Doug spoke exclusively to RadioTimes.com ahead of the show’s launch.
While dubbing Survivor UK as “the toughest game on television”, contestant Doug has said some of the contestants from sport and athletic backgrounds may have had a bigger advantage when taking part.
The rebooted series is the “ultimate and physical and psychological game”, which will see 18 carefully selected people from all walks of life take part in a range of physical and mental challenges, with the hopes of winning the huge £100,000 cash prize and title of Sole Survivor.
Doug is one of those 18 contestants who were marooned in the Dominican Republic, and as a Survivor superfan, he knew exactly what needed to be done to go far in the competition.
Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com ahead of the show’s launch, Doug explained how some of the contestants were at a better advantage in comparison to others.
The 32-year-old had played rugby in his younger years, and when asked if any of his rugby skills helped him in the competition, he said: “I’m quite a tall dude. And so being tall was certainly an advantage for me in the game.”
He went on to say that the cast is filled with “a lot of athletes”, including a professional boxer, semi-professional footballer and fitness instructor.
“There’s a lot of athletes in the game, and I think having an athletic background certainly was, in some ways, an advantage,” he added.
Hailing from the Isle of Mull, Doug has been watching Survivor for as long as he can remember, and when he was younger he would re-enact some of the show’s original challenges with his family.
Having seen the series was returning, Doug wasted “no time” in submitting his application, and looking back on the tasks he undertook in Survivor UK, it reminded him of playing rugby.
Doug told RadioTimes.com: “All the challenges on Survivor were just epic. Growing up I played a lot of rugby, a team sport which was kind of tribalistic. So going into battle with your tribe against another tribe was so much fun.”
The flood risk consultant explained that the challenges “tested everything”, whether it be your “physical strength, speed, agility” or “memory”.
“It is the toughest game on television. No word of a lie. It is tough.”
Survivor UK launches on Saturday 28th October at 8:25pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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