February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Andrew Bushe
DUBLIN — RTE is looking for 16 people to face the challenge of a lifetime — a game-show set on a tropical island in the South Pacific with a prize of £50,000 in hidden treasure.
Thousands are expected to apply for the chance of becoming castaways for the "Survivor"-style show, which would be a first for Irish television but is modeled on a similar series, which has topped ratings in Australia and New Zealand.
The contestants will be brought to the uninhabited island for about four weeks. They will be split into teams and sent to opposite ends of the island. They will then largely have to fend for themselves and gather food and make their own shelter.
During their stay, the teams will have to outwit, outrun and outlast each other as they deal with a series of tasks.
Every week, those who aren’t up to life on the island and are failing the challenges will face elimination.
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When it is down to the final two, there will be final frantic search as they race for £50,000 buried treasure prize for the winner.
To take part, applicants have to be over 18 — there is no upper age limit — and will obviously have to be able to take time off for the 30 days for the odyssey.
The closing date for applications is April 13 and applications can be made online at www.rte.ie/treasureisland.