Lights, camera, dance! Sequins, spins and swirls reigned during episode one of Dancing With The Stars Australia 2023!
After meeting all 14 celebrities, the stars were split into two groups all set to take the stage every other night with Paulini Curunevali, Emily Weir, James Magnussen, Issa Schultz, Mary Coustas a.k.a Effie, Matt Preston and Gavin Wanganeen taking to the floor during the first instalment.
Returning hosts Sonia Kruger and Daryl Somers were joined by Judges Todd McKenney, Mark Wilson, Sharna Burgess and Craig Revel Horwood.
The Dancing
Emily from Home and Away made a splash by trading her surfboard for a steamy Samba, scoring a solid 26 points from the judges.
Emily Weir and Lyu Masuda. Seven
We know he dominates the pool, but when it comes to the dancefloor, James Magnussen set fire to it! A red-hot Tango landed him 27 points with Judge Craig saying he had “great potential”.
James Magnussen and Natalie Lowe. Seven
Issa Shultz, the Supernerd from The Chase Australia, strutted his stuff with a quirky Foxtrot and scored 20 points! Judge Sharna predicted that his turn on DWTS was going to be a “transformative experience” for him!
Issa Shultz and Lily Cornish. Seven
Looks like AFL legend Gavin Wanganeen didn’t quite cut it on the dance floor. His Cha Cha disastrously performed, earning him a mere eight points, leaving him at the bottom of the leaderboard with Judge Craig calling it a “complete disaster”.
Gavin Wanganeen and Megan Wragg. Seven
Mary Coustas knew how to keep us glued to the screen with her Grecian Tango; however, the judges wanted more and gave her 18 points, criticising her choreography as being “too safe”.
Mary Coustas and Aric Yegudkin. Seven
Paulini smashed the competition with her electrifying Samba, scoring a top-notch 28 points. Her rivals were shaking in their heels!
Paulini Curunevali and Igor Ifliand. Seven
Matt Preston started his competition with a major setback — an injury on day one of training! His rehearsals were majorly affected by his recovery, which resulted in a dismal score of only 10 points for his Foxtrot.
Matt Preston and Jess Raffa. Seven
The Final Scores
Paulini and Igor Ifliand – 28
Emily Weir and Lyu Masuda – 26
James Magnussen and Natalie Lowe – 27
Issa Shultz and Lily Cornish – 20
Mary Coustas and Aric Yegudkin – 18
Matt Preston and Jess Raffa – 10
Gavin Wanganeen and Megan Wragg – 8
Watch Dancing with the Stars Australia 2023 on Sundays at 7.00pm on 7 and 7Plus.
The star-studded cast of the sparkling new season of Dancing withthe Stars 2023 has been unveiled and it’s chock-full of familiar faces.
Alongside returning hosts Daryl Somers and Sonia Kruger, this crew of celebs will be putting their performing talents to good use, as they compete for their chosen charity and the prized Dancing with the Stars mirrorball trophy.
Daryl Somers and Sonia Kruger are returning as hosts. Seven
Who is competing on Dancing with the Stars?
Joining the line-up this year is food critic Matt Preston alongside Olympians Sally Pearson and James Magnussen and Life Uncut podcast superstar and KIISFM radio host Laura Byrne.
Also hitting the floor in the new season are Australian acting royalty Mary Coustas and Pia Miranda, stage and screen stars Virginia Gay and Christie Whelan Browne and Human Nature singing sensation Phil Burton.
Australian Idol icon Paulini, Home and Away‘s Emily Weir and Better Homes and Gardens resident landscaper Charlie Albone will also don dancing shoes, as will AFL royalty Gavin Wanganeen and The Chase Australia’s Supernerd, Issa Shultz.
Dancing with the Stars. Seven
The Dancing with the Stars 2023 line-up:
Charlie Albone – Better Homes and Gardens Landscaper
Christie Whelan Browne – Actor
Emily Weir – Home and Away Actor
Gavin Wanganeen – AFL legend
Issa Schultz – The Chase Australia Supernerd
James Magnussen – Olympic Medallist
Laura Byrne – Podcaster and radio host
Mary Coustas – Comedian and actor
Matt Preston – Presenter and food journalist
Paulini – Performer
Phil Burton – Singer
Pia Miranda – Actor
Sally Pearson – Olympic Gold Medallist and 7NEWS presenter
Virginia Gay – Actor
Dancing with the Stars is returning soon to Channel 7 and 7plus.
Parental Guidance’s American Parents Kim and Nick will be put into the Spotlight alongside the remaining parenting styles; Slow Parents, Unstructured Parents and Road School Parents.
Up to this point, they have been in the Lounge providing feedback for the other parents which American mum, Kim, said has helped them “look critically at how we parent”.
“[The experience] has helped us add a few new tools to our parenting toolbox,” she said in an interview with Chattr before their first Spotlight episode that airs on June 18 at 8pm.
Kim, Nick and their daughter Pia. Nine
American Parenting vs Aussie Parenting — What are the main differences?
The American parenting style focuses on confidence and success; with key other components differing from how a child is raised Down Under.
“Growing up in the US generally makes for a resilient child who sees a lot of different things and generally has a lot of different experiences,” Kim said adding that children in the United States have more opportunities for regular outdoor activities including snowboarding, cross country skiing, waterskiing, hiking the Grand Canyon, camping, skateboarding, surfing, bungee jumping.
“The list goes on depending on the child,” she said. “Those are all real typical and average activities that many American kids partake in.”
Although available in Australia, it is less likely that every kid gets the same opportunities; with Kim saying that given “Australia is a very family-orientated country”, our schools here offer “amazing things” such as music, sport, and swimming.
On top of this, she also noted that the country as a whole can sometimes feel like a “little country town compared to America”.
“It feels safe and more relaxed, in a good way,” she said.
Nick, Kim and Pia. Nine
What was it like growing up in the USA?
Kim also revealed that while she had a “super relaxed, California Style” upbringing, her husband Nick had strict parents and he spent most of his time playing tennis.
“My parents were super relaxed,” she said. “I was the third child and the baby and there was not a lot of guidance, hence my sincere desire to help provide guidance to our children.”
As adults, however, their values and morals align.
“We like to think that no matter what we have been through or will go through, our underlying respect and admiration for each other holds strong,” she said.
“We are similar in some ways i.e.: competitive, hard-working and enjoy a romantic night out, but we are also opposites in some regards. Ultimately, we love, respect and are always there for one another.”
Kim and Nick. Nine
Overall, the experience of Parental Guidance has been very valuable.
“I had so many mums say to me, ‘You’re brave for going on the show and putting it all out there for everyone to judge,'” she admitted.
“It struck me as very odd, but maybe that’s just my American confidence speaking. I know I’m/we’re not perfect – not at all, but being on this show has taught us so much about parenting, other people, and ourselves. Nick and I are risk-takers. No risk – no reward, sometimes you’ve just got to put yourself out there!”
Parental Guidance airs Sunday at 8pm and Monday and Tuesday at 7.30pm on 9 and 9Now.
Jock Zonfrillo’s widow Lauren Fried has revealed that their daughter Isla has been sleeping with her late father’s clothes in a heartbreaking post.
“Little Isla has started sleeping with Papa’s clothes, keeps him close. lz,” she captioned the photo of their daughter, two and a half snuggled up with Jock’s jumper.
Earlier this week, Fried opened up about how she’s helping their children deal with the death of their father.
Zonfrillo died suddenly on April 30 and he is survived by his wife and children Alfie, 5, and Isla, 2, as well as two older daughters, Ava and Sophia, from his first two marriages.
Fried has been open on social media about her struggle with Zonfrillo’s shock passing and took to the platform to share that she’s using books to help Alfie and Isla understand their dad’s death.
“Books have been a bridge to help me explain to our little ones what has happened, what they are feeling, and that love is always around them,” She wrote on Instagram below photos of books titled The Invisible String, The Goodbye Book and Beginnings and Endings with Lifetimes in Between.
“These are the top three (of many purchases) that the kids have connected with. lz,” she concluded the post.
Instagram.
Lauren Fried speaks out following Jock Zonfrillo’s death
After a lengthy break, Fried took to Zonfrillo’s account addressing his passing.
In the most recent, she posted a beautiful selection of photos of her and the couple’s children at the beach.
“Time together. Being close, letting them wander. lz,” she captioned the series of images.
Instagram.
A month after the MasterChef host’s death, Fried shared an Instagram video thanking fans for their support.
“It’s been a month now since we lost Jock and I put a line in the sand thinking that at the one-month mark, I would turn some sort of a corner, obviously that hasn’t happened,” Lauren said in the clip.
Instagram.
“There’s no time that I could allocate to say thank you to everyone. I just am overwhelmed by the messages that came in from people all over the world who knew him or didn’t know him.
“I wish he knew how loved he was and he knew the impact that he had on so many people.”
It’s episode 29 of MasterChef Australia 2023 and Curtis Stone was back for the Immunity Challenge.
In round one, the judges tasked Thursday Service Challenge winners, Ralph, Adi, Brent, Rhiannon and Rue, to bring them their family’s secret condiment, which could have been anything from relish, salsa, sauce or mayo.
The top three condiments would then progress to round two where the winner would not only win Immunity from Sunday’s elimination but in a world first, their condiment will be bottled and sold in Coles supermarkets around the country.
Ralph, Brent, Rhiannon, Rue and Adi. Ten
Round 1
The cooks were given 45 minutes to make their “secret” condiment.
Rue decided on a “sweet, tangy, smokey, spicey” Barbecue Sauce while Rhiannon chose a Thai-Inspired Pineapple Mango Chutney.
Ralph told Judge Jock Zonfrillo and Curtis that he was making a South African Chakalaka, a vegetable relish and Adi chose to cook a North African-inspired condiment, similar to Harissa but not as spicy.
Meanwhile, Brent decided on a Mango Chilli Sauce, who said he’d love to have his “ugly mutt on a jar of sauce”. Lol!
Brent. Ten
During the cook, Rue had a “mouth malfunction” when too much chilli halted her ability to taste.
Round 1 — Judging
Rhiannon was the first to present her Troppo Chutney of Mango and Pineapple. After taking a spoonful each, Judge Mel Leong called it a “tutti-fruity wonder” while Curtis said his “mind was racing” over all the different ways he could use it. Judge Andy Allen said it was a “big play for the win”.
Rhiannon’s condiment. Ten
Brent then revealed his dish of Sweet and Spicy Mango and Chilli Sauce.
Jock said he liked it and Andy said all the ingredients brought everything together and Curtis said it had different uses.
Brent’s condiment. Ten.
Next up was Ralph’s Chakalaka.
Andy loved the spice blend and the hint of rosemary and thyme but it wasn’t enough to be “epic”. Curtis called it a “spiced up Ratatouille” while Mel said it would be great on fries at a Festival.
Ralph’s condiment. Ten
Adi then presented her Harissa.
Mel said the “aroma really promises a lot” but because of time constraints wasn’t able to “finesse” her product. Curtis said he tasted “too much rawness” in the spice and Jock said it felt “rushed”.
Adi’s condiment. Ten
Finally, Rue’s BarbeRue Sauce was given to the Judges.
The sweet and spicy barbecue sauce was praised by Jock for its balance of flavour, Curtis said it “makes your mouth excited” and Mel said it was “delicious”, while Andy called it “unique”.
Rue’s condiment. Ten
The Verdict
At the end of Round 1, Rue, Rhiannon and Brent were sent into Round 2.
Round 2
The contestants had to create a dish that could be complemented by their Round 1 creations with the winning dish seeing the victor’s condiment placed in Coles.
Rue decided to rub some delicious Pork Ribs with a spice rub and raced against the clock to put them into the Pressure Cooker.
Rhiannon told Judge Mel and Curtis Stone that she was making Prawns cooked three ways while Curtis fanned her with a giant leaf. They told her it was a “giant mistake” to deliver different ways because they would be compared. She decided to forge ahead.
Mel, Curtis and Rhiannon. Ten
Brent, inspired by Josh Niland, decided to cook Coral Trout Collars and Head Tacos to complement his Sweet and Spicy Mango and Chilli Sauce.
Rue decided to create a second option with chicken in case she didn’t have time to cook her ribs, which needed to go into the oven after being in the Pressure Cooker.
Round 2 — The Judging
First up, Rhiannon presented her Prawns Three-Ways with Troppo Chutney.
Andy loved the presentation while Curtis called it a “wonderful plate of food”.
Rhiannon’s dish. Ten
Next up was Brent with his Coral Trout Tacos to serve with his Mango Chilli Sauce.
Jock said “fair play” to taking on board Josh’s feedback and Mel said it was the perfect dish to “showcase the condiment”.
Brent’s dish. Ten
Rue was next to head to the bench with BarbeRue Pork Ribs and Chicken. Jock said the dish was “so risky” but all three judges agreed that she nailed it.
Rue’s dish. Ten.
The Verdict
Jock, Mel, Andy and Curtis were blown away by Rue’s spicy dish and crowned her the winner. Her BarbeRue sauce, which Jock called “perfect” will be available in Coles and immunity from Sunday night’s elimination.
Rue. Instagram.
MasterChef Australia airs Sunday – Thursday at 7.30pm on 10 and 10Play.
Black Mirror has a reputation for being one of the most intentional and intelligent tv shows to ever be released. So, it should come as little surprise that the creators have planted a bunch of hidden messages throughout the series that link episodes to each other.
During season six, a bunch of Easter Eggs have been scattered throughout and just so you don’t miss them, we’ve noted down where you can find them!
Joan Is Awful
Joan is Awful follows a woman named Joan (Annie Murphy) as she watches her daily life be played back to her via a streaming platform called Streamberry through the use of deep fakes.
Some of the titles on Black Mirror’s version of Netflix called Streamberry – where Joan originally found the show – are references to other both the current and past seasons of the hit Netflix series.
Loch Henry: Truth Will Out references the second episode of this season
Find Ritman is a series about the character Colin Ritman in Black Mirror: Bandersnatch.
The Callow Years refers to Prime Minister Michael Callow in season one ep The National Anthem.
Junipero Dreaming is a nod to the episode San Junipero, from season three.
Netflix
Loch Henry
Like Joan Is Awful, Loch Henry references past and present Black Mirror episodes, but this is done when a clip of news reporting about the episode’s case appears on the screen.
The headline “US tourist found dead at SaitoGemu HQ” is referring to the episode Playtest from season three.
“US tourist found dead at SaitoGemu HQ” is another nod to Playtest.
“Michael Smart unveils Met Police robot dog” is a pointed reference to the events that play out in Demon 79, from season six.
Sea of Tranquility
References to Sea of Tranquility pop up constantly throughout the Black Mirror seasons, with the first being in season one’s The National Anthem episode where a special effects expert says he worked on an “HBO moon western” called “Sea of Tranquility”.
Elsewhere in the series, we see a bunch of Sea of Tranquility fans in the season three episode Nosedive.
Then, in season five the phrase is again referenced in Joan Is Awful when Joan’s fiance suggests they watch a ‘Streamberry’ flick of the same name, and later in Smithereens, Chris makes a call from the main lobby where a screen can be seen behind him showing trending topics including “SeaOfTranquilityReboot“.
Netflix
Black Mirror season five is available to stream on Netflix.
Joyce and Doug are back and “better than ever” in season two of Minx and in a whole different direction for their erotic magazine and power dynamic.
After butting heads both creatively and personally in the first season, Joyce (OpheliaLovidbond) and Doug (Jake Johnson) have split the power 51/49, with the female editor technically in charge.
Business aside, the new Minx season two trailer confirms that the loveable production coordinator Bambi will be back, as well as her casual sexual relationship with Joyce’s sister Shelly.
Shelly and Bambi. Stan.
Season two will see sales of Minx go “through the roof”, which brings more money, fame, and temptation than the magazine staff knows how to handle.
How did season one end?
In the finale of Minx season one, we were faced with the possibility of the magazine shutting down, after Councilwoman Westbury believed it was too explicit and must be stopped.
Meanwhile, Doug tried to lure Joyce back to Minx, following her resignation from the mag and said that he wanted to partner with her.
“I’m not sure I’m interested in giving away my power anymore,” Joyce told him.
“I’ll tell you what,” Doug replied, “Minx is yours. I don’t want to do it without you, so take it.”
As for Bambi, she began to explore a romantic relationship with Joyce’s sister Shelly. Shelly considered leaving her husband for the former porn star but decided against it.
Are all the cast returning for season two?
Fortunately, most of the cast will be returning for season two of Minx.
Lead characters Joyce (Lovidbond), Doug (Johnson), and Bambi (Jessica Lowe) will all be back. As will as Richie (Oscar Montoya), Shelly (Lennon Parham) and Tina (Idara Victor).
The show will also see a newcomer character named Constance (Elizabeth Perkins) who appears to be part of the magazine staff.
Modern Family actress Ariel Winter genuinely believed that disgraced Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong was a “real astronaut” during the first episode of the new US series Stars on Mars.
During a producer interview, Winter revealed that she was shocked to see Lance take part in the reality show.
“Lance Armstrong is a real fricking astronaut. He is a real astronaut. He is Lance Armstrong. You need to Google him. You need to know everything about him because he is so cool,” she said.
Stars on Mars. Fox.
We’re not sure who else aside from Ariel Winter needs to hear this, but it was Neil Armstrong who was the first person to walk on the moon back in 1969, and Lance Armstrong was an Olympic cyclist who got caught illegally doping over a decade ago.
Winter was so shocked by Armstrong’s inclusion in the show, which sees celebrities enter a 24 days Mars simulation, that she pointed it out to another contestant, and the faux par made its way back to Armstrong.
“If I were Neil Armstrong, I’d be dead,” he said matter-of-factly.
What is Stars on Mars about?
The brand new reality show sees a bunch of celebs “survive” in a 24-day Mars simulation and complete challenges and evictions until one “celebronant” is crowned the winner.
Funnily enough, the series was filmed in Coober Pedy, South Australia because it closely resembles the Mars-like landscape.
Stars on Mars. Fox.
Who’s in the cast?
Ariel Winter – Modern Family.
Natasha Leggero – The 70s House host.
Rodna Rousey – WWE Fighter.
Tom Schwartz – Vanderpump Rules.
Marshawn Lynch – Former NFL Player.
Tinashe – Singer.
Porsha Williams – The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Adam Rippon – American figure skater.
Lance Armstrong – Former Olympic athlete (not astronaut).
Tallulah Willis – The Whole Ten Yards.
Richard Sherman – American NFL player.
Christopher Mintz-Plasse – Superbad.
How can I watch Stars on Mars in Australia?
Unfortunately, Stars on Mars is only broadcast on Fox and available to stream on Hulu, and neither is available in Australia.
It’s only been a little over a year since Shane Warne tragically passed away in Thailand of a heart attack, but there’s already a mini-series being released about his life.
Warne was equally – if not more – famous for his spicy personal life, as he was for his tremendous cricketing achievements. He married Elizabeth Hurley, sexted a British nurse while married and returned a positive drug test which caused him to be banned from cricket. All of which look to be included in the upcoming series.
The series will premiere on June 25 with a concluding episode on June 26 on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Despite Warne’s wild personal life, there’s no debating that he was one of the best cricketers of all time. And, the two-part drama is set to capture both the highs and lows of his career and his life.
Warnie. Nine.
“This is a man who never captained Australia, a sportsman who found himself in trouble, multiple times – at one point banned from the game he loved. Warnie lived his life in the spotlight, with every failing scrutinised by global media and had more than his fair share of controversy,” a press release for the series reads.
“Yet, in spite of all that, Shane Warne managed to retain the love of not only his family and friends but millions around the world.”
Will Liz Hurley feature in Warnie?
Yes, she will! UK-born actress Shanti Kali will play the part of Liz Hurley, and the series is set to reenact their famous meeting at the races in 2010. Warnie will also follow Warne’s relationship with his ex-wife Simone Callahan and detail the breakdown of their marriage.
Who’s in it?
Australian actor Alex Williams is playing the role of Warne, and the cast also features Anthony Hayes, Marny Kennedy, Jacqui Brennan and Jeremy Stanford.
It’s episode 28 of MasterChef Australia and legendary chef Curtis Stone is back in the kitchen to set a service challenge for the top 10 contestants.
During the episode, it was a Service Challenge where root vegetables (turnips, sweet potatoes, parsnips and beetroot) were on the menu and the teams had to create a two-course menu: main and dessert, with the winning team heading into Thursday’s Immunity Challenge.
Curtis Stone. Ten
The Green team consisted of Ralph, Adi, Brent, Rhiannon and Rue, while on the Brown team, it was Declan, Cath, Antonio and Malissa. Theo was unwell and didn’t take part in the challenge, meaning he had no shot at winning Immunity this week.
Since the Brown team was one man down, they had three hours on the clock before the savoury course needed to leave the pass while the Green team had two and a half hours.
Let’s get cooking!
The Cook
For their main, the Brown team decided on an Eye Fillet Steak with an Oven Roasted Sweet Potato rubbed in a Morrocan spice mix.
For dessert, they chose to do a Sweet Potato Brownie; however, Curtis questioned whether they were playing it too “safe”.
Malissa, Declan and Curtis. Ten
Once their 30 minutes of waiting were up, the Green team decided on Beetroot for their main element. They chose Braised Octopus with Aromats, finished on the Hibachi grill.
Brent would be in charge of cooking the mollusc with Curtis questioning him whether he was “confident” enough to do it. He said he was.
For their dessert, the team chose a Goats Cheese Crémaux with a Beetroot Consommé; with Rhiannon putting up her hand to be team captain.
Brent. Ten
The Brown team then changed course to cook a Fillet Steak with Middle Eastern Spice Sweet Potato Purée and Tahini, while now cooking a dessert of Sweet Potato Custard with Cinnamon Ice-Cream. They also decided not to have a team captain since they all knew what they were working on.
Even though Cath had a major ice cream disaster during the May 31 Service Challenge, she was once again tasked with cooking the delicious component.
Meanwhile, Declan was in charge of the meat and Curtis told him to be more generous with his servings. However, when it came to cooking, his first four were sent back by the culinary expert for being undercooked.
The Judging — Main
Judges Jock Zonfrillo, Andy Allen and Melissa Leong were presented with the Brown Team’s Eye Fillet, Sweet Potato Purée and Tahini Dressing.
They noted the steaks were cooked inconsistently, Andy loved the spiced blend of the puée and the Tahini sauce. Jock enjoyed the flavours and Mel said they “were all having different experiences”.
Brown team main. Ten
Although the Green team struggled to get everything on the plate, they delivered their Charred Octopus with Beetroot to the judges.
They loved the presentation with Jock calling it “interesting”, adding he really “enjoyed it”. Mel agreed, saying the texture was great and called it “clever cooking”. Andy said the “upsetting thing” was the roasted beetroot, one of his was cooked “al denté”.
The Green team’s main. Ten
The Judging — Dessert
Disaster hit the Green team again as Cath forgot the Sweet Potato caramel for the ice cream.
The Green team were the first to send their dessert to the Judges. Their Goats Cheese Crémaux with Beetroot Consommé and Poached Pear was praised for flavour with the Consommé being the best part of the dessert.
The Green team’s dessert. Ten
Finally, the Brown team’s Sweet Potato Tart with Spiced Ice Cream and Sweet Potato Caramel was placed in front of Jock, Mel and Andy; however, Anotonio was concerned by the consistency of his custard tart.
Jock said the tart was “too soft”, but the tart case was “epic”. He absolutely loved the caramel and Andy loved the ice-cream. Mel felt conflicted because the custard wasn’t an enjoyable texture.
The Brown team’s dessert. Ten
The Verdict
The Green Team of Ralph, Adi, Brent, Rhiannon and Rue were victorious and will now go head-to-head for an Immunity Pin in the June 15 episode.
MasterChef Australia airs Sunday – Thursday at 7.30pm on 10 and 10Play.
It’s Million Dollar Island Australia 2023 episode three and we’ve got an hour-and-a-half-long slightly passive aggressive face-off between alpha player Karla and outspoken Survival Enthusiast Adrian.
Here are 12 thoughts I had during episode three of Million Dollar Island Australia.
The episode kicks off with Karla ordering her team around, and I’m still confused about why she’s in charge when no other teams have leaders.
Million Dollar Island. Seven.
2. Christine gets in a big fight with her camp over food. Turns out she took extra rice because she doesn’t eat garlic so that she can have an equal portion and I’m just wondering how much room the garlic takes up in their rice bowls?
3. Interesting. A relaxed Vegan chiropractor called Yasmin picks this week’s tributes for the challenge, and she chooses a mix of volunteers and challenge guns, which is both a big move and cop-out at the same time. We have Luke, Nate, Adrian, Karla, Brendan, and Christine competing for immunity.
Million Dollar Island. Seven.
The Challenge
4. I’m living for the Karla vs Adrian (the ahem, Survival Enthusiast) narrative that’s being pushed on us but I’m not sure why are they fighting before the challenge even starts.
5. The contestants select their teams for the challenge and I’m praying Adrian and Karla will be paired together.
6. Sadly, the two survival rivals are on separate teams, but an Adrian and Christine team is still quite spicy, hopefully, she can’t smell the garlic on him from breaky.
The Second Challenge
7. Adrian conveniently forgets Karla’s name and it could be the best moment of this season so far.
Million Dollar Island. Seven.
8 . The second challenge kicks off and Brendan reveals that he’s never touched a coconut “in his life” and I’m confused. How is that possible?
9. Despite never had touch a coconut, Brendan wins the challenge which is extremely lol worthy considering Adrian is a self-confessed Survival Enthusiast and he lost to a coconut virgin.
Million Dollar Island. Seven.
The Elimination
10. This week’s challenge winner Nate decides to leave because he missed his family which is a plot twist, who will he give the bracelets to? Can he split them up?
11. Karla gets saved by a rando contestant that’s leaving and Adrian isn’t stoked. However, it’s clear he’s eyeing Nate’s five bracelets, which are up for grabs, anyway.
Million Dollar Island. Seven.
12. Unfortunately for Adrian, but fortunately for us as viewers, Nate hands all his bracelets to the richest man on the island Brett, and MDI Survival Enthusiast is sent packing.
Million Dollar Island Australia continues on Sunday 18 at 7.30pm on 7 and 7Plus.
Another award-winning drama is dropping this winter to keep you entertained through these freezing-cold winter months.
Emmy-nominated series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakes Dynasty will be returning to Binge for season two this August, and if the trailer is anything to go by, it looks just as addictive as season one.
Season one of the sports drama television series followed the personal lives of 1980’s Lakers basketball players and many of the storylines were based on actual events that were detailed in Jeff Pearlman’s non-fiction book Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s.
Throughout the season, the characters battled with family problems, relationship dramas, and serious tragedies, all while trying to keep their coveted spots on the L.A. Lakers basketball team.
Winning Time. Binge.
What will season two of Winning Time be about?
Over seven exciting episodes, season two covers the Lakers players’ personal and professional lives from right after the 1980 Finals through to 1984. The new season has a heavy focus on the first professional rematch of the era’s greatest stars: Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.
Who’s in it?
Season two of Winning Time will see John C. Reilly return as Jerry Buss, Quincy Isaiah as Magic Johnson and Jason Clarke come back as Jerry West. It will also see Gaby Hoffmann, Hadley Robinson, and DeVaughn Nixon return as Claire Rothman, Jeanie Buss and Norm Nixon.
Meanwhile, Adrien Brody will come back as Pat Riley, as will Jason Segel as Paul Westhead
Winning Time. Binge.
The ensemble cast for the second season also includes Solomon Hughes, Tamera Tomakili, Brett Cullen, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Spencer Garrett, Molly Gordon, Joey Brooks, Delante Desouza, Jimel Atkins, Austin Aaron, McCabe Slye, Thomas Mann, Gillian Jacobs, with Michael Chiklis and Rob Morgan.
The brand new Australian/UK drama Riptide is set on a beautiful beach in Victoria and follows a feuding family who struggles to work past their issues before a very dark event.
In the TV series, Alison marries a rich older man named Sean and moves to his bougie beachfront home with her daughter Hannah. But, Sean’s adult son Ethan has his suspicions about Alison’s intentions which are further escalated after his dad disappears during a morning surf.
Sean and Alison. Ten.
Throughout the four-part series, the search for Sean unfolds, and the dark drama plays out with a backdrop of a stunning Summer-Bay-esque beach and some very good-looking people.
Who’s in it?
While the series is giving vague Home and Away vibes, the cast is actually stacked with former Neighbours actors. Check out who will be starring in Riptide:
Jo Joyner as Alison (Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators, Eastenders, Ackley Bridge, Stay Close) Ciarán Griffiths (Coronation Street, Shameless, The Bill).
Peter O’Brien as Sean (Neighbours, Tidelands, GLOW).
Benny Turland as Ethan (Neighbours).
Asher Yasbincek as Hannah (Heartbreak High, The Wilds).
David Berry (A Place to Call Home, Outlander).
Ally Fowler (Wentworth, Neighbours, All Saints).
Yazeed Daher (The Heights, The Hunting, Safe Harbour)
Benjamin Samaddar
Alison. Ten.
Who is behind Riptide?
Like the cast, the behind-the-scenes team of Riptide boasts some very impressive names. The series is created, written and produced by Jason Herbison (Neighbours, Lie With Me, Always Greener)and directed by Australia Directors’ Guild Award recipient, Scott Major (Lie With Me,Neighbours).
The writers include Margaret Wilson, Anthony Ellis (Wentworth, McLeod’s Daughters, Stingers) and Natalie Mandel (Neighbours,Wanted, Packed to the Rafters).
It’s Million Dollar Island Australia 2023 episode two and we’ve got Jonathan with the power to choose who will enter this week’s challenge and risk being eliminated.
Will Jonathan decide to follow in Mike’s footsteps and put himself forward, or will he choose five other contestants to battle it?
The answer comes pretty early on, but the action-packed episode moves from drama to drama from start to finish. Here are 20 thoughts I had during episode two of Million Dollar Island Australia.
1. Who is the loud pink-haired lady and why on earth did I not notice her in the first episode? Apparently, her name is Melissa.
Melissa. Seven.
2. Jonathan is in charge of selecting this episode’s tributes and has learned from Mike’s mistake and decided not to nominate himself for the challenge. Hooray!
“I’m a dancer… So, I just knew, in terms of the mental challenge, I’ll fail,” he explains.
3. I’m kinda living for the cute two older ladies who have decided they’re snoring buddies.
Snoring Buddy, Snoring Buddy #1 and a random competitor friend. Seven.
4. One of the adorbs snoring buddies (Louise) has volunteered to take part in the challenge and ugh it looks as though we might only have one snoring buddy left by the end of the ep.
5. Ummm, did she just refer to someone as the “afro-hair guy” while also suggesting him for eviction? That’s not okay. He has a name, and it’s Alfa FYI.
6. Karla has volunteered to be Log Camp’s ‘Expedition Leader’, even though there are no leaders and no official requirement for one.
“People wanted some guidance and I stepped in and took that role,” Karla says and I’m wondering if she’s ever seen Survivor? Probably not the best tactic to put a target on her back so early on.
Karla the Expedition Leader. Seven.
The Challenge
7. Surprise, surprise, after receiving a considerable amount of screen time in this ep, Melissa and her pink hair are nominated to participate in the elimination challenge. She’s joined by Dean, Alfa, Louise, Vicki, and Sharni.
8. Welp, it looks like the host Ant Middleton tricked us when he told Jonathan the challenge was “mental” because we just found out that these guys have to literally use their own body strength to launch coconuts into signs.
9. I take that back, Ant explains that contestants will need to use their brains to remember their fellow contestants’ names, and if they get it right, they earn the chance to ditch a coconut at one of their rival’s boards in an effort to knock them out.
10. Honestly, I’m kinda shocked at how this challenge is going. The “young guns” of the bunch can’t hit their targets but the “oldies” are smashing it.
Melissa in the challenge. Seven.
11. Looks like I spoke too soon. The “young ones” made a comeback and alpha female Sharni took out the competition, something fellow alpha female Karla isn’t too happy about.
Karla watching Sharni in the challenge. Seven.
The second challenge
12. What alternate universe am I living in? Why is the pink-haired midwife helping snoring buddy #1 light her fire in the challenge?
Melissa helping Dean light his fire. Seven.
13. O…kay. Now, everyone is helping their competitors light their fires. Do they not realise this is a competition?
14. As Melissa begins to fall behind in the beach fire challenge, I’m just wondering if she’s regretting helping her teammates?
15. Dean’s speech to Melissa and snoring buddy #1 after winning the challenge is extremely sweet. I have a soft spot for him and I think Sharni does too.
Dean and Sharni. Seven.
16. Could this be the beginning of the first Million Dollar Island Australia showmance?
The aftermath
17. Wow, midwife Melissa is really gloating about her act of helping everyone at the challenge in an effort to get a sympathy bracelet and stay in the game – was it just a tactic all along?
Melissa pitching her case. Seven.
18. A suspicious amount of people are saying they’re ready to leave the island and it’s got me wondering if producers purposely cast people that they don’t think can survive the jungle?
The elimination
19. I am absolutely floored that during Melissa’s elimination ceremony speech, she didn’t mention that she helped everyone at the challenge.
20. Four contestants are quitting, and three nominated contestants want to stay, which makes it easy, right? Wrong! Alfa and Louise are saved but a woman named Vicki and Melissa, the pink-haired midwife, are sent packing. Bet she’s really regretting that fire help now.
Million Dollar Island Australia continues at 7.30pm on 7 and 7Plus.
It’s episode 27 of MasterChef Australia 2023 and it was a Pressure Test with a twist as Adi, Theo and Grace had to replicate a dish with no recipe!
With just two hours on the clock, the contestants had to use their taste buds and gut instincts to recreate Chef Luke Nguyen’s Beef Pho.
With ingredients waiting for them and their equipment provided, it was time to cook for Judges Jock Zonfrillo, Melissa Leong and Andy Allen, while Chef Luke was there to offer guidance.
Being a Pressure Test, whoever’s dish looked and tasted the least like the culinary expert’s, would be sent home!
Andy Allen, Chef Luke Nguyen, Melissa Leong and Jock Zonfrillo. Ten
The Pressure Test — Beef Pho
The first challenge in the Pressure Test saw the contestants identifying what was in Chef Luke’s steaming hot bowl of Beef Pho.
The trio recognised beef short rib, ox tail, rice noodles, and broth as the main ingredients, but there was something else hidden inside, a secret ingredient!
Luke revealed the “ancient delicacy”, of a bull’s penis, explaining it added a gelatinous texture to the broth and respected the ethos of eating the whole animal with minimal waste.
Before cooking, Luke advised the cooks that the broth should be clean and clear, flavoursome and well balanced.
Theo, Grace and Addy. Ten
Adi’s Cook
Adi was feeling excited and ready for her first-ever Pressure Test and as an avid Pho maker, she was off to a flying start: blanching those bones until the broth is crystal clear, and getting it cooked up in the pressure cooker before anyone else.
But then came the noodle drama because getting the perfect dough recipe was a wee bit trickier than she imagined.
After a few false starts, she finally nailed it on her fifth attempt – but time was running out, with only 15 minutes left to get that broth balanced and get her dish ready for tasting. Talk about pressure!
Adi. Ten
Theo’s cook
When it comes to Vietnamese cooking, Theo was a novice and struggled without the use of a recipe. Luckily, Luke and Jock came to the rescue, advising him to pare it down and reframe the dish as a simple soup.
After brewing the perfect broth in the pressure cooker, Theo aced the noodle-making, playing around with xanthan gum; however, the broth needed more work.
He worked on the taste, reduced and seasoned it to perfection, matching up to Luke’s standards.
Theo. Ten
Grace’s cook
Grace entered the challenge optimistic; however, like Theo, was rattled without a recipe.
Unlike the other competitors, she prioritised caramelizing her bones before putting them into the pressure cooker and though it took some noodle dough experiments, she eventually nailed it.
Towards the end, her broth looked a little gloopy and fatty and Mel and Luke gave her the heads up to skim off some of the fat; however, was racing against the clock to create a balanced flavour.
Melissa, Luke and Grace. Ten
Judging
Theo was excited to present his Beef Pho to the judges.
Andy called Theo’s dish “was “close to perfect”, while also congratulating him on turning his cook around.
Theo’s Pho. Ten
Next up was Grace, who said she was “proud” of what she had delivered. The judges liked her seasoning and praised her noodles for being bouncy, silky and soft.
Since she roasted her meat and bones at the start of her cook, Grace’s broth was heavy and cloudy which was also exacerbated by the fact she didn’t skim the fat off the top. Unfortunately, the judges were left with unpleasant greasy palates.
Grace’s dish. Ten
Finally, Adi presented her dish to the judges.
Her pho was praised for its broth clarity and well-cooked protein; however, it lacked seasoning.
Adi’s dish
The Verdict
Due to the leaving an unwanted taste of grease in the mouths of the judges, Grace became the eighth eliminated contestant.
MasterChef Australia airs Sunday – Thursday at 7.30pm on 10 and 10Play.
It’s episode four of Parental Guidance, and Dr Justin Coulson and Ally Langdon are continuing their quest to find Australia’s best parenting style.
Like in episode three, the Influencer, Spiritual, Team, and Stage parenting styles are being put through their paces, delving into the importance of setting a good example, teaching vital life skills, and handling emergency situations.
Challenge One — Parents Off Duty
Testing: Life Skills
Spiritual and Stage Families
The episode kicks off with a dream scenario for every parent – a well-earned night off! But the kids (and their parents) are put to the test to see if they’ve been taught about healthy eating.
The Spiritual Family kids Krishna, 13 and Mridula, 7, decide to make pasta, helping each other out in the kitchen. Mridula who is usually a fussy eater, explored a new type of food because she got involved.
Mridula. Nine
The Stage Parents were up next, adding an additional course for their kids to cook.
While mum Sarah struggled to take a hands-off approach, she also made a comment that “Don’t forget, neither of us eats carbs”.
Xion, a rice lover, decided to use put a cup of it on the plate; however, Sarah’s comments about it became concerning.
“We think it’s important to make them aware, without shaming them, that if you want to be a Hollywood actor and buff, you need to watch what you eat.”
Sarah then picked the meal apart, which Xion noticed before Alaska served them Steak and Vegetables.
Alaska, Mark and Sarah. Nine
Challenge One – The Parent Lounge
While the Spiritual parents, Deepak and Kajal took a lot from the challenge and were commended on their parenting skills, the same couldn’t be said for Stage Parents Mark and Sarah.
Slow Parent Philippa liked how they gave their children a course each to do and Gentle Parent Larissa loved how confident the kids were. However, Unstructured Parent Melody was concerned by Sarah’s Hollywood comment with Mark saying that it’s a “personal goal” that his son Xion had expressed.
Lighthouse Parent Sammy asked where that “belief system” came from, and Sarah said it was because he’s “been around it a lot”, especially with the dancers in musicals who “have amazing bodies”.
“We all have amazing bodies regardless of how they look on the outside,” Melody said.
Parent’s Loung. Nine
Road Trip Parent Amy didn’t have a problem with what Sarah expressed, given they were in the “entertainment industry”.
Challenge One — Parents Off Duty Continued
Team and Influencer Families
The Team family decided on takeaway instead of cooking and although they didn’t make the meal themselves, they worked really well together ordering.
The Influencer kids also decided to bring food in. They chose healthy options rather than going for fast food.
Challenge One – The Parent Lounge Continued
The Team parents were praised for their kids working together and the Influencer Parents then spoke about their “party animal” lifestyles, with Road Trip parent Amy saying they need to change their language with how honest they are with their kids.
Kat and Jonathan. Nine
Dr Justin then said that parents need to be “open” and educate their kids on healthier options.
Spotlight — Team Parenting
In this parenting style, everyone is expected to work together, with Mark and Leanne’s motto being: “One in, all in”.
It turns out, Mark is the son of NRL great Arthur Beetson, the first Indigenous captain of any sporting team in Australia and regarded as a Rugby League immortal.
Arthur Beetson. Nine
Arthur was a hugely influential person in Mark’s life and has a huge impact on the way they parent.
As a couple, they believe in “repetition, respect and discipline, all the fundamentals that make our team what we are.”
Parent’s Lounge — Feedback
Gentle mum Larissa loved that they said “Everything works better when you do it together”, while Slow Parent Philippa was concerned the kids have too much on.
“Our kids thrive off it,” Leanne assured her.
Challenge — Home Alone — Team and Influencers
Testing: Independence under pressure
With a fire simulation blowing smoke into the room, Influencer Family’s Deja is taken aback. Mum Kat reveals that she hasn’t actually spoken to her kids about what to do if there is an emergency, instead, saying she is capable of making the right decision.
Deja decides to go next door for help.
Deja. Nine
Over in the Team Parent’s house, Brooklyn takes control of his little sisters, calling Mark for help.
Parents Lounge— Feedback
Unstructured Parent Melody praised the “team” aspect of how they listened to one another and also told the Influencer family it was great that Deja remained calm and listened to her neighbour.
Challenge — Home Alone — Stage and Spiritual
Xion and River were home alone when the “fire” broke out with Xion telling his brother “It’s not a fire”. They waited for their parents to come back instead of asking for help.
In the Spiritual Home, Krishna and Mridula called their parents. Instead of using a phone, Mridula yelled outside, while Krishna opened windows.
Mridula and Krishna. Nine
Parents Lounge — Feedback
Lighthouse mum Sammy suggested that being more assertive would be better in this situation and the kids needed to get out, rather than investigate.
Spotlight — Stage Parents
Given they are teachers of performing arts, the Stage Parent’s children have been exposed to the industry all of their life.
River plays Jai on Home and Away and gets stopped on the street a lot, which according to Sarah, “he does not like”. She believes in having respect for others and forces him to have his picture taken by strangers who approach him.
River. Nine
Parents Lounge— Feedback
Gentle Parent Larissa loved how confident her kids were, but questioned whether it was appropriate to force him to take a photo. Sarah said that it probably made that person’s day, which he likes.
Slow Parent Philippa asked about the sacrifices they make as parents and Sarah said she wanted to make sure her kids have those opportunities before Lighthouse Parent Melody also questioned whether they were forcing their children to be in the industry; however, Sarah reassured them that they like it.
Challenge Three — Snake Alert Challenge
Testing: Facing your fears
The next challenge is to see how parents handle when their child is confronted by fear.
Krishna from the Spiritual Family was excited by the prospect of holding a snake but Deja was “not a fan of any type of creature.”
Deja. Nine
Kat talked Deja through the process and she was able to overcome her fear!
Stage Parents’ River had zero fear and handled it like a pro while Mridula was able to hold onto the snake with the support of the Spiritual Family.
When it was time for the Team Family, there was a lot of hesitation from Baylee, and after some beautiful coaxing from Mark, Leanne jumped in there and did it too, and there was not a dry eye!
Leanne and Baylee. Nine
The Verdict
Team Parents Mark and Leanne were chosen as the couple with the best Parental Guidance and would be joining Honest mum Kat in the finals.
Parental Guidance airs Monday and Tuesday at 7.30pm on 9 and 9Now.
Mark – who makes up one-half of ‘Team Parenting’ on Parental Guidance – has a deep-rooted history with sport; his father was NRL legend Arthur Beetson.
Arthur’s grandchildren Matthew (16) Billy (11) Ella (8) Brooklyn (6) Bobbi (4) Baylee (3) all appear on the popular reality show alongside their parents Mark and Leanne.
Mark and Leanne with their family. Nine.
Parental Guidance sees twelve sets of parents enter an experiment and openly display their parenting styles, which are judged by both the hosts and their fellow co-stars.
Throughout the season, the parents undertake challenges and have their approach to parenting reviewed, reacted to, and discussed on the Parents’ Lounge, which ultimately leads to a vote for Australia’s best style.
Mark and Leanne focus their parenting style on being coaches, utilising repetition, instilling respect and discipline and encouraging teamwork. They allow their oldest son to be “captain” and sports play a huge role in the family’s routine, keeping the kids active and engaged.
Who is Arthur Beetson?
Arthur Beetson was one of the most legendary faces of NRL. He captained the inaugural State of Origin match in 1980 and was the first Indigenous Australian to captain Australia in any sport.
Arthur Beetson playing NRL. NRL.com
Arthur played NRL from 1964 until 1981, and after he hung up his jersey he went on to become part of the ABC’s commentary team in 1991 for their Saturday Afternoon League telecasts. He also coached the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks for the 1992 and 1993 seasons.
After Arthur passed away in 2011 from a heart attack, his son Mark set up the Arthur Beetson Foundation which honours Indigenous Australians who make outstanding contributions to Queensland Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people through Rugby League.
Shortly after his death, The Premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh ordered a bronze statue of Arthur to be erected at Lang Park.
The Arthur Beetson statue at Lang Park.
What NRL awards did Arthur Beetson win?
1975 NSW Sports Star of the Year.
Named in Australian rugby league’s 100 greatest players.
Named as prop forward in the Australian rugby league team of the century.
Named as prop forward in Queensland rugby league team of the Century.
Named as prop forward in Indigenous Australian rugby league team of the century.
First Aborigine to captain the Australian Test team (vs France for the 2nd France vs Australia Test on the 1973 Kangaroo tour).
Parental Guidance airs Monday and Tuesday at 7.30pm on 9 and 9Now.
The new trailer has dropped for Hunted season two and it looks as though the fugitives will be running the show this year.
“We’ve seen their game, we’ve seen their tricks, we know how it all works,” one of future contestants says in a voice over.
Throughout the two minute trailer, the expert hunters look exasperated over their struggle to catch the fugitives, and one set of contestants even make a getaway on a small private plane.
Another particular scene shows a group of contestants teaming up and donning Money Heist inspired costumes to send the hunters a taunting Instagram video.
Contestants. Hunted.
However, despite the hunters apparent lack of control, they remain determined that they will be victorious.
“The fugitives may have done their homework, but this is our job,” Deputy Intelligence Ben Owen says.
What is the premise of the show?
Hunted follows ten pairs of every-day Aussies who transform themsleves into real-life fugitives with limited funds and resources with one objective in mind; to avoid being caught by the experts.
The experts, otherwise known as the hunters, are made up of some of the world’s best investigators formerly of the Australian Federal Police, Australian Defence Force and British Intelligence, alongside skilled cyber analysts and intel experts.
When fugitives are caught by the hunters, they are eliminated from the game. The fugitives who can evade captures and make it to the 21 day extraction point win the game.
Will any of the cast from season one be returning?
Yes. While the contestants will all be new, many of the hunters from last season will be returning. They’ll be joined by the new addition of Senior Principal analyst Leigha Fraser.
Deputy Intelligence Ben Owen. Hunted.
Amongst the returning experts are:
Hunted Chief Dr. David Craig.
Deputy Intelligence Ben Owen.
Deputy Operations Reece Dewar.
Lead Investigator Graeme Simpfendorfer.
Lead Cyber Jason Edelstein.
Forensic Psychologist Dr Karla Lopez.
Open-Source Intel Carter Smith.
Digital Forensics Jay Banerji.
Ethical Hacker Vicki Grouious.
Open-Source Intel Steph Jensen.
Where can I watch the trailer?
Right here!
Hunted season two will air in 2023 on 10 and 10Play.
In another win for Australian TV, NCIS is heading down under for a Sydney spin-off and a popular former Home and Away star will be one of the agents leading the investigations.
Todd Lasance, who is well-known for playing Aden Jefferies on the Aussie soap will play 2IC AFP counterpart, Sergeant Jim “JD” Dempsey and will answer to NCIS Special Agent Michelle Mackey who will be played by English actress Olivia Swann.
The Australian iteration of the popular crime show follows in the footsteps of Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Hawaii, who’ve all released spin-offs of the series.
NCIS Hawaii. CBS.
“We are thrilled to be expanding the NCIS franchise, one of our most powerful and iconic television IPs, across borders and into Australia,” said Lindsey Martin, Head of International Co-Productions and Development at CBS Studios.
“It is a joy to work with this talented NCIS: Sydney creative team, actors, and crew for our inaugural international original, and to be able to tell our exciting NCIS stories with a uniquely Australian sensibility.”
Who will be in it?
Lasance and Swann will be joined by a whole-new cast, who haven’t appeared in any versions of NCIS before.
Some of the other cast members are:
Sean Sagar (The Covenant, Mea Culpa) as NCIS Special Agent DeShawn Jackson
Tuuli Narkle (Mystery Road: Origin, Bad Behaviour) will play AFP Liaison Officer Constable Evie Cooper
Mavournee Hazel (Shantaram, Halifax: Retribution) will play AFP Forensic Scientist Bluebird ‘Blue’ Gleeson
William McInnes (The Newsreader, Total Control) will play AFP Forensic Pathologist Dr Roy Penrose.
NCIS Sydney cast. Paramount+.
What will NCIS Sydney be about?
The new spin-off will be filmed against the background of Australia’s harbour city of Sydney and will be broadcast globally.
It will follow “a team of U.S. NCIS Agents and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) who are grafted into a multinational taskforce, to keep naval crimes in check, in the most contested patch of the ocean on the planet.”
How can I watch it?
NCIS Sydney will stream exclusively on Paramount+ and Network 10 in Australia and will air in 2023.
It’s Million Dollar Island Australia 2023 episode one and we’re about to be thrown into the deep end.
In the span of an hour and a half, we were introduced to 100 contestants, informed about the premise of the game, watched an elimination challenge go down and saw FIVE people sent home.
The entire episode was a ride, and I had a lot of thoughts throughout.
Here are 20 of them:
Contestants head to Million Dollar Island
1. I already knew there were going to be 100 contestants but seeing them all together is a lot. Like, a lot a lot.
2. Why are they allowed so much stuff? People are literally swimming through the water with full-on suitcases?
Million Dollar Island. Seven.
3. I’m trying to get past this 100-contestant thing, but it’s tough. Seeing everyone sitting at the podium is making me spiral about how I am going to remember all (or any?) of their names.
4. On that note, with so many contestants there’s sure to be a lot of showmances, right? Juicy.
Million Dollar Island. Seven.
The Elimination Wheel gives Mike the power to pick the contestants in the elimination challenge
5. Mike was in charge of picking the contestants who will compete in the elimination challenge and we were told only one person will be kept safe. He said his “last choice” was to pick six strong people (not including himself) to “suss out what they’re like under pressure” and avoid being involved in the elimination. I’m just wondering why this is his last choice and not his first choice?
6. We were introduced to Adrian who is a “Survival Enthusiast” and while I don’t know exactly what that is, he certainly looks the part.
Million Dollar Island. Seven.
7. Mike selected the players to take part in the challenge, and unsurprisingly (!!) he picked himself. It’s Brett, Scott, Tim, Sherwin and Dan facing off with him.
8. Adrian AKA Survival Enthusiast knew what’s up. “I wouldn’t have done that, especially just getting to the island. I wouldn’t have nominated myself no,” he told the camera.
The challenge
9. With everyone’s challenge towers constantly falling over, are we even going to have time to eliminate a chunk of these people so I can start to remember some names?
Million Dollar Island. Seven.
10. It looks as though I may have to eat my words as Mike’s in the lead. Oh god, please no.
11. Nope, Brett made an insane comeback. Not gonna say I told you so Mike, but I kinda did.
12. Brett was deemed safe from this elimination (and the next) and snapped on his competitor’s bracelets which made him the “richest man on the island” with $60,000. This puts a huuuge target on his back, non?
The elimination aftermath
13. Mike, Scott, Tim, Sherwin and Dan’s only hope of staying in the game was to get a bracelet off a team-mate who was willing to quit. Sure, it’s unlikely anyone would want to quit on day two. HOWEVER, maybe these contestants didn’t know there were going to be so many competitors. And CBF with a 1% chance at winning? Just saying.
14. Boom. Donald decided he was over it and was considering going home. Who could blame him? His job title is miner, so a million bucks is prob a few day’s work anyways.
Million Dollar Island. Seven.
15. After putting himself in the firing line, Nick couldn’t even bring himself to hustle the other contestants for their bracelets. At this point, I’m hoping he’ll stay solely for the entertainment factor.
16. Kelly was sick and told she has to go. Here’s hoping her bracelet goes to the wholesome blonde guy (Dan) who wants to support his grandparents with his winnings.
Elimination
17. It’s elimination time, which five people will go home? My prediction? Nick (obviously), Kelly (medical reasons), Donald (Self-eviction), Sherwin, and Scott.
18. Curveball: Kelly gave her bracelet to someone (I’ve never seen before) who isn’t even up for eviction.
Million Dollar Island. Seven.
19. Boo! Dan’s sent home along with our exceptional villain Nick, as well as Kelly, Donald, Sherin, and Scott. Donald decides to give his bracelet to Tim and just like that, we’re down to 94 contestants.
20. Brett’s advice for Jonathan, who will be picking the next elimination batch, is top-notch. “You don’t want to nominate yourself, don’t make the Mike mistake. Think hard about what you’re going to do.” Touche.
Million Dollar Island Australia continues at 7.30pm on 7 and 7Plus.
