Latest news with #WestCoastRanges
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Alone Australia season three winner sets massive show record to claim whopping $250,000 prize money
In a true testament to grit and survival, professional trapper Shay Williamson has been crowned the winner of Alone Australia season three – outlasting nine competitors to set a new record for the brutal reality show. The 30-year-old New Zealand man braved the unforgiving wilds of Tasmania 's rugged West Coast Ranges for an astonishing 76 days, taking home the season's $250,000 prize. Viewers were on the edge of their seats during Wednesday's nail-biting finale as Shay, who had endured over two and a half months in isolation, finally hit the ultimate jackpot. After a gruelling period subsisting on a truly unique diet, he managed to bag a pademelon – a small marsupial – securing him a much-needed substantial feed and cementing his place as the ultimate survivor. Shay's remarkable endurance was fuelled by an incredibly resourceful and unconventional menu. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. His impressive tally of provisions included 23 trout, 13 eels, two whitebait and freshwater shrimp, and a staggering 1100-plus worms. Not to mention a brave foray into consuming grubs and moth pupae, which he valiantly attempted to make more appealing by dubbing them 'cheese fries.' 'I tasted hard times and joyful times as I clawed out the other side and figured out where I could fit in, sustainably live, even forever out there, if need be,' Shay said in a statement released by SBS on Thursday. 'I'll always be grateful for the opportunity to help my family in this way, doing what I love for the people I love.' Shay's first meal upon returning to civilisation was 'KFC at the airport,' and he said strangers were smiling at him and giving him the 'thumbs up'. His victory marks a new benchmark for Alone Australia, with the season delivering a ratings bonanza for the public service broadcaster. More than 3.5million Australians tuned in to the finale, with 41 per cent watching via SBS On Demand. This multi-platform success is proof Australian audiences have a real appetite for under- produced and genuinely unscripted reality TV, in addition to glossy formats like Married at First Sight. In a heart-warming moment that had viewers reaching for the tissues, Shay was delivered the news of his win by his wife, Abby. What Shay believed was a routine medical check-up in the rugged Tasmanian bush turned into the surprise of a lifetime. He had vowed before the season began to last a staggering '300 days' in the wilderness if necessary to secure the win. As Abby emerged, the shock on his face quickly turned to joyous realisation that he had outlasted all the other competitors. Continuing in his statement, Shay revealed his lifelong connection to the land was his secret weapon. 'Living in the bush and off the land has been my life's passion since I was a kid,' he said. 'I built my life around the bush back home and became intimately connected to the land I come from, learning how our ancestors gathered food and lived in nature.' He added, 'I got the opportunity out there to put all that to the test, in a completely foreign environment.'
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Alone Australia's season three winner breaks show's records to claim $250k prize
WARNING: Alone Australia spoilers ahead. The winner of Alone Australia season three set a new record for the show, lasting an incredible 7 days surviving by himself on Tasmania's rugged West Coast Ranges to pick up the season's $250,000 prize. 30-year-old professional trapper Shay lasted two-and-a-half months in the unforgiving landscape, subsisting on a diet of whatever animals he could catch. To be precise: 23 trout, 13 eels, two whitebait and freshwater shrimp, over 1100 worms, plus grub and moth pupae (which he dubbed 'cheese fries' in an attempt to make them more palatable). After a very long time spent eating a lot of bugs, during Wednesday's finale, viewers watched as Shay hit the jackpot: He captured a pademelon, a small marsupial which would provide him a proper feed and see him make it past his remaining fellow competitors. As is tradition on the show, it was left to a loved one to deliver the news to Shay that he'd outlasted everyone else this season. Following what he thought was a routine medical check, Shay was surprised by his wife Abby, the pair embracing as he realised her appearance in the bush meant he'd won the whole show. In a statement issued by SBS after the finale, Shay – who had vowed before the season to last '300 days' in the wilderness if he had to – said his lifelong passion for living on the land had held him in good stead. 'Living in the bush and off the land has been my life's passion since I was a kid. I built my life around the bush back home and became intimately connected to the land I come from, learning how our ancestors gathered food and lived in nature. I got the opportunity out there to put all that to the test, in a completely foreign environment,' he said. 'I tasted hard times and joyful times as I clawed out the other side and figured out where I could fit in, sustainably live, even forever out there, if need be. I'll always be grateful for the opportunity to help my family in this way, doing what I love for the people I love.' Shay's 76 days in the bush makes him the current reigning Alone Australi a champ, outlasting both season one's winner Gina Chick (67 days) and season two winner Krzysztof Wojtkowski (64 days).
SBS Australia
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
The winner of Alone Australia Season 3 has been revealed
Cast of Alone Australia season 3. Credit: Narelle Portanier The following article contains spoilers for the third season of Alone Australia season 3. If you haven't seen the exciting finale, it isn't too late to watch now. 30-year-old professional trapper, Shay has become the winner of Alone Australia Season 3 after surviving a record-setting 76 days in the unpredictable and unforgiving wilds of the West Coast Ranges of Tasmania (lutruwita). The shy and soft-spoken North Island New Zealander battled the merciless forces of nature, hunger, and loneliness while stripped of modern possessions, contact and comforts, and outlasted nine other trailblazing participants to win the life-changing prize of $250,000. While Shay has trapped possums since he was 16, the Tasmanian wildlife at first proved elusive, forcing him to survive on more creative sources of food: over 1100 worms, 23 trout, 13 eels, 2 whitebait and freshwater shrimp, grubs, and 'cheese fries' (moth pupae). Nothing was off the menu for Shay and his resilience paid off in a final, game-changing twist – his capture of a pademelon. For Shay, Alone Australia was more than an adventure or an opportunity to find himself: it was a chance to secure a debt-free future for his young family. Coming into the competition, he vowed he'd do whatever it took – even lasting 300 days – to win. No matter the storms, floods, or homesickness, he was willing to sacrifice everything to make it to the end. For him and his family, the prize is a dream come true. Shay said: 'Living in the bush and off the land has been my life's passion since I was a kid. I built my life around the bush back home and became intimately connected to the land I come from, learning how our ancestors gathered food and lived in nature. I got the opportunity out there to put all that to the test, in a completely foreign environment. Mother Nature's Colosseum. I tasted hard times and joyful times as I clawed out the other side and figured out where I could fit in, sustainably live, even forever out there, if need be. I'll always be grateful for the opportunity to help my family in this way, doing what I love for the people I love.' Alone Australia embodies SBS's trailblazing ethos of embracing challenges, pushing boundaries and inspiring with bold storytelling that entertains. Alone Australia remains SBS' most successful franchise, with over 3.5 million viewers1 enjoying this season so far, with 41%2 streaming on SBS on Demand. In the double episode finale, after 47 days, three participants remained – Food Safety Consultant, Corinne, Bushman Muzza and Shay. They all pushed themselves to their personal limits, forced to adapt to the wild will of nature, in the hope of being the last one standing. Corinne tapped out on her own terms after 70 days. With nothing left to prove to herself, she felt the call to return to her life and pursue her dream of starting a family. With a beautiful musical performance on a wooden guitar she crafted, Corinne wore her heart on her sleeve. She sang, 'My next chapter in life is waiting for me back home.' Muzza had a highly successful run of catches throughout the season but began to experience dizzy spells and after a med-check, dangerously low blood pressure made medically evacuating Muzza the only safe choice. In a heart-wrenching moment, Muzza was brought to tears. 'I promised myself I'd trust the doctor's judgement.' He left with no regrets, and his trademark humour: '73 days… Can't believe I never got sick of eels.' In a shocking twist, Shay caught a pademelon and found himself feasting on red meat (and pademelon genitals!) late in the competition. Yet his pot soon ran dry and worries about losing a quarter of his body weight had the medical crew warn him that he required more frequent med-checks. On day 76, Shay was visited by the medical team, where he expected a health update. Instead, he was surprised by the secret arrival of his wife, who cried, 'You did it! So proud of you.' In a heartwarming embrace, Shay was left beaming and in disbelief. 'I can't believe it! From day one, I've been saying, I want to come home with that money, no matter how long that takes, no matter how difficult it might get. $250K is life-changing for our family. Now I get to go home to my little slice of paradise.' Off the back of the season finale, SBS premiered a special one-hour reunion program Alone Australia Season 3: The Reunion . Hosted by SBS's Kumi Taguchi (Insight), a self-confessed fan, the entire cast reunited for the first time since they were dropped into the remote wilds of the West Coast Ranges of Tasmania/lutruwita, in what was an emotional, hilarious, and truly insightful conversation with unexpected revelations and never-before-seen footage. All episodes of Alone Australia Season 3 and Alone Australia Season 3: The Reunion are now streaming on SBS On Demand. Share this with family and friends SBS's award winning companion podcast. Join host Yumi Stynes for Seen, a new SBS podcast about cultural creatives who have risen to excellence despite a role-model vacuum.
SBS Australia
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
Alone Australia Season 3: The Reunion
As the latest season nears its end, SBS's hit series brings full cast together for reunion show hosted by SBS's Kumi Taguchi Stream Alone Australia: The Reunion after the final two episodes on SBS On Demand on Wednesday 4 June *Images here* *Trailer here* With over 6000 hours of footage filmed, The Reunion promises more unforeseen footage than ever before promises more unforeseen footage than ever before A first-look at the record-breaking number and range of catches Detailed dives into ten epic shelters All the discoveries, ingenuity, bushcrafted gizmos & gadgets viewers never got to see More unseen wonders of wildlife Raw reveals of the highs and lows and the physical and mental tolls experienced by the season's cast Find out what it was like to reintegrate back into life after Alone Australia SBS's standout hit series, Alone Australia Season 3 will wrap on 4 June with a special one-hour reunion episode. With just four episodes and the final four participants remaining, Alone Australia Season 3: The Reunion will stream exclusively on SBS on Demand, following the nail-biting double episode finale of the series. Hosted by SBS's Kumi Taguchi ( Insight ), a self-confessed fan, the special one-hour program,will bring together the entire cast for the first time since they were dropped in the remote wilds of the West Coast Ranges of Tasmania/ lutruwita, completely isolated, stripped of modern possessions, contact and comforts, to self-document their experience. With over 6000 hours of footage filmed, The Reunion will include a plethora of exclusive offerings that fans will relish. Joining Ben, Ceilidh, Corinne, Eva, Karla, Matt, Muzza, Shay, Tom and Yonke, Kumi will unveil more never-been-seen footage than ever before. This will include: a first-look at the record-breaking number and range of catches; detailed dives into ten epic shelters; all the discoveries, ingenuity, bush crafted gizmos and gadgets viewers never got to see; more unseen wonders of wildlife; raw reveals of the highs and lows and the physical and mental tolls experienced by the season's cast; as well as finding out what it was like to reintegrate back into life after Alone Australia. Alone Australia is the ultimate test of endurance, with only three ways to exit: voluntary tap out, medical extraction or as the winner. With no camera crew, each participant must document their own survival through a brutal winter as they fight to stay warm, dry, fed and alive for as long as they can. The final two episodes of Alone Australia will premiere on Wednesday 4 June at 7.30pm and 8.30pm on SBS and SBS On Demand and culminate at 9.30pm with Alone Australia: The Reunion at 9.30pm exclusively on SBS On Demand, also airing on SBS on Thursday 11 June at 7.30pm. SBS Head of Unscripted Joseph Maxwell said: 'Australian audiences have been captivated by this season's remarkable cast. Now they gather to reveal what that experience meant to them, giving exclusive insights into the reality of what it takes to survive on Alone Australia. ' ITV Studios Australia's Chief Content Officer, Beth Hart, said: 'The Alone Australia Season 3 Reunion is more than just a look back—with the cast reunited for the first time since finishing Alone, it's a powerful unpacking of their unique experiences under extreme pressure, and their subsequent recoveries. This season's remarkable, never-before-seen footage adds even more depth to their extraordinary journeys.' Alone Australia is an A+E Media Group format and ITV Studios Australia production for SBS. Alone Australia continues Wednesdays with the final two episodes premiering Wednesday 4 June at 7.30pm and 8.30pm, exclusively on SBS and SBS On Demand. Alone Australia: The Reunion premieres on Wednesday 4 June at 9.30pm on SBS On Demand and Wednesday 11 June at 7.30pm on SBS. For a PDF of this media release, click here.
