Classic noughties reality show Shipwrecked is reportedly returning to screens following the popularity of Love Island.
Channel 4 bosses have apparently decided to jump on the success of the ITV2 reality show and renew their beach-based series in a bid to appeal to fans’ nostalgia and capture a younger generation of viewers, according to The Sun.
The source said: “Lots of people have fond memories of watching Shipwrecked in their youth and dreaming about joining the fun in paradise. Now Channel 4 have decided to give millennials the same experience.”
While recent years have shown an influx of survival shows taking place on a remote island, “on Shipwrecked, the biggest hardship the castaways faced was getting tan lines.”
Producers expect that it will be a hit with “the snowflake generation”.
Shipwrecked was one of Britain’s first ever reality shows, originally airing in 2000 and enjoying an eight season run. The programme was broadcast on T4, Channel 4’s youth programming slot, which was also axed by the network in 2012.
Love Island Series 3 - in pictures
Sixteen fame-hungry, scantily-clad contestants were divided into “Team Tiger” and “Team Shark” and had to poach other opponents over to their tribe in order to cash in on the £100,000 worth of prize money.
It was a battlefield of greed, sexual tension, and dodgy noughties highlights.
The popularity of the show also launched the TV presenting careers of Jeff Brazier, who then went on to marry Jade Goody, and The Xtra Factor host Sarah-Jane Crawford. Stephen Bear also appeared on the final season in 2012 before re-emerging on another island-based reality programme, MTV’s Ex on the Beach, in 2015.
News of the comeback has been met with delight by noughties fans and the upcoming season is expected to air in 2019.
