The Island with Bear Grylls is back later this month for a third series, with 16 competitors chosen to take on the challenge out of a whopping 135,000 who applied to take part.
Bear Grylls / Credit: Channel 4
For the eight men and eight women there is going to be an unexpected twist as the experiment breaks new ground, dropping both sexes on the same island at opposite sides, blissfully unaware of one another's existence until they find each other of their own accord.
Bear says: "We wanted to take this season to the next level and putting men and women together was the natural progression. It is easy to assume that this will turn into a battle of the sexes - but in truth it is much deeper than that and is a battle for survival - that's not about gender or how big and tough someone may look, that's about mental strength and character."
Arriving by boat and given just basic medical supplies, filming equipment, a few simple tools, enough water for a single day and key survival training from Bear and his team, the women and men become part of a select few who get to experience what it's like to survive solely on wits and determination.
Due to the El Nino climate cycle, the Islanders will this year endure significantly different weather to the past two series, with an increase in rainfall and decrease in fish stocks expected.
Speaking about how this could affect the camp, Bear explains: "Intense weather and torrential rain can be extremely draining on the mood in camp. Downpours make it difficult to hunt, to travel, and to maintain a watertight shelter to keep a fire going (which is crucial to purify water). When you're constantly hungry, cold and wet, it's easy for tensions to rise, especially when you're living with what are essentially a group of strangers."
The Men
Ben Allen, 32, Cameraman from London
A fan of the first series, Ben says he wanted to be involved in this year's show because he loved camping and exploring when he was a child and wants a new adventure. He is one of the cameraman on The Island and believes using an embedded crew makes the experiment more authentic. Previous camera work has taken him from the Jungles of South America to remote parts of Northern Canada, but this is his first foray into a true survival-based experience. He describes himself as friendly, easy-going and happy and he feels he will be a good mediator and confidante in camp.
Chris Tierney, 54, Property Developer/Entrepreneur from Manchester
The eldest male Islander this year, Chris is a born and bred Mancunian. He says he went on to The Island because he feels he currently has a comfortable life and wants a challenge. He also wants to meet new people - something he really enjoys because he says he could "strike up a conversation in an empty room." He describes himself as happy, loyal and honest and he thinks he will be great at keeping morale high on the island.
Daniel Quemby, 41, Consultant Medical Doctor from Hampshire
Daniel's background is a mix of English, Moroccan and Irish. He speaks French, German and Spanish and hopes to make his children bi-lingual. He grew up in Devon, and worked in a monkey sanctuary from the age of eight which started his love for science and nature. One of the reasons he applied for the show was because he feels society has become too reliant on modern trappings such as the internet and he wants to see if he can live without these comforts. He describes himself as eccentric, hard-working and kind.
Elliot Day, 26, Private Chef from London
Before turning his passion for food into a career and starting his own pop up restaurant business, Elliot worked in finance but quit after feeling unfulfilled by the routine of city life. He is a huge fan of the outdoors and says taking part in the show is like a dream for him. He wants to get back to basics and really test himself. He hopes the hunting skills he learnt growing up on a farm in Devon as well as his cooking will be an asset to camp.
Patrick Dauncey, 19, Student from Kent
At just 19, Patrick is the youngest islander this year. He took a gap year to take part after watching both the first and second series and thinking he could do better. He also wanted to prove his generation still have the ability to survive in the most unforgiving of environments, despite all their modern day privileges. He is an adrenalin junkie who loves mountain biking, racing and skiing and also attends British Military Fitness classes. He feels his age will mean he will have to work hard to prove himself to older members of the group.
Rizwan Shabir, 26, Mobile Phone Shop Owner from Bradford
Riz is a huge fan of survival shows, which is one of the main reasons he applied for The Island. He feels the weight of responsibility of being a business owner, husband and dad and now wants to do something for himself. As a practicing Muslim, he only eats Halal meat and prays five times a day. He hopes he can be a positive role model for the Muslim community through the show. He is a black belt in karate and used to cage fight when he was a teenager. He hopes he will bring laughter to the island.
Rob Bloomfield, 36, Cameraman from London
Rob is one of the camera operators on this year's show. He originally trained as an architect, but didn't find it creative enough and later found his vocation in being a cameraman. His work to date has taken him to some extraordinary locations across the globe, but this is the first time he will have to hunt down his food and construct his bed for the night! He feels The Island is a great opportunity to leave a memento of what he does for a living for his two sons, and he felt the previous series were innovative and ground breaking TV. Rob also says he is good with people and putting them at ease which he hopes will benefit camp.
Simon Middleton, 35, Insurance Salesman from Leeds
Simon applied for the show after watching the first series and enjoying how being faced with adversity brought out peoples' true characters. He says one of the most interesting things about him is that he was the 4th best boys gymnast in East Leeds when he was 10. He is desperate for an adventure and to do something for himself after working solidly for years and raising his family. He says growing up in a tough area, being one of nine siblings and not sleeping properly since his kids were born is great preparation for going on the island. He thinks that fact he has to deal with people from all different ages and backgrounds in his job will be a real asset on The Island.
The Women
Alice Rothwell, 26, Hospital Doctor from Lincoln
Alice describes herself as an outdoorsy person - she has fond memories of climbing trees with her brothers when she was growing up and she has also trekked through the Amazon and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. Though she feels confident in her job, she is dissatisfied with her personal life and feels that she is falling behind her friends. She wants to test her inner strength by going on The Island. Another doctor on the show, she says the long shifts she works has taught her endurance and the ability to function when tired. She says her greatest strengths are her enthusiasm, commitment and hard-working spirit.
Cassie Farrell, 59, Camerawoman from Bristol
Despite being the oldest Islander this year at 59, Cassie still feels she is yet to fully test herself and The Island is the perfect way to do that. She has been a camerawoman for over 20 years now, and applied after watching the previous two series and enjoying seeing responses to survival situations. She loves the outdoors and the feeling of being immersed in nature and wants to shed the modern things we think we need and embrace the basics of life. She says the three words that describe her best are 'pretty out there.' She sees herself as a potential leader of the group because her life and work experience.
Erika Roe, 57, Retired Farmer from Bristol
Erika was born in Suffolk but grew up in Tanzania where her father owned a successful tea estate. Her upbringing was very basic, and one of the reasons she applied for The Island was to reconnect with the simplicity of her childhood. She has also lived in Portugal where she ran a successful farm growing and exporting vegetables and flowers. She hopes the strong work ethic she has showed over the years along with the practical skills she possesses will be a great help to this year's camp. She wanted to appear on the show to experience more adventure and her love of nature. She says her zest for life is her biggest strength.
Hannah Campbell, 31, Retired Army Corporal from Northampton
Former Army Corporal Hannah lost her leg while on guard duty in Iraq. She says one of the main reasons she applied was because she wanted to show everyone watching that people with disabilities can achieve things. She cites a time when she used her bra and a bag of frozen crumpets to help someone with a sprained ankle as an example of the practical skills she can bring to the show. She also feels she will be able to call on many skills from her army days, such as working in a team, to benefit the camp.
Rozelle David, 33, Plumber from Watford
Roz decided to enter the show because she wanted to show she has strength of character and that modern women are capable of anything. She says her greatest strength is making people laugh. She hopes that the practical skills from her plumbing job will transfer to island life and be a real asset to the camp. She enjoys her job and even sent her friends a picture of the first toilet she ever fixed because she was so proud of it. She has recently taken up boxing and won a charity match earlier this year.
Sarah Carnie 30, Camerawoman from London
Sarah was born in Edinburgh but has lived in LA, London and Australia. She used to play lawn bowls when she was a teenager. She says the main reason she wanted to take part in the show was because she was searching for something challenging to take part in after working solidly for years. She says she is a good problem solver and she can think fast on her feet which she feels will be useful for island life. She describes herself as resilient, driven and outgoing.
Shaney Langhorn, 25, Chartered Accountant from Kettering
Shaney says she applied for The Island because she feels she hasn't challenged herself physically or emotionally so far. Her life up to this point has been about studying and her job and she wants to prove she is more than the just the qualifications she has worked for and get out of her comfort zone The last time she did anything outdoors was a caravan holiday when she was 10. Motivated, determined and direct are the three words she says describe her best. She says she is a good listener and her fellow camp mates will be able to talk to her if they need to.
Tilly Martin, 28, Barmaid from London
'Absolute f*****g nightmare' are the three words Tilly uses to describe herself. She has lived in Spain, Virginia and Scotland and is now based in London. She names a Brownie holiday she went on as a youngster as her only survival experience before the show and though she is scared of everything to do with island life, she feels ready to face her fears. She decided to apply for The Island because she feels she is coasting in life and hasn't achieved much so far. She wants to find out who she really is, as well as making her mum proud.
The Island with Bear Grylls airs Monday, March 28 at 9pm on Channel 4.
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