ITV announced it has commissioned "The Summit," an epic adventure reality series set to be hosted by Ben Shephard. Described as “adrenaline-filled,” the show follows contestants as they journey to reach the summit of one of New Zealand’s most spectacular mountains. Produced by Banijay UK’s Shine TV, "The Summit" will debut on ITV1, ITVX, STV, and STV Player in 2025.
The series brings together 14 contestants from diverse backgrounds who must tackle the rugged mountains of New Zealand's South Island. With only 14 days to reach the top, each competitor carries an equal share of a £200,000 prize fund in their backpack. Along the way, they must navigate dangerous terrain, harsh weather, and unexpected obstacles set by the enigmatic Mountain’s Keeper, testing their strategy and resilience.
"The Summit" was commissioned by ITV’s Director of Reality Commissioning and Acquisitions Paul Mortimer and ITV Commissioning Editor, Reality Amanda Stavri, with Shine TV producing for ITV.
Ben Shephard said: “This series really has got it all; the contestants are going to be tested in every possible way as they try and take on the mountain. They’ll need a serious amount of grit, determination and strategy if they want to reach ‘The Summit.’ Most people know how much I love exercise and adventure but this is taking it to another level – I’ll be donning my mountain gear to check in with them as they battle up the mountain and do their best to combat the demands of the ominous Mountain’s Keeper. I can’t wait to see how they get on because anyone who reaches ‘The Summit’ will have seriously earned every penny of the prize fund.”
Paul Mortimer added: “Not only is this a huge and complex endurance test for the contestants, overseen by the wonderful Ben Shephard, it’s going to be an absolute nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat watch for viewers at home. Filled with cliffhangers, shocks, twists and turns it’s going to keep people guessing from the very first step of the trek to that final summit.”
Shine TV’s CEO, Leon Wilson, commented: “Our contestants are ordinary Brits up for the challenge of their lives. It’s not about being the fittest or the strongest – this show will test resilience, relationships and mental strength as they battle to get the most money, and least amount of people to share it with, to the top. To do that they must survive intense challenges, survive nerve-wracking eliminations and form devious alliances. I just hope they are not afraid of heights.”
Originally created by Endemol Shine Australia and 9Network, "The Summit" premiered in May 2023. The format has since expanded to seven international markets, including Europe and the U.S., following two successful seasons in Australia.
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