Survivor Host Battles Extreme Heat, Struggles to Keep Cool

According to Survivor host Jeff Probst, the heat during the latest season of the show was almost unparalleled in the franchise's 49-season history. Probst explained on his "On Fire" podcast that the conditions were "stifling" and "hard to think" in, with three contestants going down in a single challenge.

The host himself was not immune to the extreme temperatures, revealing he was "sweating through [his] shirts" and "struggling with names and thoughts." Probst said he was "eating and sleeping and, you know, fully supported out there," yet still found the conditions overwhelming.

To emphasize the difficulties the contestants face, Probst and the show's executive producer made a deliberate decision to have the editors leave in every instance where the host stumbled over names or had trouble catching his breath. "Because we want the evidence to be there that this is really difficult," Probst explained.

The new era of Survivor, where players must "earn everything," has only compounded the challenges posed by the harsh environment. Probst noted that with the added pressure of losing tribal supplies if a challenge is lost, the heat and fatigue make the game even more grueling for the contestants.