Expedition Robinson will come with an All Stars edition on RTL 4 in two weeks. Six former winners and ten (semi) finalists will compete for the highest honor for eleven weeks. “All I’ve done is eat more in the run-up.”
Ferry Doedens was ‘immediately poked’ for an All Stars edition. “I immediately said yes,” says the actor-cum-singer about the phone call he received “somewhere in the middle of 2021. “I didn’t want to let this opportunity take me away. Expedition Robinson is and remains something special.”
The new series, presented by Art Rooijakkers and Geraldine Kemper, would first be broadcast on Videoland, but can now be seen weekly on RTL 4. On Zanzibar, an island on the east coast of Africa, sixteen candidates gathered for the recordings last December: former winners Hugo Kennis (2019), Jan Bronninkreef (2018), Carlos Platier Luna (2017), Bertie Steur (2016), Kay Nambiar (2014) and Edith Bos (2013). The losing (semi)finalists are Domique Hazeleger, Gegory Sedoc, Diorno Braaf, Thomas Dekker, Krystl Pullens, Mariana Verkerk, Rita Berger, Sebastiaan Labrie, Niels Gomperts and Doedens. “I said it seven years ago: if there ever comes an All Stars edition, they can call me.”
How different was this edition?
Doedens: ,,Of course I can’t say anything about it, but I can say that Zanzibar was a really amazing location. And everyone thought they knew what to expect. You travel with candidates who have participated before and who have also come a long way. Who know it means to play games, to forge bonds. But at Expedition Robinson, nothing is what it seems and everything turns out differently. It remains a challenge, especially if you have little to eat. It was survival again. Believe me, it’s going to be a tough season.”
How did you prepare?
,,The funny thing is: hardly anyone had prepared. All I’ve done is eat more. Seven years ago I had lost 9 to 10 kilos. So I had to arrive first.”
Not practiced with making fire?
,,No, actually not, I didn’t do an extra survival course either. It was a large group. Then someone can always make a fire and they help a lot.”
What was it like to be away again without contact with the outside world?
“I’ve had an eventful year. I have an Only Fans account, about which enough has been said and written. It was great for me to get away from it all. To hand in your phone and get back to basics. To be on your own. Only a few people knew. So others could not reach me. Saw only one tick on my whatsapp. Then, logically, questions arise. Is he okay? He is not responding. Some thought I was in rehab. I had to laugh a lot about that.”
What are your plans in the near future?
“A lot of fun things are coming up. Sing anyway. I was in last week Secret Duets with Karin Bloemen and I went into the studio yesterday. I’ll finish my new record in a few weeks.”
Expedition Robinson All Stars from 24 February every Thursday at 8.30 p.m. on RTL 4.
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