Survivor cast crew relationships babies 20250924 p5qwyn.html – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
Advertisement
Advertisement
This was published 11 months ago

'Just doesn't happen anywhere:' Staggering consequence of Survivor's on-set romances revealed

Chelsea McLaughlin
Chelsea McLaughlin

Survivor is a brutal game about outwitting, outplaying and outlasting your opponents, but strangely, it can also be a place romance blossoms.

Perhaps a Survivor: Love Island crossover is not as crazy as it sounds!

Fans of the series will know that it has led to a number of lasting relationships between castaways, but it turns out falling in love is even more common on the other side of the camera.

Advertisement

Survivor Season 49 premieres September 25 on 9Go! and 9Now.

The most famous Survivor couple are undoubtedly 'Boston Rob' Mariano and Amber Brkich, who have now been married for 20 years.

Survivor stars Boston Rob Mariano and Amber Brkich

Boston Rob and Amber married in 2005 and have four daughters. Instagram @bostonrobmariano

Other notable duos include a showmance-turned-real romance between Whitney Duncan and Keith Tollefson and Alex Bell and Kim Powers, who appeared on different seasons but met through the show and married in 2006.

While the on-screen pairs are the most known, in a recent interview host Jeff Probst, 63, revealed that after filming 50 seasons of the reality series, 67 children – nicknamed 'Survivor babies' – have also been born from relationships between crew members.

READ MORE: Secret TV rule causes Survivor star to miss the birth of his first child

With a close knit crew filming on location in stunning Fiji for months at a time, it's no wonder sparks fly.

Survivor, Survivor US, Survivor 47, Jeff Probst

Survivor host Jeff Probst has shared details on the on-set romances. 9Now

Advertisement

Now, several of those children regularly travel to Fiji with their parents for filming.

"You can be out here at any given point in a season and see between seven and 13 little people," Jeff told People.

Making the set family-friendly was "literally the first thing" he changed when he became showrunner.

"As people started having kids, they're not going to want to leave them. I know because I deal with it," the host, a stepfather to two, explained.

Advertisement
Advertisement
View post on Instagram
 

Some kids are actively involved in production, like director David Dryden's young son Levi and executive producer Matt Van Wagenen's daughter Lyla who helps in wardrobe and makeup.

READ MORE: Fans thought he'd 'never play again', now The White Lotus creator Mike White is returning to Survivor

"They feel like they're crew members," Probst said. "They are!"

Advertisement

Among the Survivor families are Brittany and Riley Crapper.

Brittany, a co-executive producer of the series, met husband Riley while he was working in the art department in 2011.

Fourteen years later, they are parents to three daughters who now spend time on location while their mum is working.

Survivor co-executive producer Brittany Crapper family

Brittany and Riley Crapper met on set in 2011 and have three children. Instagram @brittanycrapper

Advertisement
Advertisement

"I see her three little girls – married to a guy who also worked on the show forever, and they're both Dream Teamers," Jeff said of Brittany and her family. The Survivor 'Dream Team' are people usually who test run the challenges before the actual castaways perform them.

"It's f--king crazy! It's amazing! It just doesn't happen anywhere," Jeff continued.

READ MORE: Should you buy an iPhone 17? Everything you need to know

Brittany said the show "not only created my entire adult life and career but also created my life".

Advertisement

"I met the man of my dreams; I had three kids. My whole family is because of this show. My immediate family and my babies, but also everybody I work with is my family too. It's such a special place."

Survivor Season 49 will be fast tracked on 9Go! from Thursday, September 25, with Season 50 expected to premiere in 2026.

Stream the latest episodes of Survivor US for free on 9Now.

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest news from your favourite shows via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.

Most viewed in Entertainment

More to explore