The television show places a group of strangers in an isolated location, where they must provide food, fire, and shelter for themselves.

The format was developed in 1994 by Charlie Parsons for a United Kingdom TV production company called Planet 24, but the Swedish debut in 1997 was the first production to actually make it to television.

Twelve to 20 contestants are put into a survival situation and compete in a variety of physical challenges.

[1] Their company Castaway Television Productions retained the rights to the concept when they sold Planet 24 in 1999.

In July 2017, Banijay Group acquired Castaway Television Productions.