Survivor star Harry reveals hidden weight loss ‘handicap’

Ousted Survivor: All-Stars player Harry has revealed a hidden handicap he faced on the show that had a “ridiculous” effect on his body.

Ousted Survivor: All-Stars contestant Harry Hills says he faced a pretty big physical handicap during his second round in the game that most viewers probably wouldn’t realise.

The Perth ice cream maker, who was voted out during Wednesday night’s episode, told news.com.au that Survivor’s famously extreme effects on the human body were especially difficult for he and the handful of other returning players from last year’s season, Champions vs Contenders.

While All-Stars aired almost five months after Champions had finished, the two seasons were in fact filmed less than two months apart. Considering Hills made it all the way to the top three of Champions, it left him very little time to recover.

“There was about a six-week gap in between for me. I played the game for seven weeks the first time and four weeks the second time, so it was really tough to actually get back to any kind of physical or mental ability (in between). I think I was really at a handicap the second time around,” Hills told news.com.au today.

Harry surveying his weight loss after he was voted out.

“Six weeks is not a lot of time to get back into the gym. I remember the first time I went back and I benchpressed like 20kg – before the first time playing, I was benching 90kg. It was a huge mountain to climb to try and come back. And at the start of Survivor they love the strength challenges – wrestling, obstacle courses… you really need that strength in Australian Survivor.”

Hills’ Survivor double-whammy played havoc on his body — in the space of six months last year, he lost and gained a significant amount of weight, twice. He can be seen surveying the toll Survivor took on his body second time around in the latest episode of Survivor: Jury Villa.

Harry on his very first day of Survivor.

After being booted from All-Stars last night.

“Both times I played, I ended up going down to about 81kg. The first time that was about a 15kg weight loss, and second time it was about a 9kg weight loss — bhen you’re out there, it doesn’t actually feel like it’s really happening. When you finish and see your body in the mirror... it’s ridiculous,” he said.

HARRY GETS THE BOOT

Hills faced his kryptonite during Wednesday’s episode of Survivor: All-Stars — the torturous challenge he already endured during last year’s Survivor season finale.

Just like last year, contestants had to stand on narrow pedestals, holding onto ropes that were attached to two heavy idols. If they let go of the idols or stepped off the pedestals, they were out.

Once more, the challenge got the better of Harry, and tribemate Brooke was eventually awarded immunity.

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The challenge had run so far into the night, host Jonathan LaPaglia then dropped a bombshell: The tribe wouldn’t be heading back to camp to strategise, instead going straight to tribal council to boot someone out.

With his vulnerable position in the minority alliance, Harry had a big target on his back — and had perhaps this season’s strongest player, David Genat, gunning for him.

Casting his vote for Harry at tribal council, Genat delivered a cold-as-ice message to his rival:

“Harry, can I have your socks? Janine Allis sends her regards …”

David had a savage goodbye for Harry.

Boost Juice CEO Allis, of course, being Harry’s biggest rival last season — and a player he had successfully eliminated from the game.

But as LaPaglia prepared to read the votes, Harry suddenly stopped the tribal council. Did he have one more hidden advantage to keep him in the game?

“Jonathan, I’ve hidden this from lot of people. Before the votes are read, I’d like everyone to know that … I had a banana stash, and I’m giving the rest of it to Brooke for safe keeping. Sorry, I just though that was important information,” he said with a smile, and a bunch of bananas in his hand he’d snuck in his bag.

Clearly Harry sensed his number was up. As the votes were read and he was asked to leave the tribal council, he had no hard feelings, even giving David a big hug: “Well played, man — I like it when you play rough.”

Harry admitted he was hoping for a miracle.

David wanted him out.

After his elimination, Harry said he’d been “hoping for a crack anywhere in this old Mokuta alliance. I thought my plan had traction — obviously I was wrong. I’d like to be remembered purely as a loveable villain; as an innovator.

“You definitely don’t have to be lovey-dovey if you want to win this game.”

Survivor: All-Stars continues 7:30pm Monday on Ten.