for Australian Survivor.
Under the new theme, two tribes will compete in Malaysia, with each castaway facing off against their matched rival on the opposite side.
To win the $500,000 prize, the castaways will have to Outwit, Outplay and Outlast their competitors while also overcoming the person they have been specifically matched against.
Australian Survivor moves to Malaysia
TV Blackbox first revealed in December that Australian Survivor was preparing to leave its long-running filming location in Samoa, with Malaysia emerging as the planned new production base.
The move was subsequently confirmed by David Genat during the 2026 finale and reunion, alongside the reveal of a world-first theme.
TV Blackbox also revealed in April that Network 10 had scrapped plans to film two seasons back-to-back, with the second planned production no longer proceeding. At the time, the decision was understood to be linked to the performance and audience reception of the current season.
David Genat returns as host
David Genat will return as host for Australian Survivor: Rivals, following his first season in the role with Australian Survivor: Redemption.
Genat took over from longtime host Jonathan LaPaglia for the 2026 season, having previously competed on the series three times, including his Australian Survivor: All Stars victory.
Could Australian Survivor move from its Q1 timeslot?
The future of Australian Survivor on Network 10 could come down to where the series sits in the network’s schedule.
TV Blackbox understands internal discussions have centred on whether the series should move from its current Q1 timeslot, with the possibility of a different scheduling position being considered to give the format a stronger chance of building an audience.
Any move to a different position in the schedule could be seen as an attempt by Network 10 to give the expensive format another opportunity to build its audience, amid ongoing rumours that Australian Survivor could eventually move to another network.
Darryl Brew