Whilst Hunted Australia has been blasted for being “staged”, we’ve found out what really goes down behind the scenes and you’re gonna want to sit down for this one.
The high-stakes adult version of hide-n-seek sees ordinary Aussies become “Fugitives” on the run in the real world in a bid to stay undetected by a team of the world’s best investigators, known as the “Hunters”.
But is Hunted Australia really that legit?
If you’ve been dying to know all the juicy BTS tea, 2022 contestants Rob and Jake have spilled the beans in an explosive tell-all interview in episode 308 of the So Dramatic! podcast.
Hunted Australia 2022‘s Rob and Jake reveal whether the show is staged
Hunted Australia fans took to social media to express their outrage after they noticed that the current contestants were wearing GPS trackers and GoPros.
However, Rob told host Megan Pustetto that the Fugitives have to wear trackers for “safety” purposes so nobody goes missing.
As for the GoPros, all of the CCTV footage is simulated, so the GoPros worn by the contestants act as makeshift cameras and ensure producers have enough footage.
“If [producers] outlined this a little better, people wouldn’t think the show was scripted,” Rob explained, insisting that the show definitely isn’t rigged. And TBH, it makes perfect sense.
The hairdresser later went on to say that nothing was “staged”, but scenes were “re-enacted” to get the clearest shot.
However, for the most part, contestants got a lot of freedom.
“[Producers] couldn’t tell us where to go or what areas to be in. If we wanted to do something outrageous, we needed to get approval, but other than that, that’s how it went.”
Rob and Jake reveal whether Hunted Australia 2023’s Ben and Callum’s train station capture was legit
ICYMI: Hunted Australia 2023 fans concluded that the show had to be rigged after Ben and Callum were approached at a train station by a stranger who turned out to be one of the Hunter’s brothers, resulting in the duo being captured.
Whilst the situation looked rather fishy, Rob and Jake stated that the capture seemed pretty legit.
“Being on the show, we know that these situations actually happen,” Rob said.
“If it were staged, there would’ve been more context about where the brother came from.”
And as for why the ‘stranger’ was lurking, the former contestants explained that it wasn’t abnormal for people to stare at them whilst filming as they were walking around with a camera crew.
It kinda makes sense but we’re still a lil’ suss tbh…
Each team of Fugitives have a camera crew following them whilst filming Hunted Australia
Rob and Jake also revealed that each team of Fugitives had a camera person following them around during the day whom they needed to look after.
“When you’re asking for a ride, that ride has to fit your [camera person] as well. When you’re staying in a house, they also have to be able to accommodate them,” they said.
Not only that but from 8 am to 6 pm, they also had a two-person camera crew following them who were in charge of reenacting CCTV footage and creating long shots.
“There’s a team in the middle that gets all of the information from us. The Hunters then have to apply [to get the] information and footage from that middle team,” they continued.
“We had completely separate productions. Our camera people didn’t even know who the Hunters were. They were hired separately. And the big bosses in the middle dictated how things would move forward.”
Everyone who appears on Hunted Australia signs a contract beforehand
Hunted Australia fans have also been shooketh at some of the “illegal” behaviours exhibited by the Hunters this season. From breaking into strangers’ houses to hijacking phones, the intelligence team have been looking a lot more like Fugitives than good guys.
However, Rob and Jake cleared this up once and for all.
“If you can see [someone’s] face on the show, then they’ve signed for approval,” Rob explained.
“The camera person will also film people accepting the rules and conditions of being part of the show.”
But do these rules and conditions then permit the Hunters to do whatever TF they want?
“They’re using the powers of the State. If they think someone’s [in a certain place], the Hunters are going to go in and look for them,” Jake said. “What a cop can do, they can do.”
“The production team are very clear about what could potentially happen. They give [everyone] all the information,” he added.
So when we see the Hunters “break into” homes or interrogate people, it’s because they’ve already been given permission to do so. And TBH, this checks out!
Fugitives on Hunted Australia are required to submit game plans
Apparently, the Fugitives needed to create game plans and hand these over to producers prior to filming which, we must admit, sounds suss AF.
“You needed to list a day’s worth of plans … so [producers] knew they weren’t filming two duds,” Rob laughed.
But according to the former Fugitives, the producers weren’t then allowed to use this information to track them down.
Players also didn’t need to stick to their plans necessarily.
“Plans do change. It’s unpredictable. It’s hard to ever know what we were going to be doing any given day,” he recalled. Well, the more you know!
Hunted Australia Fugitives have to travel at least five kilometres a day and have limits on receiving money
In episode 310 of the So Dramatic! podcast, 2022 contestants Sonny-Joe and Grace revealed that Fugitives had to move a minimum of five kilometres a day, so they couldn’t just huddle in one place.
“You have to travel at least a minimum of five kilometres per day,” Sonny-Joe explained.
“Otherwise, there’s no action happening.”
Hunted Australia Fugitives have to travel at least five kilometres a day and have limits on receiving money
Additionally, Sonny-Joe and Grace explained that there were limits placed on the amount of money they were allowed to receive, despite whether it was “gifted” or earned. And sucks to be them!
“There was a limit on what you could receive if someone offered you money, or gave it to you as a gift or how much you could earn from working,” Grace said.
“I can’t remember what it was. But it was almost to the point where we were like, ‘oh, we can’t accept any more from you’.”
Hunted Australia Fugitives aren’t allowed to camp out in national parks
Another rule that had us shook was that the Fugitives weren’t allowed to camp out in national parks, even though we reckon real fugitives do this all the time.
“Viewers at home always say ‘Just go to a national park with a tent, the Hunters will never find you’,” Sonny-Joe laughed.
“But [it wouldn’t] make great TV.” And TBH, we disagree. We’d love to watch non-camping types rough it out in the middle of nowhere! The Simple Life, anyone?
Want even more goss? Listen to the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto below!
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