‘It was a weird, weird time’
After 45 days in the Samoan jungle, a brutal four-hour-and-seven-minute endurance challenge, and a shocking backstab by Tribal Council, Caleb Beeby was named the winner. Australian Survivor: Redemption. A 29-year-old truck driver from South Gippsland, Victoria, explains national TV editor Louise Rugendyke He describes his fight with fellow contestant Jackson Goonrey, the maggots at camp, and how he spent his $500,000 prize money.
Congratulations Caleb! What was it like to finally hear host David Genat read your name during the live finale?
Look, it was a sigh of relief to get some closure. I waited for an answer for six months at that point. [filming in Samoa finished in September last year]And I was at the point where I was ready to say yes or no. Obviously everyone wants yes, but it’s so hard to be in this suspended animation of not knowing or trusting what you’re being told.
What did they tell you in Samoa: “Okay, make an offer to the jury, see you in six months”?
Basically yes. And I mean, the “what I was told” comes from other players because some people clearly said: “No, I won’t tell you where I voted” but other people said: “Yes, I could have voted for you.” You can’t believe what anyone says.
to have Surviving Do you have trust issues, Caleb?
I already had a lot of trust issues going into the game. And it was kind of like a superpower. Because someone who trusts people very much will hear information coming to him, believe it, and become blind to the truth. Whereas I went in there expecting the absolute worst, the worst conditions, the worst kind of people, and I found it to be a bit of the opposite. So while you expect everyone to lie to you, you are surprised when you start to see the truth coming your way. That’s why Loz was a golden nugget for me, because I could see that she was telling me the truth and I was telling her the truth and it was such a breath of fresh air. Having someone you can trust is a really powerful key to winning at the game.
But then you stabbed Loz in the back by not taking her to the final vote! How difficult was this?
Look, it was [hard]But that day I saw a change in him. Inside SurvivingAnything can come out of that mouth, but what you need to read most is eye contact and body language. And that last day, we had a hard day doing interviews and slow-motion filming, and I was constantly trying to test the waters with her – throwing glances at her – and she wouldn’t look me in the eye. Something was really wrong.
Now we talked about it and he said he was just in his right mind that day. But I’m starting to think there’s something between us, it won’t take me to the final two, it’s such a blindness for me [laughing]. And that and “Do I want to fight with him this close and not end up giving him 500 grand?” Then one day I remembered Brooke saying that the jury will always vote emotionally. I have a home and I’m not a single mom with two kids [like Loz]Right? And I said, “Why would they give me that?” I thought.
I made all these decisions while standing on nails doing the hardest thing in life. So yeah, it was a weird, weird time. And look, in the end, the jury respected the vote, so they respected that move.
Was there a part of you that was willing to confront Jackson to the jury? Was the fight between you two made for TV or was it real?
Look, it was so real. I had no idea why he kept coming at me throughout the match. I thought at the beginning of the game you saw me as a bit of a chatty larrikin and could make me look like a fool, right? And this never happened. I was so determined to catch him because he almost made me the bad guy. I never wanted him to have the slightest doubt that he could beat me. I wanted to beat him in every way possible. That’s why I took it to the final two.
Caleb, you seem totally made for TV because you have such a big personality. Did you just want to be on TV or Surviving fan?
I always wanted to be on television. I always wanted to put a sign, no matter what. And it just so happened that nature and animals, being outdoors and being able to be a little wild, fell into this situation. Surviving category. But at the end of the day, I can pretty much turn it around and rip it in any style anyone wants me to do. And I can’t believe it took me this long to move on Surviving.
When I was a little kid, I was given a video camera and started filming everything, which allowed me to do stupid things on camera and have a lot of fun. So I’ve always been comfortable being in front of the camera, and I liked writing poetry, so I phrased my sentences in certain ways. So everything came naturally.
What was the toughest challenge? Because that last immunity challenge, where you stood on nails for four hours, was like torture.
Look, this is Caleb Beeby in every aspect of the word – mental toughness, physical toughness and being an entertainer – that’s what I’m all about. I was just hoping I could get there. So it’s not an underlight for me, it’s a highlight, right? That’s another reason why I felt like I had to take Jackson to the final two, because I saw a warrior there. I haven’t seen anyone fight this much since I was a kid.
Jackson collapsed and it took a paramedic to see when he got off the slings, but you jumped in and walked away. This is so crazy.
I don’t think I have many laps left in the tank, but I could probably go another hour. I was ready for those nails to pass through my feet, I would ride until the wheels fell off.
Who was your favorite returner?
Obviously it was Mark. I will call Mark my coach for the rest of my life. Surviving Inheritance because I learned everything from him, even if you are chatting with someone, don’t go and shake his hand or punch him because this is a sign language that someone can see from a distance.
You caught a lot of fish – you even bit off the head of a small fish when you pulled it straight from the water – you were great at making fires, and you even eventually built a raft. really? Australia alone Next? You will adapt immediately.
I don’t know [laughing]. I guess being in Samoa and doing something Surviving Before I did it showed me how far behind I was Only. Only It would be a real shock to the system. I take my hat off to the guys who can pull this off because this is a pretty serious show.
How gross were maggots? They were crawling on his face.
No, it was Brooke’s face. about this topic Australian SurvivorThey focus only on the game, not on how difficult the living conditions actually are.
That night of Wet Tribal Council, we were literally soaked for days because we had to go back to a cold, wet, dark shelter. No drying out. And I guess moisture and dampness [contributed to] maggot infestation. You were picking up any piece of clothing that had been on the floor for more than half an hour and there were maggots underneath. There were maggots in our food, there were maggots in our rations. It’s like pilgrims eating in the dark, don’t look at your food because if you do you won’t want to eat it.
Have you eaten rice, beans or coconut since you got home?
I love coconut. I didn’t touch the rice and beans. I think I’m scarred for life.
Have you watched yourself? Are you happy with your arrangement?
I have. I mean, they just focused on the “Caleb chaos,” because that is 90 percent of my personality. I also have a very soft approach, I have a big heart, I hope the public can see this. Because if I didn’t I wouldn’t have made it this far.
So, the big question is: what will you spend your $500,000 on?
I always had a dream, didn’t I? And I’ve never been able to do that, and that means climbing some serious mountains. I know Everest costs $100,000. And he always called me “Caleb!” he calls out. – and I could never answer that, because who has $100,000 to play with? I may need to do some training. I might have to go to New Zealand and climb a few peaks to find my foothills. But that’s definitely on my mind.
Australian Survivor currently streaming on 10Play.
