Castaway 2000 Episode 1

[Gerald Weiß]

Castaway2000 is a reality TV programme broadcast on BBC One throughout 2000. The programme followed a group of thirty-six men, women, and children who were tasked with building a community on the remote Scottish island of Taransay.

Described as a pioneering early form of the new genre of reality TV, while a ratings success it nonetheless featured a number of issues during filming, leading to bad publicity and even a legal dispute. It launched the television career of participant Ben Fogle but, according to the Radio Times, the show is probably "remembered for little else."[1]

Billed as a bold experiment for the new millennium, the castaways were to build a sustainable self-sufficient community from scratch (apart from some buildings which were already there, and some which had been placed there for them). They were to grow their own vegetables, kill their own animals and become a community for the year.

The series differed from some reality shows in several essentials. First, there was no supporting crew. The castaways filmed themselves. Second, there is no competition. Castaway 2000 had no prize on offer at the end of the year-long experience, in comparison with Channel 4's Big Brother, which came along later in the year. The goal was to build a community rather than select a "winner". In this it is as much a documentary of a yearlong experiment in community building as it is a reality television show.

The Castaways were allowed to bring a certain number of personal possessions with them, but some of these were dropped during an airlift and possessions were either lost or damaged. Miss Lowe was one of four Castaways who lost personal possessions they had chosen for the year when a container carrying supplies fell into the sea during an airlift.[2] There was an outbreak of flu early in the year[3] and soon afterwards they were offered antibiotics because of a nearby outbreak of meningitis.[4]

The castaways, including eight children, reared their own cattle, sheep, pigs, and chickens, and built an environmentally sound infrastructure including a wind turbine, hydro-electric dam, waterless urinals and long drops. Living in turf covered eco pods, the castaways built a school, a slaughterhouse and erected poly tunnels to grow produce. With such a large number of participants from many varying ways of life, there were many arguments on the island. One notable clash was between a family of devout Seventh-day Adventists and a gay man.

Castaway Ron Copsey later indicated that he felt the production company had gone too far in their attempts to create drama for the show, including manufacturing a storyline that indicated there was conflict between himself and other castaways, but using footage that was from a conflict between him and producers. Copsey sued the BBC and Lion TV for libel, and was awarded 16,000 as restitution.[11]

The final instalment of Castaway 2000 was broadcast on 17 January 2001 as Castaway 2000: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly[13] and was watched by 4.9 million viewers.[12] Three documentaries were also broadcast, including the final episode.

For most castaways, life returned to normal after the project closed on 1 January 2001. Only Ben Fogle, who was heavily featured in the shows and comes from a media family, has continued to work in TV, appearing as a regular on The Holiday Show and Countryfile amongst others. The Stephenson family were inspired to try home education for their children.

Despite initial talks of a second shorter series,[32] it did not return until 2007; however was the inspiration for a children's spin-off series created by Live & Kicking that was broadcast on CBBC in the summer of 2001.[33] Since the original show's ending, Taransay has been opened up to tourists.[34] Castaway Tanya Cheadle married Paul Overton, an assistant producer on the series, on the island in 2004. The wedding was attended by ten other castaways including Fogle.[35]

In 2008, BBC Two broadcast a new 5-part series titled Return to... Castaway. The show featured interviews with stars of the original series and behind the scenes recollections from cast members, as well as original series highlights.[36][37]

On 1 January, 28 adults and 8 children were cast adrift on the Scottish island of Taransay. This episode follows the process which the 36 castaways were selected from 4,000 initial applicants. Part 1 of 4.

On 1 January, 28 adults and 8 children were cast adrift on the Scottish island of Taransay. This episode follows the process which the 36 castaways were selected from 4,000 initial applicants. Part 2 of 4.

On 1 January, 28 adults and 8 children were cast adrift on the Scottish island of Taransay. This episode follows the process which the 36 castaways were selected from 4,000 initial applicants. Part 3 of 4.

On 1 January, 28 adults and 8 children were cast adrift on the Scottish island of Taransay. This episode follows the process which the 36 castaways were selected from 4,000 initial applicants. Part 4 of 4.

The reality series set on Taransay Island returns with a five part update on the castaways' progress since the exit of Ray Bowyer in March. It opens with the May Day celebrations and the ceremonial burning of a "wicker man". All the fun and games turn to mistrust, however, when Ben Fogle claims his position is being undermined. Part 1 of 5.

Second episode in a five-part series update. The community is divided between 'workers' and 'shirkers' and a row over rules restricting parcels and visitors erupts when a crate of whiskey is washed up shore. Part 2 of 5.

Series of updates on the progress of the Castaway 2000 crew. Part 2 of 4: How do the castaways keep warm and clean? And what is a typical day? Postman Pat Murphy and his wife Gwyneth learn what possessions they really value. Colin and Julia have a wedding anniversary.

Series of updates on the progress of the Castaway 2000 crew. Part 3 of 4: Focuses on the Taransay livestock and slaughter teams, and reports on how the castaways have adjusted to killing thei own animals.

Series of updates on the progress of the Castaway 2000 crew. Part 4 of 4: Preparations are underway to leave the island, revealing the castaways' thoughts about their year together in isolation, which includes their personal guide to the attractions of Taransay.

First of three programmes looking back on the year. Part 1 of 3: A look back over the year spent on the island of Taransay, focusing on new found love, conflicting attitudes in the community, and feelings about the end of the year.

Have just been reading the book from the original series, and know there was an update last year - which I missed. I've tried to googling it, but can't find anything about the characters, which makes me think a 'what happened next' type book might be out soon.

Did anyone see the update and if so, what happened to everyone?

Thanks

I found one site that listed

What happened to the castaways of 2000...

Tanya Cheadle, 34

The camerawoman fell in love with Castaway's assistant director, Paul Overton. They married three years ago on Taransay beach and have a son, Tomas, nearly two, and another child due in May. The couple, who live in Glasgow, made a series about a children's hospital in Chicago.

Ron Copsey, 50

Castaway viewers remember Copsey burying his beloved border collie, Charlie, on the island. He successfully sued the BBC and Lion TV for portraying him as violent. Returned to a presenting job on Channel 5, then moved to Sussex. He is now a psychotherapist.

Ben Fogle, 33

The most famous Castaway, his TV career has flourished with presenting jobs including Animal Park, Countryfile One Man and His Dog and Crufts. Lives with his wife, Marina, 26, a party organiser, in Notting Hill, west London.

Peter Jowers, 59, and wife Sheila, 58

Travelled abroad, then returned to their home in the Forest of Dean, which they share with three other couples, though they reject the term 'commune'. Peter teaches politics and philosophy at the University of the West of England, Sheila runs classes in painting and pottery .

Philiy Page, 31

The Castaway milkmaid moved to London and resumed her career as a photojournalist for publications including the Guardian, Marie Claire and the Radio Times. Retrained as a teacher but 'decided it was the worst thing in the world'.

The old bloke who escaped lives in Spain with his wife.

Ermmm, Ben Fogle is on the telly loads so you probably know about him.

I did watch the program last year but can't really remember the rest of them!

Great - thanks both of you!

I've always quite liked the idea of living communally, but after reading the book again I've realised that it's probably Not A Good Idea - esp. if you have kids.

I've been searching for Castaway on DVD but can find nothing. Does anyone have this on video that they could lend to me etc.? I've been telling my daughter all about it and wanted to show her some of the programmes as she was very interested.

Thanks.

this thread popped up when i was looking through posts, i was actually on the show embarrassingly lol. I was the butcher colin corrigans daughter! still in contact with alot of the castaways but have lost contact with some.

So many people ask about getting a boxed set, but now you can watch them all on youtube.

BBC missed a money making trick there - if the book was anything to go by, a set of DADs would have stormed the charts at the time.

it's funny, watching then

So. Fill your boots. We all look SO YOUNG!

the link for episode one is: =tLsceo8pwow

I think all the episodes are there, but if there are some missing, I don't think it's many.

Story by Clint Kelly Photos Courtesy of CBS Worldwide Inc.

SPU ALUMNUS SURVIVES PRIME TIME, BUT CAN HE SURVIVE HIS NEWFOUND FAME? In many ways, Dirk Been(pronounced "bean") at 24 is a pretty average Midwestern guy. He loves fishing, dancing, blind dates and basketball. He considers himselfenergetic, funny and loud. A Seattle Pacific University graduate of the Class of 1998, he holds adegree in religious studies. Home base is the Been family's 600-acre dairy farm in Spring Green,Wisconsin.But last March, Been's life took a decidedly abnormal turn. Chosen one of 16castaways to live on a remote tropical island in the South China Sea, he became part of the summertelevision phenomenon known as "Survivor."A record viewing audience tuned in to the final episode of the "reality"game show to watch the sole surviving castaway pocket $1 million. Been lasted just 15 days before being voted off the island by his peers at"Tribal Council." He had eaten rats and beetle larva, bathed in a mud volcano and felt thebrunt of a play-to-win strategy that drummed him off the island in the early going. All the while,a TV production crew of 140 recorded his every move.But the adventure had only just begun. As the summer rolled on andviewership soared, every one of the castaways became a hot commodity, on or off the island.Been estimates he has given close to 500 interviews including nationwide chats with DavidLetterman, Jay Leno and Bryant Gumbel, who introduced him as "the Bible-toting proud virgin." Beenhas also appeared in a commercial for an herbal cold remedy and posed barefoot in a red sarongfor a six-page "Survivor" feature in People magazine."It's insane," says Been. "I did 80 interviews in one day." His mother, Diane, screened the calls at first and says she was especiallycareful of the supermarket tabloids. Her son now has a publicist, a manager and two agents. In all the mediafervor, Been's favorite interview question was "What Bible character would you compare yourself to?" "I chose Davidbecause he was a nobody given a position of influence," he explains. "Unworthy as he was, he loved the Lord with allhis heart. The book of Hebrews tells us that God rewards those who seek after him."It is a message Been is eager to take to young people. He has worked as asubstitute teacher and with disadvantaged kids. After graduation from Seattle Pacific, he served as a youth director forInterbay Covenant Church in Seattle. Uncertain about his future career plans, he knows they will involveministry to youth.

Along with the material rewards of "Survivor," Been says the experiencetaught him more about the truth of Scripture. "The Bible took on new meaning. When we were on that island starving and I,a fisherman, couldn't catch any fish, Christ's feeding of the 5,000 became very literal to me." (In addition towhatever scant eatables were native to the island, contestants were allowed only a daily ration of rice.)When Been was told he could take but one "luxury" item with him to theisland, he chose to take his Bible. He was occasionally seen on camera reading and praying. While othercastaways expressed irritation at such religious devotion, Been left the Bible behind at his exit and reports thata couple of the marooned have since shown a real spiritual interest.Despite the uproar in his life, Been says he is confident God has a plan forhim. He has been speaking to young people at an increasing number of churches and youth gatherings. InSeptember, the former Falcon basketball co-captain was a guest speaker for SPU's New Student Orientation.Falcon Coach Ken Bone says Been was the spiritual backbone of the basketballteam, with a work ethic second to none. "In my time, no other walk-on has ever become a co-captainof the team," says Bone. "He provided a real stability and thrived on situations where the odds wereagainst him."Those qualities came in handy on Pulau Tiga Island and should prove valuablenow that Been has been drafted by the Celebrity NBA. Other draftees include teen movie idol LeonardoDiCaprio. But that's the fun part for the former resident of fifth floor Ashton Hall.Now that "the whole bakery is open to me," what concerns Been more is seeing where God wants him to go with hisnewfound, if fleeting, celebrity. Can faith and fame coexist?Been thinks so. "SPU taught me to choose every day to follow Christ, that itis a conscious choice. 'Survivor' has given me a platform, but I'm still in control of who I am.I'm a Christian. This is where I stand."When the cast of "Survivor" traveled by boat to the island to begin filming, DirkBeen discovered another person with an SPU connection. Jeff Probst, the emcee of "Survivor," took classesat SPU in the 1980s. Soon to be seen in "Survivor II: The Australian Outback," Probst interrupted his educationwhen it became clear that the entertainment business was his career choice. But his brother, Brent, graduated from SPUin 1990 and Jeff shares his sense of pride. "The most meaningful thing in my office is a copy of his diploma with a notethanking me for helping him with all those term papers," says Jeff. "So, in a way, I feel a kinship to SPU as anhonorary graduate."

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