Viewers spot Survivor contestant Zach’s reality TV past

HE’S part of the “Contenders” team on Australian Survivor this season — but it turns out the beefy Zach is actually a reality TV veteran, as many viewers soon realised.

EAGLE-eyed Australian Survivor viewers watching last night’s season premiere soon realised that one of this year’s competitors is a seasoned reality TV veteran.

Those with long memories will recognise Western Australian personal trainer Zach, 39, from a job he held a decade ago — as Hunter on Seven’s rebooted Gladiators TV show.

Zach on Australian Survivor: Champions vs. Contenders. Picture: Nigel Wright

Given his impressive physique and reality TV pedigree, you’d be forgiven for thinking Zach was part of the “Champions” team this year, but instead he’s playing as one of the “Contenders” — 12 everyday Aussies going head-to-head against a group that includes several ex-athletes, a three-time US Survivor player and a double amputee war veteran.

Baby Zach! As ‘Hunter’, back on Channel 7’s short-lived 2008 Gladiators reboot.

While his reality TV past is yet to come up on the show, neither Zach nor Ten have shied away from his days in Spandex.

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“I’m a huge fan of the show, just like I was of Gladiators. All I wanted to be was a Gladiator. Did that. Now all I want to do is be a Survivor. I love to compete and this game is the pinnacle,” he says in his official bio.

Zach (far right) giving it Blue Steel as Hunter on Survivor.

“I am constantly being asked to try out for shows like this but I’ve never been interested except for Survivor. I’m going to be doing it for my family, friends and fans.”

Zach’s time on the rebooted Gladiators was short-lived — while the original ’90s series ran for 73 episodes from 1995 to 1996, the 2008 reboot met a lukewarm reception and lasted just 15 episodes. That hasn’t stopped a handful of eagle-eyed Survivor fans from connecting the dots:

In case you're wondering why Zac looks familiar. #SurvivorAU #GladiatorsAU pic.twitter.com/ZjVq7KcsbK

— David (@TheGrimRecapper) August 1, 2018

Was Zach "Hunter" from Gladiators? #SurvivorAU

— Anne Axe (@anneaxsson) August 1, 2018

I'll also be secretely rooting for Zach because 9 year old me was obsessed with Gladiators and used to play it with my older brother in the loungeroom

— Andrew Torrens (@AndrewTorrens) July 31, 2018

Australian Survivor: Champions vs. Contenders continues 7.30pm tonight on Ten.