Overview
- RTL confirms the 19th season debuts January 23 at 20:15 on RTL and RTL+, with Sonja Zietlow and Jan Köppen returning as hosts.
- Entertainment chief Markus Küttner says roughly 90% of trials are new and a significant first‑episode twist is planned.
- The show is again filmed on Australia’s east coast near the Gold Coast, with reisereporter citing 366 Dungay Creek Road in Dungay, NSW.
- A stricter rulebook is in place, including German‑only communication, no daytime sleep, continuous night watch, mandatory microphones, fixed rations and defined hygiene and water protocols.
- Gil Ofarim’s participation faces heavy social‑media criticism and boycott calls, while fellow contestants signal they will address his 2021 false allegation; reports of a fee above €300,000 are circulating but unconfirmed.