I was on Shipwrecked - there were secret romps hidden from show bosses and so many moments were staged after the bungling camera crew messed up

Daily Mail​

2 days ago

A former Shipwrecked contestant has revealed the behind-the-scenes chaos of the reality show - with secret romps hidden from producers and 'loads' of staged moments.
Scouser Mark Byron, a self-proclaimed 'mouth on a stick,' appeared on the fourth series of the hit programme back in 2009.
And this year marks the 25th anniversary of Shipwrecked's debut on UK screens.
The T4 slot quickly captured audiences with its unique concept that saw a group of castaways dropped on a remote island and forced to survive on basic rations - all while competing for a cash prize.
Then fresh-faced Mark claimed he had never endured real hardship before setting foot on the island.
Speaking on behalf of Smooth Spins, Mark has lifted the lid on what really went on, from forced retakes to hidden hook-ups.
Mark, who also appeared on Big Brother in 2014, said 'loads' of scenes had to be re-shot, meaning many were staged iterations of the real event.
'During my time in Big Brother, you'd just get on with your day because there were hundreds of cameras picking up the action,' he said.
'But Shipwrecked was a human crew so there were often times they'd failed to pick up a conversation, so they'd rush over and ask you to repeat it all again.
'Sometimes big moments would happen off camera and you'd have to act it out again so it could be captured.'
Although two crew members would spend the night on the island with the contestants, they weren't privy to everything that was going on.
The staff would go to bed, leaving a nighttime window where nothing was recorded, Mark explained.
'Often, we were quite boring and would just sleep, but a lot of cast mates hooked up,' he admitted.
'We never told production so it remained a secret. I won't name names although I will say I never hooked up with anyone.'
Mark says he regrets 'nothing' about his decision to star in the show, crediting his TV debut for the lucrative projects he's since been involved in.
'It's been over 15 years and I still get to do media appearances,' he said. 'I star on GMB every six weeks to discuss topical issues or host events. It opened doors for me.'
As the first person on the remote island, Mark says he got a 'really fair edit.'
'I became quite a central character and featured a lot,' he said. 'I was very true to myself and I never felt I was misrepresented or edited badly.'
Forced to live on meagre portions and anything contestants could pick or kill, Mark said he shed a few stone in the process.
'The basic rations were things like rice, bananas and flour. If producers asked me to go back on the show now, I doubt I would. It was a wonderful experience but so difficult.'
But with no mirrors, Mark was shocked when he saw his new look upon arriving back home four months later.
'When I got to the mainland and saw my reflection, it was pretty staggering,' he remembered.
Forced to live on meagre portions and anything contestants could pick or kill, Mark (pictured, middle, with fellow players) said he shed a few stone in the process
'I was skinny and had a very deep tan. I actually think I looked good but it was still a shock to see such a different person staring back at me.
'It didn't last - as soon as I got home, my family fed me up.'
In an admission Mark fears makes him sound 'old', he applied to be on the show after seeing an advert on MySpace.
He jumped at the 'amazing opportunity,' and undertook a lengthy, months-long audition process that saw him travel constantly between Liverpool and Manchester.
Of his long chats with show bosses, he said: 'I think they were trying to determine who was opinionated, who may clash with other people and who may be open to romance.
'They would have our pictures on storyboards as if they were trying to find the perfect formula for a great cast.'
And when he made the final cut, Mark said he felt 'total joy,' at the prospect of meeting new people and spending months on a tropical island.
But the experience was far from smooth, with the islanders completely unused to fending for themselves.
Mark laughed: 'I had lived a very pampered existence before the show so they assumed putting me on an island with bare essentials would be quite funny. And I think it was!'
The production crew was not subjected to the same hardships as the cast, though, and had access to a 'secret hut' on the island where they ate and slept.
'The lucky things,' Mark said. 'They were very nice though and we struck up friendships with them all. They had the decency to never eat in front of us.'
Mark's life changed 'overnight' after his appearance on the reality show, owing to the sheer amount of screentime he was given.
'I got management almost instantly and they'd book me to do public appearances,' he recalled.
'I'd present things for T4 or do countdowns of the charts for music channels. People would come up to me in Tesco or on the train and ask for autographs.
'I had big hair back in 2009 and a thick, scouse accent, so I was quite recognisable.'
And with social media still in its infancy, Mark feels he got the best of both worlds by escaping the trolling reality stars face now.
But adjusting to normal life after a reclusive three months with a small group of people was difficult.
Mark said: 'You get so used to being on a quiet island with a certain group of people and suddenly you're back in the real world.
'I missed my Shipwrecked cast and it was really overwhelming. I did get over it within a few weeks thankfully, but I know my other cast mates felt the same.'
But the close bonds didn't stand the test of time, Mark said, and the team all 'drifted'.
'There's no bad feeling and I have a few on Instagram,' he said. 'But it's been a good decade since we last spoke.'