Seven years on, Castaway returns with a new shape and new twists, but the same underlying intentions: take a group of Brits as far away from their current lives as possible – physically, psychologically and emotionally – to explore what’s really important to them and discover how they shape their community.

In the last series, there was one set of castaways; this time, the group will evolve throughout the three months of the project which is broadcast live. One viewer will be able to join the experiment during the run in a remote location in New Zealand.

The series launches on BBC One in the new year and weekly update programmes on the channel will climax in the live result of a group decision that will have a crucial effect on the castaways.