Hunted Australia: Rules, Prize Money And Contestants

The new Australian hit reality show, Hunted, sees nine pairs of everyday Australians labelled fugitives and set into the wild.

In the middle of the Melbourne CBD, contestants are left with only $500 and an overnight bag to their names.

The aim of the game is to evade capture and survive for a total of 21 days.

Following the British format, the show is basically a glorified game of hide and seek with real monetary stakes.

While receiving mixed responses from critics, Channel 10 reigned superior over Channel 9 on the Sunday night ratings, attracting 619,000 viewers overall across Australia’s five major cities.

However, ratings may not be so harsh with the rules explained outright.

Get to Know the Rules

There's a Hunted team, who set out to catch the fugitives. The team is led by The Chief, aka former Detective Superintendent David Craig.

The team is made up of investigators from the Australian Federal Police, Australian Defence Force and British Intelligence.

Also on the team are cyber analysts, special ops and private security. They will all be using their knowledge and the powers supplied to them by the state.

There are also the Ground Hunters, always on the move and ready to move any moment the Hunted team needs them.

But what allowances do the fugitives have in order to evade their well-equipped foes?

Contestants were allowed an overnight bag, $500—$200 in cash and $300 at the ATM, sunglasses and a map of Victoria to begin, in which contestants were encouraged to include a black cap, disguises, running shoes, an address book and food.

They are not allowed a phone, nor can they leave Victoria while they’re on the run.

Following the confiscation of devices, detectives are given a head start in gathering intel on their prey.

One team member is required to wear a personal camera device at all times, and a cameraman follows. During the filming there was also mandatory overnight downtime for both hunters and fugitives, as everyone was overworked across 10-hour days, seven days a week for the entire 21 days of the shoot.

And, of course, fugitives are not allowed to commit any actual criminal offences.

The Hunters, however, are able to pay off people for information.

While no official rules have been revealed by the Australian cast, a radio interview with B98.5’s Tad and Melissa, Emiley Cox and David Windecher from the US series revealed several rules, such as:

• Fugitive teams must move every 48 hours.
• They cannot return to the same place twice. 
• The competitors cannot be helped by the same person twice. 
• Teams have to use the ATM twice during the competition.
• Teams cannot take out more than $100 from an ATM at one time and cannot visit an ATM more than once a day — as we all know, it’s a different amount here!
• No one can give the teams money.
• Producers can create or take away a rule at any point.

What’s the Prize Money?

The fugitives who evade capture and end up making it to the final Extraction Point will win a share of $100,000 (£57,518) in prize money.

Let’s Meet the Contestants

But who exactly are the people vying for this prize, and more importantly, which of them still remain on the run?

Angie, 56 & Michelle, 53 (QLD)

Sisters-in-laws and best friends going back over 30 years, Angie and Michelle dub themselves the ‘Swifty Fifties’.

Michelle, an Accounts Clerk, and Angie, a District Manager, both want to make their kids proud.

Another interesting tidbit: Angie’s father was part of the infamous Richardson gang, on the run in London in the 1960s, and from the authorities for a good deal of his life, subsequently the Hunted experience isn’t a completely new experience to her.

Derek, 24 & Courtney, 22 (NSW)

Proud Indigenous pairing, Aboriginal Education Officer and elite netballer Courtney, hailing from the Biripi people, and Youth Mentor and Cultural Facilitator Derek, a Whadjuk Noongar man, see this as a chance to act as positive role models for family, friends, and community, and to become inspiring reflections of the Aboriginal community at large.

Erina-Lea, 38 & Jess, 28 (QLD)

Gold Coast friends, business owner and mum of two, Erina-Lea and content creator and business owner, Jess are adrenaline junkies and self-proclaimed underdogs.

Jake, 31 & Rob, 33 (WA)

Best mates from different worlds, Rob comes from a background of hairdressing with an expertise in special effects make-up, while Jake is a current serving police officer.

With eight years on the beat, Jake anticipates that stepping into the shoes of the people he normally chases will be easier as he has knowledge of how the other side thinks.

Karen, 56 & Brittany, 27 (SA)

Aunt and niece, Karen and Brittany are strong, opinionated women.

Karen will use her expertise as a Cost Intelligence Manager to analyse and act fast, while Buildings Project Officer Brittany will use her daredevil nature to push the limits and conquer the Hunted game.

Nicholas, 30 & Lavinia, 27 (NSW)

Engaged couple, model and presenter Lavinia and landscape architect Nick, are putting their partnership to the test.

Loving crime and psychological thrillers as well as a love for the outdoors, the couple is prepared to put their survival skills in action.

Puneet, 33 & Kris, 34 (VIC)

Best friends and fitness buffs, disability services manager and new father Puneet, and stock trader and fitness junkie Kris, plan to 'go with the flow and be impromptu'.

Sonny-Joe, 37 & Grace, 26 (NSW)

Friends, personal shopper Grace, and former music industry staffer Sonny-Joe both plan to use disguises and decoys to throw off the Hunters.

Underdogs, neither know how to change a tyre or put up a tent, but think their heart and determination will see them through to the end.

Stathi, 35 & Matt, 35 (VIC)

Best friends, former surveillance worker and current humanitarian worker Stathi, and logistics background Matt plan to complement each other on their run with the 'perfect balance of strategy and operations, physical and mental strengths'.

Airing from Sunday to Tuesday each week at 7.30pm, you can catch Hunted on 10 and 10 Play on Demand to find out who lasts and who can’t last the hunt.