Castaway 2007

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Castaway 2007
Genre	Reality
Creator(s)	Various
Presenter(s)	Danny Wallace Richard Bacon
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Production
Executive producer(s)	Jeremy Mills
Running time	various
Broadcast
Original channel	BBC One & BBC Three
Original run	March 9, 2007 –
Links
BBC - Castaway Official website
TV.com summary

Castaway 2007 is a follow-up to the BBC series Castaway 2000 in which 36 men, women and children from the British public moved to a remote Scottish island for a year.

In the new series, the basic premise of a group of volunteers living as a community in a remote location remains, however this time the BBC is promising an "exotic location, on the other side of the world". A number of locations in New Zealand were touted including Durville, Slipper, Rotoroa, Forsyth and Arapawa Islands.

Filming for the show starts at the end of February on Great Barrier Island, around 90km from Auckland (a 35-minute plane trip or two-hour ferry ride), but the British contestants will not be far from the comforts of home. The magic of television will be necessary as the "castaways" will actually be staying in Harataonga Bay - just a 30-minute drive from a store, a chemist, a cafe, a sports club, a golf club and an airfield.

The bay is home to a Department of Conservation campground with, admittedly, cold showers and long-drop toilets. The road and campground will be kept open for the public throughout filming, which means it is possible that the odd tourist or school group could stumble across the production, or locals could go along to watch.

DOC community relations officer Alison Turner said the department had wanted the campground left open. It can accommodate up to 80 people, but demand largely drops away towards the end of January and it was expected to be quiet during filming. However, she said, the start of the school term sometimes brought school trips, and there could be "three or four family groups staying around that time".

Izzy Fordham, a Community Board representative, lives two kilometres from Harataonga beach and describes the bay as "semi-isolated". "If it was really isolated, you wouldn't be able to drive a car down." A farmer who grazes his stock around the campground has moved the animals away from the area in preparation. "You can't possibly have a cow mooing in the background when you're a castaway," laughed Fordham. She said supplies had been brought in over the past few weeks, including containers and building materials. Replica pieces of an old wrecked boat have also been transported to the bay.

With up to 120 people coming as crew for the production, Fordham expected the island would get a "good cash injection", and said much of the local accommodation was booked up. Turner said DOC had worked closely with the BBC to ensure that conservation values were upheld in the area while filming took place.

However, some locals are unhappy with a letter sent by Jeremy Galvin, location manager for programme maker Lion TV. It advised people of alternative campgrounds to use due to disruption that might be experienced during filming, and discouraged people from visiting the bay.

Joyce Gibson, a Great Barrier Island resident for 20 years, called the letter "arrogant", and said "nobody should tell a New Zealander they can't go to a beach". Gibson said she was worried about the impact on the environment, and strongly felt that the production should have been carried out on private land. "Our parks shouldn't be used for this. It's public land, that's what gets me."

The BBC did not want to comment, and wants participants to know as little as possible about the series. Spokeswoman Kate Adam said the "remoteness of the experience from the participants' every day lives is as much, if not more, the reason behind the series as the geographical remoteness/distance".

1 Broadcast
2 Castaways
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Broadcast

Castaway 2007 will be broadcast on BBC One and presented by Danny Wallace, with spin-off shows on BBC Three. The main show was initially 60 minutes long, broadcast each Sunday at 9pm. It was further announced on the 11th of March 2007 that there would be a spin-off show on weekday evenings called Castaway: The Last 24 Hours. Each show will show the highlights of the previous day and will be hosted by Danny Wallace (just like the Sunday show). The new spin-off will broadcast each night on BBC 3 at varying times.^[1]

On 26 March, the BBC announced that the show format would be changed to three half-hour shows per week at 7pm on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. This was seen by commentators as a way of moving the show out of prime-time, as its viewing figures had halved since the launch episode.^[2] The revised format commenced on 8 April.

[edit] Castaways

On 7 March, the BBC revealed the thirteen initial castaways^[3]

Joe Chicken - 33, lives in London and is an occupational therapist. A self-confessed entertainer, he's passionate about animals and environmental issues. Hobbies include kayaking, swimming in the sea and cycling. He says: "I will occupy myself by playing hide and seek, telling jokes doing treasure hunts and dancing like a doughnut!"

Alister Cooling - 24, from Leeds describes himself as an unpublished science fiction writer. Influences include Buffy, Angel and 24. The self-confessed couch potato lists his friends to be his TV, his computer and his hi-fi. Previous jobs include a chef and hotel night porter. He says: "I feel it important to show those 'big-boned' young people out there that feel bullied and persecuted that there's a place in society for them."

Claire Hilley - 22, from Surrey wants to be a Conservative MP. Last year she was the youngest candidate to stand in a local election in the UK. She sees herself as a natural leader and admits she can be confident to the point of arrogance. She works as a recruitment consultant and hobbies include gliding, flying, sailing and walking. She says: "This experience will teach me what matters most to me and what I want the next chapter of my life to be."

Erica Hurst - 22, from Bolton has a degree in media studies. She used to work as a lap dancer, and aspires to be an actress. In her spare time she is a freelance travel writer for her local paper. Hobbies include snowboarding, Thai boxing and extreme sports. She says: "It is the type of situation I have always dreamed to be in where I could see what my full potential is."

Alasdair Humberston - 19, from Northamptonshire, is on a double gap year before starting a degree in business. He regards himself as a leader having been deputy head boy at his public school. He wants to be a venture capitalist and make millions. Hobbies include fishing, rugby and mountain boarding. He also spent some time rapping in a Goldie Looking Chain tribute band. He says: "It would be amazing to chase your breakfast around an island and wrestle with it." He attended Uppingham School in Highfield house for six years.

Lucinda King - 27, is an events project manager in London. The ex-convent girl has a degree in interior and architecture design. She admits that she comes across as confident and flirtatious, but on the inside is sensitive and "constantly dreaming about where life will take me". She says: "Castaway would take me away from everything I know - it would be the ultimate challenge."

Hassan Kobeissi - 24, from Suffolk works as a labourer. He has qualifications in business studies and performing arts. A non-practising Muslim, Hassan says he never backs down from an argument and likes to win. He lists swimming, running, boxing, fishing, tennis and golf among his hobbies. He says: "Being on Castaway will get me out of this robotic lifestyle that most of us lead."

Wendie Mitchell - 42, from London is a mother of four who gave up her advertising agency career last year to become a full-time carer for her mother. A skinhead for many years, Wendie runs a website dedicated to ska music. She says she can be a bit bossy and controlling at times. She says: I'd like to do something for myself after a year of taking care of others."

Kenneth Rose - 65, from Essex spent 22 years in the Royal Marines and says he's still a military man at heart. In civilian life, he's pursued his interest in photography. He's also skilled at DIY, carpentry and can kill animals and fish for food. Ken admits he doesn't get angry easily but can come across as aggressive without realising it. He says: "At my age it might be the last chance to do something outrageous."

Jason Ross - 37, from Kent is currently unemployed and a recovering drug and alcohol addict. He's been clean for 18 months. A qualified carpenter, he has a seven-year-old son whom he describes as one of his biggest personal achievements. Originally from London, Jason likes his food and is worried about shortages on the island. He says: "I'd like to gain a sense of self, a deeper respect for life and learn how to cope with the bare essentials."

Jonathan Shearer - 41, has spent many years as a migrant worker around the world - mainly working as a teacher. A self-confessed loner, Jonathan lives on the island of Benbecula in Scotland. He's currently cleaning toilets and hotel rooms to support his ornithology habit. He lists his other jobs as professional psychic, sewer digger and zookeeper (especially tigers). He says: "I have a strong dislike for the kind of deeply earnest, green, touchy-feely idiots whom I suspect you are going to populate your island with."

Francie Smee - 56, recently divorced after 20 years of marriage and started a new life in Oxford. She has three grown-up daughters, and describes herself as tall, bossy, fun and adventurous with a passion for outdoor life. Her skills include cooking, gardening, hiking, cycling, DIY, hunting and trapping. She says: "I need to feel good about myself, to regain confidence after a divorce, to fulfil a dream of having an adventure."

Gemma Zinyama - 22, from Essex works as a classified sales executive. She admits to being talkative and loves spending her money on making herself look good, and clubbing. A city girl at heart, she says she's not good at cooking and cleaning. She says: "I'd like to be educated by others and maybe I'll come back realising how lucky my life is and rethink my attitude towards things."

On day 15, a new castaway was introduced^[4]

Catherine Ball - 27, from Nuneaton, is a PhD student. She describes herself as an intellectual and is a speaker of five languages - English, German, French, Spanish and Thai.

On 25 March 2007, Jason Ross became the first Castaway to be cast-off permanently by his fellow islanders.^[5]