Bondi Rescue
Bondi Rescue is an Australian factual television program broadcast on Network 10 between 2006-2021. After a hiatus due to covid and poor weather conditions the series resumed filming in the summer of 2022/2023. Season 17 will screen on Network Ten in 2023. The program follows the daily lives and routines of the Waverley Council professional lifeguards who patrol Bondi Beach.[2]
| Bondi Rescue | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Factual |
| Created by | Ben Davies and Michael Cordell |
| Starring | The Waverley Council Lifeguards |
| Narrated by | Osher Günsberg |
| Opening theme | "In the Summertime" by Thirsty Merc |
| Composer | Kyls Burtland |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 16 |
| No. of episodes | 220 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producers |
|
| Production locations | Bondi Beach, New South Wales |
| Cinematography | Gary Russell Phillip Bull Helen Patronis |
| Running time | 30–60 minutes (inc. commercials) |
| Production company | Cordell Jigsaw Productions[1] |
| Release | |
| Original network | Network 10 (2006-2021) Paramount (2023-present) |
| Picture format | 576i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV) |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original release | 15 February 2006 – present |
| Chronology | |
| Related | Bondi Vet |
Bondi Rescue was first broadcast in 2006. A spin-off, set in Bali, Indonesia, also screened in 2008.[3][4] Bondi Rescue is broadcast internationally and has a substantial online presence. The show was created and produced by part-time lifeguard Ben Davies in collaboration with Producer Michael Cordell.[5] It is narrated by Osher Günsberg.
On 12 October 2022, it was officially announced on the Bondi Rescue social media sites that the show will return for season 17 in 2023. [6][7]
Overview
The Bondi lifeguards perform around five thousand rescues over the summer period. They also deal with other incidents including lost children, shark scares, bluebottle stings, injuries, sexual deviants, drunk beach goers and thieves on the beach. Every once in a while, celebrities also make appearances on their shores. These have included actors/comedians David Hasselhoff and Kelly Slater (stars of the fictional US lifeguards show Baywatch), Hugh Grant, Zac Efron, Rowan Atkinson, Paris Hilton, Russell Crowe, entrepreneur Richard Branson, American comedian Conan O'Brien (whose appearance was also broadcast in his own show, Conan), musician Snoop Dogg, Steve Irwin and daughter Bindi and the Indian Cricket Team. Bondi veterinarian Chris Brown repeatedly appeared on Bondi beach, meeting lifeguards, in his own show Bondi Vet.
Bondi also has its Annual Lifeguard Ironman Challenge, which tests the skills of each lifeguard which typically consists of a one-kilometre run from Bondi to local beach Tamarama, then a one-kilometre swim to nearby Bronte Beach, followed by a two-kilometre board-paddle back to Bondi. The race is handicapped: the more accomplished swimmers and board-paddlers set off from Bondi later (up to twelve minutes, depending on how many competitors there are).
Footage for the show is shot during the preceding Australian summer (usually between December and February), with certain episodes reflecting incidents that have occurred during Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Australia Day. Noteworthy incidents at nearby Tamarama and Bronte Beaches, which the lifeguards are also responsible for, are occasionally shown. Later seasons also featured footage of lifeguard trials and training exercises from the middle of the year. The training in the middle of the year is a trial to test the fitness, strength and ability of the lifeguards. It consists of an 800-metre swim in under thirteen-and-a-half minutes in a swimming pool, a 600-metre swim surf and two 600-metre runs and on the sand, a 600-metre board paddle, then a set of demanding rescues at Bondi which should be completed in under 25 minutes. It is also a test for trainee lifeguards to show they are able and committed to the role of a lifeguard. If the competitors do not complete the tasks in the time limit, they are eliminated and do not advance to the next test.
Many rescue boards and jet skis have a camera attached for close-up footage. When deemed safe to do so, the cameraman accompanies the lifeguards out to sea and has even had to assist with rescue operations on a number of occasions.
The production company pays Waverley Council an access fee to film the program on Bondi Beach. The lifeguards are paid a separate licensing fee for the use of their images in the series.
The lifeguards
Current lifeguards at Bondi beach[8]
- Alexander "Alex" Koops
- Andrew "Reidy" Reid – featured
- Andy Mole
- Anthony "Harries" Carroll – featured
- Anthony "Glick" Glick – featured
- Ben "Quiggers" Quigley – featured
- Bruce "Hoppo" Hopkins (head-lifeguard) – featured and starring
- Chase Hardaker (rookie)
- Chris "Chappo/Chips" Chapman – featured
- Corey Oliver – featured
- Daniel "Beardy" McLaughlin (also carpenter) – featured
- David Skene
- Dylan "Milky" Davis (trainee)
- Eddy Hudson
- Evan Faulks
- Gavin "Bagus" Stevenson – featured
- Harrison "Lionel" Reid – featured
- Jack Curtis - featured
- Jackson Doolan – featured
- Jake Bracken
- Jake Nolan – Featured
- Joel "Loaf" Bevilacqua – featured
- Joel Bolewski – featured
- Josh "dabigman" Burke
- Juliana "Jules" King
- Kailan "KC" Collins (former ironman) – featured
- Lachlan MacIntosh
- Lachlan "Lachie" McArthur
- Liam "Itchy" Taylor
- Lukas "Boo" Street-Wong
- Luke Faddy
- Matthew "Matt H." Hastie
- Mario Marfella – featured
- Max Ayshford – featured
- Max MacGuigan
- Max Milligan – featured
- Noah "Mort" Finnimore (trainee) – featured
- Quinn "Quinno" Darragh (part-time – also paramedic)
- Ryan "Whippet" Clark (former child soap actor) – featured
- Ryan Yerbury – featured (also police officer)
- Sam Fleeting
- TJ Hendy (also Ironman)
- Thomas "Egg/Tommy" Bunting (also chiropractor)
- Trent "Maxi" Maxwell – Featured (also firefighter)
- Trent "Singlets" Falson – featured (also personal fitness trainer)
- Troy "Gonzo" Quinlan – featured
- Tyson McIntosh – featured
- Wally Eggleton – featured
- William "Will/Rhino" Bigelow (former football player)
Former
- Aaron "Azza"/"Azza B" Buchan
- Aaron "Azza"/"Azza G" Graham (team leader)
- Adrian "Taco" Kovacic
- Adriel "Bacon" Young
- Andrew "Pine" O'Sullivan
- Beau Day
- Ben "Benny" Davies (producer/surfer)
- Ben Sutherland
- Blake McKeown
- Brad "Mal" Malyon
- Brooke Cassell
- Bobby "Yak" Yaldwyn (also paramedic)
- Chris Emery
- Chris "Thaney" Thane
- Clint "Klipper" Kimmins (also triathlete)
- Colin Thackeray
- Cooper "Coops" Braxton
- Cooper "Coops" Wilson
- Corey Adams
- Craig Carney
- Danny McKell
- Dean "Deano" Gladstone
- Derek Recio
- Des "The Chairman" Burke
- Dunstan "Dunno" Foss
- Greg "Bisho" Bishop (also firefighter)
- Harry "H"/"H-man" Nightingale (retired in 2015)
- Jesse "Kid" Polock
- Jethro "Jeff" James
- John "Johnny" Robson
- Kobi Graham
- Kristian "Yatesy" Yates
- Kyle Pao (exchange lifeguard from Hawaii)
- Luke "Louie" Daniels
- Matt "Burkey" Burke
- Matt Colquhoun
- Matt Dee
- Michael "Mouse"/"Black Cloud"/"Mick" Jenkinson
- Nathan "Anny" Anson
- Nicola Atherton (former pro surfer, current surf instructor)
- Rod "Kerrbox"/"Box" Kerr (team leader, former surf champion)
- Sean Carroll
- Scotty Thomson
- Stuart Morrow
- Steve Vincent (The Don)
- Terry "Tezz" McDermott (died in 2022)[9]
- Temika Wright (exchange trainee)
- Tommy Frazer
- Tom Miller
Vehicles
Bondi Rescue: Bali
A nine-part spin-off series, entitled Bondi Rescue: Bali and set in Bali, Indonesia, premiered on 10 September 2008.[18][19] The spin-off followed two months delegations of the Bondi lifeguards (including Dean 'Deano' Gladstone, Andrew 'Reidy' Reid, Ryan 'Whippet' Clark, Chris 'Chappo/Chips' Chapman, Tom 'Egg' Bunting, Matt 'Matty' Dee, Aaron 'Azza' and Kobi Graham and mission chief Terry 'Tezz' McDermott) as they were assigned to a two-month stint at Kuta Beach, dealing with the more humid climate, a much larger beach, an exceptionally strong surf and the absence of the rescue equipment they had back home (even in ambulances), making it the world's most deadly guarded beach: twelve fatalities in an average year.[3][20] They join the hundred strong local life guards, supervised by popular singer Marcello Arayafaya, in an official international exchange program.
The spin-off failed to score ratings, and was cancelled after four episodes.[21] However the whole series was aired and repeated overseas, notably in Flanders.
Reception
Bondi Rescue has proven to be successful for Network 10, averaging 1.31 million viewers during its third season. It won the Logie Awards Most Popular Factual Program in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 and also a nomination for the Most Outstanding Factual Series at the 2010 and 2011 ceremonies.[19] Its success also led to similar series such as the Seven Network's Surf Patrol and Nine's Deadly Surf being commissioned.[22]
Logie Awards
| Year | Nominee | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Bondi Rescue | Most Popular Factual Program | Won |
| Most Outstanding Factual Program | Nominated | ||
| 2009 | Most Popular Factual Program | Won | |
| 2010 | Most Popular Factual Program | Won | |
| Most Outstanding Factual Program | Nominated | ||
| 2011 | Most Popular Factual Program | Won | |
| Most Outstanding Factual Program | Nominated | ||
| 2012 | Most Popular Factual Program | Won | |
| 2013 | Most Popular Factual Program | Won | |
| 2014 | Most Popular Reality Program | Nominated | |
| 2015 | Most Popular Reality Program | Nominated | |
| 2016 | Most Popular Factual Program | Nominated | |
| 2017 | Most Popular Factual Program | Nominated |
Books
The first book written about Bondi Rescue was by Nick Carroll and published on 1 November 2009. It was titled Out the Back with Bondi Rescue: True Stories Behind the Hit TV Show and was about the Bondi lifeguards and took readers 'behind-the-scenes' and showed their 'journeys and the effect this has had on their lives'.[23]
A second book, titled Stories From the Bondi Lifeguards, was published on 1 February 2015 and showed a 'behind-the-scenes' look and memorable stories from the lifeguards on Bondi Rescue.[24] The book was written by a some of the lifeguards who frequented the show.
Trent Maxwell, commonly known as Maxi, published a series of children's books in 2018 about his lifeguarding experiences.[25][26]
Mobile game
A game based on the show was developed for iPhone and iPad. In the game, the player is a lifeguard who must keep the swimmers between the flags and protect them from hazards.
Series overview
| Season | Originally Aired | Episodes | DVD | Network/ channel | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Aired | Last Aired | Release date | Discs | Special Features | |||
| 1 | 6 February 2006 | 27 March 2006 | 8 | 13 February 2008 | 2 | Slipcase Packaging | Network 10 |
| 2 | 5 February 2007 | 9 April 2007 | 10 | 13 February 2008 | 2 | Slipcase Packaging | |
| 3 | 5 February 2008 | 6 May 2008 | 14 | 17 September 2008 | 2 | Slipcase Packaging | |
| 4 | 8 February 2009 | 3 May 2009 | 13 | 5 August 2009 | 2 | Hoppo rescue | |
| 5 | 7 February 2010 | 2 May 2010 | 13 | 3 August 2011 | 2 | Slipcase Packaging | |
| 6 | 6 February 2011 | 24 April 2011 | 14 | 1 December 2011 | 2 | Stand by (unaired episode) | |
| 7 | 6 February 2012 | 7 May 2012 | 13 | 7 May 2012 | 2 | N/A | |
| 8 | 10 February 2013 | 2 June 2013 | 13 | 21 May 2014 | 2 | N/A | |
| 9 | 3 March 2014 | 11 May 2014 | 13 | No DVD, was released on iTunes Store. | |||
| 10 | 17 March 2015 | 30 Aug 2015 | 13 | No DVD, was released on iTunes Store. | |||
| 11 | 15 March 2016 | 10 July 2016 | 13 | No DVD, was released on iTunes Store. | |||
| 12 | 29 January 2017 | 30 April 2017 | 13 | No DVD, was released on iTunes Store. | |||
| 13 | 13 March 2018 | 24 April 2018 | 10 | No DVD, was released on iTunes Store. | |||
| 14 | 20 February 2019 | 2 October 2019 | 10 | No DVD, was released on iTunes Store. | |||
| 15 | 25 March 2020 | 8 July 2020 | 10 | No DVD, was released on iTunes Store. | |||
| 16 | 25 February 2021 | 20 December 2021 | 10 | No DVD, was released on iTunes Store | |||
| 17 | 2023 | 2023 | TBC | TBC | Paramount | ||
See also
- and
- Carroll, Nick (2009). Out The Back With Bondi Rescue: True Stories Behind the Hit TV Show. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 978-1-74175-908-2
References
- ^ "CJZ.com.au". Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ^ Waverley Council – Professional Lifeguards 22 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Airdate: Bondi Rescue: Bali, Kenny's World
- ^ "Not drowning, saving". The Age. 18 September 2008.
- ^ Forbes, Mark (8 September 2008). "Much Kuta than here". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
- ^ "Instagram".
- ^ https://www.mediaweek.com.au/paramount-upfront-2023-new-and-returning-content/
- ^ "Bondi Rescue – Lifeguards". 10 Play. Network Ten. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ Moore, Hannah (4 September 2022). "Bondi Rescue star Terry McDermott dies after battle with cancer". News.com.au. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
- ^ a b Yamaha Sponsors Professional Ocean Lifeguards 23 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Yamaha WaveRunners On Bondi Rescue 13 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Yamaha Rhino recall doesn't extend to Australia 19 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Surf Life Saving Australia – Circular: Approved Lifesaving Gear & Equipment Update 30 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Surf Life Saving Australia – Circular: August 2008 24 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Yamaha WaveRunners On Bondi Rescue 10 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ New Kracka Designed Surf Rescue Board! 7 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Kracka Lifeguard boards 7 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Channel 10 puts Logie-winning Bondi Rescue into Bali
- ^ a b Bondi Rescue heads to Bali
- ^ "Bondi Rescue boys feel heat on the beach at Kuta, Bali". Daily Telegraph. Sydney. 10 September 2008.
- ^ Returning: Jamie Oliver. Bumped: Kenny. Gone: Bondi
- ^ Bondi surf rescue show goes global
- ^ Goodreads; Allen & Unwin (1 November 2009). "Out the Back with Bondi Rescue". Retrieved 7 March 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Goodreads; The Bondi Boys (1 February 2015). "Stories From the Bondi Lifeguards". Retrieved 7 March 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ White, Anastasia (14 September 2018). "Live, Learn, Survive". havenmagazine.com.au. Haven Magazine. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
- ^ Doyle, Erin (1 September 2020). "Exclusive: Bondi Rescue's Maxi shares baby plans". New Idea. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
External links
- Official website
- Bondi Rescue at IMDb
- Production website