E4 revives Shipwrecked

Channel 4 is reviving RDF’s desert island reality show Shipwrecked after a seven-year hiatus.

Casting has begun for the ninth series of the format, which will be filmed this summer.

As with the latter series of its initial run, two tribes of 18-30 year-olds will set up camp on two rival islands, Shark Island and Tiger Island. The two tribes will compete to win over new arrivals, with the largest tribe at the end of the series crowned the winners.

In a new twist on the format, the islands will be laced with secrets, hidden treasures and traps to uncover along the way.

The broadcaster has commissioned 15 episodes of the reality series from Crystal Maze indie Fizz - which is part of RDF TV and a Banijay Group company - and Motion Content Group.

The new series will air on E4 later in the year. It previously aired on C4’s Sunday morning youth entertainment strand T4 between 2000 and 2011. The series was remade in Russia in 2013 for NTV.

The 15 x 60-minute series will be executive produced by Fizz creative director Neale Simpson, Kate Bates and Abigail Adams for Motion Content Group.

C4 head of formats Dom Bird and formats commissioning editor Simone Haywood commissioned the series.

Simpson said: “Shipwrecked has always been known for its richly diverse and remarkable characters and we can’t wait to meet the new islanders bringing hedonism, heroism, heart, and hilarity to our paradise island adventure. 

Adams added: “We’re delighted to be working alongside Fizz and E4 in bringing back this well-loved brand and to welcome a new generation of paradise castaways to this exciting, supercharged series of Shipwrecked.”