‘survivors’ stands as one of television’s toughest and most watched reality formats. Telecinco has made it a major investment, and as the channel gears up for the next edition, a former participant has stepped forward with truths that remained unseen by the audience.
Auto Vans, talking during the 2019 edition of the Animales Humano podcast, reflected on his time inside the competition with a single, blunt word.
“Falsehood” is how he described the show. He explained that once he realized what he believed to be genuine television was, in fact, scripted, the experience no longer felt right for him. He spoke about the moment of truth and mixed feelings about what he had signed up for.
He described a climate where the program’s management would suggest certain actions, presenting them as friendly guidance rather than mandatory orders. When those expectations weren’t met, he felt there could be consequences, a sense that there was no easy escape from the game. He spoke from his own experiences, making it clear that those conditions were part of the environment behind the scenes.
There were moments when contestants were prompted to initiate conversations with others, even if the initial impulse was to decline. He recalled these prompts as part of what the production team proposed to shape the storyline and the video content that viewers eventually saw.
All of these dynamics—the pressure to perform, the strategic nudges, and the daily grind—converged to create a demanding learning experience for him. He described the atmosphere as challenging and, at times, simply miserable. Even when offered financial incentives, he says he would not consider rejoining the show.
The following are the confirmed participants of Telecinco’s extreme reality program: