Megan Gale’s surprise Survivor appearance: ‘I just keep sobbing’

The contestants on Australian Survivor did something so breathtakingly stupid last night it had some viewers asking if the show is rigged.

A breathtakingly dumb decision, a supermodel cameo and one of the funniest moments this season — Tuesday’s episode of Australian Survivor was jam-packed.

WAS THIS THE STUPIDEST SURVIVOR DECISION EVER?

A reward challenge win saw the Champions tribe hand a stunning advantage to arguably this season’s most dangerous player, male model David Genat.

Genat’s tribe had just won a reward challenge, meaning each member had an opportunity to visit a private “open-air cinema” to enjoy snacks and a video message from home.

Having made a few enemies in the game and having played his only immunity idol at the last tribal council, Genat knew he’d be going home soon without some sort of miracle.

It came sooner than he could’ve imagined: Deciding the order in which members could visit the open air cinema and watch their messages, the tribe agreed that those with young children should go first — with Genat, a dad of three, first in line.

He could scarcely believe his luck.

“At a reward like this, when they’re letting people go one at a time to experience something by themselves, there is 100 per cent going to be an idol or an idol clue in that vicinity,” he confided in a to-camera interview. He was right: The exact same thing had happened last season.

Viewers couldn’t believe Genat was being handed a game-saving advantage quite so easily by his apparently unwitting tribemates:

John saying David should go first. So dumb #SurvivorAU

— Elias .O. (@itz_elias1) August 13, 2019

I gotta admit watching Luke cry eat tonight was just darn adorable. In fact watching them all mainline the snacks was the best part hehe. Dumb for letting David go first though 😬😬#SurvivorAU #delayed

— Comrade-Purrski (@ComradePurrski) August 13, 2019

HOW DUMB are they to let him go first!!! They deserve this. David is the most entertaining player. #SurvivorAU

— ViVi B (@ViVi_RFObsessed) August 13, 2019

Either production told them that David has to go to ensure he gets the clue or we have alot of dumb people who did not even bother to watch the previous season#SurvivorAU

— Matt (@mjamon7) August 13, 2019

Tonight’s episode shows that it’s rigged, producers couldn’t afford to have David out of the game! Him going first, finding the idol in the first challenge after playing his! Mmm what a coincidence! Sad because I was loving the show until then #SurvivorAU

— david g (@grigg_d) August 13, 2019

Ain't nobody gonna convince me this ain't rigged. They can't be stupid enough to let Dave go first where he happens to find an idol. #SurvivorAU

— BossBitch (@Tinker_Shar) August 13, 2019

“After picking that order, it dawns on me that there’s probably going to be a clue hidden in the open-air cinema,” tribemate Daisy said with a heavy sigh as it finally dawned on her.

"I've made a huge mistake."

Once alone in the cinema, Genat largely ignored the video message from his family as he spilt litres of popcorn onto the ground, quickly finding a precious immunity idol hidden within.

See, models eat!

Returning to his tribemates, Genat delivered an Oscar-worthy performance to ensure they believed he’d done nothing but sit and watch his heartfelt message from home. “How can a man be so sad if he’s found an idol?” Genat reasoned as we watched him faux-sob.

David to viewers...

David to his tribe.

“It was awesome to see Dave and how it touched him … like, it really gives you a human side of these people that you’re playing against,” tribemate Johnny said.

David had a different take: “They’re soooo dumb! I’m just too GOOD at this game,” he cackled.

MEGAN’S MOVING MESSAGE

Supermodel Megan Gale made a surprise appearance in the episode, delivering a heartfelt message to her partner Shaun Hampson.

“Hello, friend. How are you?” she began.

Megan Gale's sweet message to Shaun.

Shaun gets emotional at this message from home.

“The kids miss you so much, and I miss you so much. I knew that I would, but I think I underestimated just how much I’d miss you … This is my third take at doing this because I just keep sobbing, so I’m going to try and get through this without crying,” she said as tears welled in Hampson’s eyes while he watched.

“I love you, I miss you, I can’t wait to see you again. Go for it, baby!”

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Hampson said hearing from his partner after more than three weeks apart had reinvigorated him: “Seeing Megsy on screen, it was like … chicken soup for the soul. It give me everything I needed for the rest of the game.”

The popular player, nicknamed “Horse” by his tribemates, told news.com.au this week that he’d been careful to admit to the other contestants that his partmer is one of Australia’s most famous models.

“I just sort of left it. I didn’t want to walk in and go ‘Hey guys, my partner’s Megan Gale!’ That felt strange,” he said.

Loved up: Megan Gale and Shaun Hampson. Picture: Alex Coppel

KING OF THE JUNGLE GETS HUNGRY

Genat’s closest ally in the game, returning player Luke Toki, provided the episode’s funniest moment during his turn in the open-air cinema.

Toki tried his best to manically juggle scoffing down as much food as he could while also intently listening to the emotional message from his family back home. He just about managed to do both:

Luke hurriedly stuffs his face …

… while the message at home tugs at his heartstrings.

Australian Survivor airs 7:30pm Sundays to Tuesdays on Ten.