Survivors vs the elements

It may be a television show, but make no mistake: when it comes to the survival aspect, the show is the real deal. Sure, it may have softened a little in later years (likely a response to Nicaragua's quitter-gate) but it's far from a walk in the park. The show has left people broken, bruised, and totally spent. These are just some of the most physically demanding moments of Survivor.

The Guatemalan hike: This season cruelly set up a really brutal task right out the gate - the two tribes had to race to get to the temple in the middle of the jungle and the first one there got to make it their camp. It was a gruelling, 11-mile trek through difficult terrain with little supplies. Victims included Jim (who injured his leg and could barely walk), Blake (who caught his arm on a poisonous plant and was left vomiting) and Bobby Jon (who collapsed from fatigue). Probably the toughest challenge ever done on the show.

Forest obstacle course: Also known as "the challenge where Joel drags Chet around like a rag doll". It was almost amazing how much reckless disregard Joel had for his well-being, but the challenge was a poor idea in the first place. It was so dangerous barely anyone escaped without injury...Parvati got a swollen lip, Ami busted up her knee and Jonathan Penner received a game-ending injury.

The trials of Ravu: One of the reasons Fiji bombed so bad was the incredibly unfair twist that basically ensured one tribe would dominate and another would keep getting kicked while they were down. The Ravu tribe drew the short straw and with no supplies were so depleted they were having to resort to drink the water off leaves for moisture. How they were expected to compete in challenges when they could barely walk straight is beyond me. Rocky puts it best - "We're starving here, bro".

The Marquesan nonos: Jeff Probst is on record as calling Marquesas one of the worst locations the show has had and it was mainly down to these blood-sucking fiends ("pronounced en-oh, en-oh" as Boston Rob helpfully explains) which were excruciatingly painful and irritant. What's more, they were everywhere. But at least Maraamu were in good humour about it, dedicating a section of their morning radio show to the pests.

Survivor Schmergenbrawl: This short-lived challenge was only used twice before being banned for being too violent. It left quite a legacy though. Mike Borassi was medevaced over it, Ben was kicked out of the challenge for being an ass, Rupert smacked Jerri in the face and James almost broke his leg during it.

Saboga in the storm: OK, maybe they brought this one on themselves by constructing the worst shelter in Survivor history, but there was one particularly rough night in All-Stars that made Jerri break down and cry when Rupert's underwater shelter got flooded and left them with a insufficient protection from the weather. Ethan called it one of the worst nights of his life, and looking at the aftermath it's not hard to see why.