"Some people were angry when the then 59 year old was eliminated without anything that could even loosely have been described as a 'move'. But they didn't realise that they never actually said when it would happen. Let's hope it's worth the wait."
After two unsuccessful attempts in 2002 and 2006 by The Nine Network and the Seven Network respectively, in 2015 The Ten Network decided to breathe new life into the Australian Survivor brand. They upped the production values from the previous versions, and in 2016 and 2017 they aired what were technically seasons 3 and 4 of Australian Survivor, but the first to air in the revised format.
And they have made a success of it. The show has been a hit, due in no small part to the casting of some incredible characters, and advertising campaigns that always lead the viewer to feel that something massive is about to happen. And there is no better example than the advertising and promotions around retired customs officer Sue Clarke.
In the 2016 instalment, that took place in Upolu, Samoa, Sue began the game in the Vavau tribe, but later joined Saanapu. She was popular among fellow contestants and viewers, due to her calm and compassionate demeanor and ability to fire off a pretty funny one-liner from time to time.
In Saanapu, her approach was generally to seek to fly under the radar, as fellow contestants were voted out.
However, it eventually became apparent that while she was voting with a majority alliance, she was peripheral to that alliance and would soon be picked off. As viewers at home, a lot of us were screaming at the TV imploring her not to go gently into that good night. We could see her demise coming from a mile away. We wanted her to do something to shake things up and hopefully not have to go home.
So we were ecstatic when the end-of-episode preview proudly and with impressive graphics announced that "Sue's Big Move" was imminent. It was wonderful news. In a series that had been decidedly short of big moves (unlike last year's instalment that had billions), we were finally in for a treat.
But, sadly, the move never came. In fact, at the time some people tried to pick through the carcass of the episode to see if there was some subtle big move that they had missed. People even speculated that the burger she ate during an immunity challenge was the move. There was also a rather clever theory that the absence of a move was a move in and of itself.
But now that Network Ten has decided to completely jump the shark this season and invite former footy star Mat Rogers, swimmer Shane Gould and even bloody Commando onto the island, speculation is rife that Sue might be popping along to finally make her big move.
We caught up with Bertrom Malley (45), a self-described Survivor tragic, and discussed the speculation.
"Yeah I've watched every incarnation of Survivor there's ever been. Love the American one with a passion. But honestly, the last couple of series in Australia have been pretty great. And I really hope she pops in and finally makes her big move. You know that feeling where you think you're gonna sneeze but then you don't? And it's just so unsatisfying? Well that's how I feel about dear old Sue and her big move. I was so excited about that big bloody move, and it just never came."
Sue was unavailable for comment.