Latest news with #StrandedOnHoneymoonIsland
Perth Now
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Recognise Chad? Reality star's X-rated former life in Perth
If you're a product of Perth's 90s club scene and have been watching Seven's new reality series Stranded On Honeymoon Island, there's a fair chance you've already been mesmerised by charming Chad's torso on a night out. The TV star — who runs an Orthopaedic surgery in Melbourne — has been navigating the show's drama-infested waters as he attempts to forge a romantic relationship with his new wife, Georgia. But thirty years before flexing his pecs on screen, the confident 47-year-old worked as a stripper at Northbridge's James St Nightclub while studying nursing at Curtin University. Georgia and Chad. Credit: Supplied On Tuesday night, Chad was forced to face his colourful past when a photo album featuring his days as a 'male stripper' was presented to Georgia. WATCH RECAP While it came as a shock to his amused wife, the signs were there from the beginning, with the dancing doctor regularly breaking out into a series of unprompted hip thrusts. One of Chad's outfits as a stripper in Perth. Credit: Seven Network He told PerthNow that he fell into the profession accidentally at just 18 years of age. During a night out with rugby mates, he was urged to get his kit off on stage in a bid to win a $100 bar card. His impressive performance won him free drinks for the evening, and caught the eye of the club's owner, who offered him a regular gig as a 'G-string waiter'. Chad and Georgia nurture their relationship on the series. Credit: Seven Network 'I went back to uni on the Monday and told my uni student study classes, 'This is what happened to me. Do you think I should do it?' And they went, 'No, don't Chad, don't be a stripper!' he said. Somewhat surprisingly, Chad's mother was much more open to his new vocation and even helped him craft creative outfits to wear for each show. 'My mum and I would go on an adventure, go to the store and pick out materials and patterns, and then we would sew these costumes together,' he added. 'She was very supportive in that sense, and I did it more so for the showman outlet and in terms of entertainment.' Chad revealed a part of his former self to wife Georgia. Credit: Seven Network Following his studies, the performer relocated to Melbourne to be closer to his mother, and his sister, who was born with special needs when he was 11. However, leaning further into his charm and physique, the eligible bachelor soon landed a spot on the romantic 2004 reality series Playing it Straight. Shifting focus to his career as an arthroplasty expert in the years since, the unlucky-in-love single has found his way back to TV in search of love again. Georgie and Chad get cosier. Credit: Heath McKinley However, he says his island-bound experience alongside wife Georgia has been far from glamorous. 'You're spending every day together, not only spending every day, but you're stressed, in the sense that you're literally without any of your creature comforts,' he said. 'So when she's having a bad hair day, we never had a mirror. We didn't know what each other looked like, so all that stuff you're navigating through, I feel like that was a powerful answer to the emotions.' To keep up with Chad and Georgia's island romance, watch Stranded on Honeymoon Island on Tuesday, July 22 on 7 and 7plus.
Perth Now
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
One couple loses the spark as another turns up the heat
Following an explosive Couple's Cove, the newlyweds are faced with growing sexual tension and unpacking any lingering doubts about their relationships. Emily is left reeling about Tom's admission that he didn't see a spark with her. But in another back flip, he says he wants to start afresh, leaving Emily 'hopeful' without being completely trusting of him. Once well-connected Brie and Byron are tested after Brie felt her man didn't have her back while piling onto Tom at Couple's Cove for his behaviour towards Emily. According to Byron, seeing his wife so fired up about drama was 'a bit of an ick' — forcing him to question his feelings towards her. Meanwhile, Sam tries to make sense of a very public that joke Jess made about him 'punching' her in the face while they slept during the storm. Jess and Sam become closer after a joke at Couple's Cove that got between them. Credit: Seven Network Clearing the air, Jess felt they both needed 'breathing space' to re-calibrate. However, when Sam resurfaces after disappearing for hours, the couple agree to be open with each other to move forward. In another shake-up, each pair receives a second orange crate to bring them closer romantically. Amy and Mike, while slowly building a friendship, seem worlds away from even a whisper of intimacy. And Georgia and Chad explore their sexual chemistry — beginning with a sensual yet firm massage from Chad as his wife lies willingly on the bed. For Dani, the prospect of getting closer to 'mega hot' Emanuel brings back emotions of inadequacy she thought would stay at home. Airing her insecurities, she receives overwhelming support from her husband, who reassures her she is beautiful inside and out. And as if a physical wall had been torn down between them, the pair enjoy a skinny dip together and embrace for a kiss. When the intimacy box arrives for Brie and Byron, Brie admits she's had a 'f**** flutter' from imagining what their sex would be like. But the dancer is slightly wrong-footed by her man's inability to reciprocate the feeling. Re-visiting the conversation later, Byron still can't give her the answers she needs, leaving Brie feeling as if there's no way forward. But with Byron admitting he needs time for his comfort levels to grow, the pair find their way back into each other's arms to rekindle whatever it was they had. For once distant Tom and Emily, the magic of the intimacy crate results in a 'French kiss' and a giant leap forward. Taking a day to realise their crate had even arrived, Jess and Sam nervously approach their sexually-driven questions but are surprised to hear that their answers are quite similar. Admitting they'd both slept with roughly 100 people, the couple concede they imagined the other would be very competent beneath the sheets. More tension is expected next week as another Couple's Cove catch-up promises to destabilise each couple's foundations. Watch Stranded On Honeymoon Island then answer the daily question for your chance to win a five night stay at the Berkeley River Lodge. CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE COMPETITION
Perth Now
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Trouble in paradise as Couple's Cove draws shock revelations
After five days stranded, Brie began to let go of her initial fears around commitment and hasn't yet burrowed into her shell. Doing his best to make their living quarters hospitable, her husband Byron earned brownie points by manufacturing a hot shower — and an opportunity to get a little closer to his wife. Georgia and Chad's chemistry is only strengthened, sharing kisses in bed. And Dani and Emanuel made the best of a whirlwind situation, literally, sharing their first kiss underneath the covers as a storm passed overhead. Meanwhile, Mike and Amy patched things up, after their previous dramas and lack of communication only ithreatened to distance them. But nothing could compare to Tom's revelation that he's 'got a girl on the outside', which left Emily feeling totally rejected. Power couple Byron and Brie waltz into Couple's Cove. Credit: Heath McKinley The perfect place for it all to play out was Couple's Cove, where the couples met for the first time as pairs. Hearing of Emily's unfair predicament, Brie implored her to toss her ring into the ocean and tell Tom exactly how she feels. With all the couple's sharing a recap of their journeys at the lunch table, most were happy to admit there were challenges, smile and move on. Couples face the music in their first meeting at Couple's Cove. Credit: Heath McKinley Brie saw an opportunity to open up a can of worms, and pushed Tom to discuss his girl on the outside, which he shrugged off as being casual and over. 'I didn't come to Friendship Island, I came to Honeymoon Island,' Emily said to the group. Admitting she'd been single for seven years, Emily conceded this was yet another failed chapter in her unlucky-in-love dating journey. Made to feel like 'the bad guy', Brie felt unsupported by Byron after going on the offensive against Tom without his blessing. However, in another twist, it was revealed Tom was in fact lying about this mystery girl as he didn't feel a spark with his wife. Emily and Tom discuss their future together. Credit: Heath McKinley 'Categorically, I do not have a relationship. No girlfriends or anything like that,' he told producers. 'I lied to her.' As the episode wrapped up, Tom came clean to Emily and admitted he fabricated the story out of panic. Is there any coming back from that? Find out on episode four tomorrow night. Watch Stranded On Honeymoon Island then answer the daily question for your chance to win a five night stay at the Berkeley River Lodge. CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE COMPETITION
Refinery29
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Refinery29
Where Is Stranded On Honeymoon Island Filmed & Is It Scripted? All Your Burning Questions, Answered
Stranded On Honeymoon Island is the latest reality TV show to fill the gap left by MAFS and Farmer Wants A Wife, and it's shaping up to be quite dramatic. The premise is simple: 12 singles are dropped onto a remote island where they marry a complete stranger, and then live with them for three weeks. What could possibly go wrong in this totally normal situation? Well, we've already seen bride Amy Dickinson label her husband Mike Dawes as 'misogynistic', and it looks like one of the contestants could have a relationship on the outside. Teasers for the season show plenty of tears, fights and MAFS -style dinner parties on the beach. With all the drama happening on screen, it got us wondering about what happens behind the scenes. Do contestants have to forage for their own food? Where do they sleep, and are they encouraged to have sex on Stranded On Honeymoon Island? And of course, are contestants allowed to bring makeup or clothes for the filming duration? Refinery29 Australia spoke to contestants Amy Dickinson and Jess Matthews to get all the answers to your burning Stranded On Honeymoon Island questions. Where is Stranded On Honeymoon Island filmed? Stranded On Honeymoon Island was filmed in 2023 across the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji. How many items of clothing can Stranded On Honeymoon Island contestants pack? The clothes the Stranded On Honeymoon Island contestants arrive in are the only outfits they're allowed to wear for the entire three-week duration. Production provided a 'few extra pairs of underwear' on arrival. 'White lace and tulle doesn't last long in an ocean setting so we had to get creative and make our 'fits,' Jess says. 'I suspected I wouldn't be given a suitcase of clothing, so I wore three g-strings and a pair of underwear under my wedding dress — hot!' Possibly! Production provided condoms, plus all contestants were required to undergo medical checks prior to filming. 'Condoms were provided… but whether I, or any of the other couples [had sex]... you'll just have to wait and find out,' Amy teases. 'If you've ever tried to have sex on a beach, you'll understand that sand alone is contraception,' Jess adds cheekily. 'Jokes aside, yes, condoms were provided, and it was a very pro-safe sex environment.' Where do Stranded On Honeymoon Island contestants sleep on the show? While the island is idyllic and gives off a honeymoon aesthetic, the contestants didn't exactly have five-star accommodation. Each couple is given a bed inside a shelter with a roof but no walls, so like on Survivor, they have to deal with wind, bugs, and rain. 'We had a double bed we had to share, which wasn't ideal for the couples who weren't feeling the spark. The shelter had a roof but no walls, so privacy wasn't a luxury we had either,' Amy reveals. Are contestants allowed to wear makeup on the island? Stranded On Honeymoon Island contestants aren't allowed to bring or wear any makeup for the 21 days they're stuck on the island. Jess says it meant the women had to 'rely on the sun and salt water to reveal natural beauty', and their 'vulnerabilities' were exposed. However, they do have access to some required toiletries, such as toothpaste and sunblock. 'Makeup was not a luxury we had, it was rough. We had a toothbrush, toothpaste and deodorant. That was pretty much it. I ended up using my own hair to floss my teeth,' Amy tells us. 'We didn't even have a hairbrush, so my hair was in full-blown dreadlocks by day three.' Do Stranded On Honeymoon Island contestants have to find their own food? The Stranded On Honeymoon Island couples are provided with rice, pasta and vegetables. It doesn't sound very gourmet, but at least they didn't have to hunt or forage. 'We had basic food rations but no utensils or plates. This forced us to be really resourceful with what we found on the beach. We used shells as spoons, and I cut veggies with a machete — it's harder than it sounds,' Jess says. Are you allowed to have your phone on Stranded On Honeymoon Island? Couples are required to go completely no-contact with the outside world for three weeks. It sounds like a nice detox, actually. Jess tells us she didn't hold her phone for almost an entire month, and the contestants never knew what time or day it was. 'We got used to judging [the time] by the sun and moon. Very National Geographic of us,' Jess jokes. Is anything scripted on Stranded On Honeymoon Island? Reality TV doesn't always seem authentic, but Jess swears nothing on Stranded On Honeymoon Island is scripted. 'The experience is designed to make you feel things in a big way. Exposure to the elements with a complete stranger and your heart on the line means incredibly raw reactions,' Jess explains. 'The added curve ball of zero distractions heightens any feelings of anxiety or insecurities. On the island, I cried at things I would not even blink at in my real life.' Stranded On Honeymoon Island is our current reality TV obsession, but will it be able to create as many successful couples as Farmer Wants A Wife? Judging from the drama-filled previews, it seems this show might be more about entertainment than finding love.
News.com.au
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Channel 7's new show ‘Stranded on Honeymoon Island' drops after premiere
It appears the cycle of new Australian reality shows failing to resonate with viewers is continuing. Channel 7's 'radical' series Stranded on Honeymoon Island, which is narrated by radio queen Jackie 'O' Henderson, finally made it to screens Monday night. It had mega competition, going up against the finale of Nine's behemoth Lego Masters Australia, the latter of which pulled an average of 850,000 viewers nationally. Still, Stranded managed to lure an average of 539,000 viewers for its debut, placing it third in the prime time slot behind Lego Masters and Ten's MasterChef. But things dropped drastically come Tuesday night, with the reality show drawing an average of just 376,000 viewers, while Nine's newly-launched Australia's Most Identical pulled in an average of 731,000. Seven bosses are no doubt hitting the drawing board to find a new prime time contender, with Stranded very likely on the chopping block before it's even finished airing its first season. After a lengthy delay – the show was first announced at Seven's Upfronts in October 2023, while a trailer dropped in May 2024 – Stranded finally made it to air Monday. The premise follows 12 wannabe participants who're paired together following a round of rapid speed dates, later exchanging vows with the person producers felt they had the most chemistry with during the two-minute dates. The newlyweds are then shipped to a remote island, forced to dive into the ocean in their bride and groom outfits and swim to shore, where they embark on their 'honeymoon' in the great outdoors with no phones, no changes of clothing and no creature comforts. Negative viewer reaction was swift. 'Same s***. Different show,' one wrote. 'This island show is crap,' another deadpanned. 'Cheap version of MAFS,' a third pointed out. 'Watched 20 mins of this crap even the Mrs didn't like it and that's saying something,' a fourth said. 'OMG is there nothing else that can be aired on prime time TV.'
