Australian Survivor host Jonathan LaPaglia has revealed that filming the 2023 Heroes v Villains season was chaotic AF, with 80 crew members becoming sick while shooting.
For the first time since 2017, the beloved survival competition has returned to Samoa after two years of being grounded in Australia due to the pandemic.
However, illness still swept through the team, with production being affected by food poisoning AND Covid-19.
While Jonathan dodged the stomach bug, he was hit with his first dose of the global virus, testing positive on the very last day of filming.
“I heard a lot of anecdotal stories, you know, people saying it was nothing but a little cold and it was done and dusted,” the TV star told The Daily Telegraph.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t as lucky.
“It kicked my arse. It knocked me out for about six weeks.”
The actor is thankful he fell ill once shooting for the Heroes v Villains season had wrapped, however.
“We’re working with an Australian budget and [ours] is pretty healthy, but when you compare it to the US — it’s paltry,” he said. “So, we don’t have a lot of redundancy when it comes to crew.
“Once we lose people, I mean someone else needs to take up that job, and when you have at least 30 people go down, and then another 50 go down with food poisoning — it’s just tough. really tough.”
Australian Survivor 2023 sees the return of several fan-fave players
Australian Survivor: Heroes v Villains will begin on Monday, January 30, after The Bachelors 2023 wraps up.
So Dramatic! previously unveiled several personalities who had signed onto the series, including past contestants Jordie Hansen, Nina Twine, Shaun Hampson, George Mladenov and Shonee Fairfax
However, a source dished in episode 230 of the So Dramatic! podcast that producers added several stars last minute.
“Simon Mee is back on the show,” they said of the Brains v Brawn 2021 competitor. “They originally cut him, but he’s back, so something changed there.”
In addition to the abovementioned competitors, we’ve also got our hands on several new returnees.
Joining their fellow alumni on Australian Survivor Heroes v Villains 2023 will be Flick Palmateer, Hayley Leake, Jackie Glazier, Steve Khouw and Sam Webb — A.K.A MAFS‘ Dan Webb‘s brother. Small world!
Alongside the returnees, several Survivor newbies have signed onto the show, whom you can read all about here.
Want even more goss? Listen to episode 246 of the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto below!
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