With over 100 series produced in 35 countries, Survivor is one of the world's most talked-about reality shows. The South African version - which hits screens from 3 September - is based on the same basic premises.
A number of contestants (usually between 10 and 20) are shipped to a remote location, where they must live without basic comforts and exposed to the natural elements, while cameras film their every move.
For a set period (up to 39 days), the Survivors must fend for themselves and learn to live with their fellows - without necessarily trusting a soul - using their wits and wisdom to survive in the primitive environment.
Survivors are usually split into two groups, and must form their own cooperative society, building shelter and fire, catching food, and participating in contests for rewards. Those who succeed in Challenges will be rewarded with things to make life easier. Those who fail must do without.
At regular intervals, the Survivors must participate in Immunity Challenges. The team who loses this Immunity challenge must attend Tribal Council. At this, each person secretly votes to send one fellow Survivor home. The person with the most votes must leave their tribe immediately.
Week by week, people are eliminated, until at the end of the final episode, only two Survivors remain. At that point, the seven most recently eliminated Survivors will return to form the final Tribal Council - and they decide who the Sole Survivor will be. That person wins the grand prize - in the case of Survivor South Africa: one million Rand.
