CBS ANNOUNCES 16 OF THE 18 CASTAWAYS FOR "SURVIVOR: REDEMPTION ISLAND"

Two Former Castaways (to Be Announced Later this Week) Will Return to Seek Redemption

Hit Television Series, Hosted by Emmy Award Winner Jeff Probst, will Feature a New Format Twist

CBS today announced 16 of 18 castaways who will compete against each other on SURVIVOR: REDEMPTION ISLAND, when the Emmy Award-winning series returns for its 22nd season, Wednesday, Feb. 16 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Two of the 18 castaways, to be revealed later this week, are former castaways who will return to seek redemption.

This edition of SURVIVOR will feature a new twist when, for the first time, castaways who have been eliminated from the game will have an opportunity to seek redemption and return for a chance to win the million dollar prize. Each week at Tribal Council when a castaway is voted off, they will be sent to an isolated island called "Redemption Island," where they will live alone in exile. To stay on Redemption Island, they will need to compete in a duel against the next person eliminated at Tribal Council and sent to the Island. The winner of each duel earns the right to continue fighting for an opportunity to return to the game and the chance to compete for the title of Sole Survivor; the loser is sent home.

The battle unfolds in Nicaragua where the 18 castaways will be divided into two Tribes of nine: the Ometepe Tribe and the Zapatera Tribe. The tribes are comprised of individuals from all different backgrounds with the same ultimate goal: to be the Sole Survivor. While 16 of the contestants are new to the competition, two are former castaways who will be given another chance to compete for the million dollar prize and one last shot at redemption.

Castaways competing on SURVIVOR: REDEMPTION ISLAND (in alphabetical order):

OMETEPE: ZAPATERA:

Andrea Boehlke Mike Chiesl
Age: 21 Age: 31
Current Residence: Random Lake, Wis. Current Residence: Del Mar, Calif. Occupation: Student
Occupation: Former Marine

Matt Elrod Ralph Kiser
Age: 22 Age: 44
Current Residence: Nashville, Tenn. Current Residence: Lebanon, Va.
Occupation: Pre-Med Student Occupation: Farmer

Francesca Hogi Krista Klumpp
Age: 36 Age: 25
Current Residence: Washington D.C. Current Residence: Columbia, S.C.
Occupation: Attorney Occupation: Pharmaceutical Rep.

Kristina Kell David Murphy
Age: 46 Age: 31
Current Residence: Malibu, Calif. Current Residence: West Hollywood, Calif.
Occupation: Law Student Occupation: Defense Attorney

Grant Mattos Stephanie Valencia
Age: 29 Age: 25
Current Residence: West Hollywood, Calif. Current Residence: Long Beach, Calif.
Occupation: Yoga Instructor Occupation: Waitress

Phillip Sheppard Sarita White
Age: 52 Age: 36
Current Residence: Santa Monica, Calif. Current Residence: Santa Monica, Calif.
Occupation: Technology Executive Occupation: Visual Effects Producer

Natalie Tenerelli Julie Wolfe
Age: 19 Age: 50
Current Residence: Acton, Calif. Current Residence: Oceanside, Calif.
Occupation: Professional Dancer Occupation: Firefighter

Ashley Underwood Steve Wright
Age: 25 Age: 51
Current Residence: Benton, Maine Current Residence: Huntington Beach, Calif.
Occupation: Nurse Occupation: Former NFL Player

Former Castaway (TBA) Former Castaway (TBA)
Age: ?? Age: ??
Current Residence: ?? Current Residence: ??
Occupation: ?? Occupation: ??

SURVIVOR: REDEMPTION ISLAND is hosted by Emmy Award-winning host Jeff Probst and produced by SEG, Inc. Mark Burnett, Jeff Probst and David Burris are executive producers and Leisa Francis is co-executive producer.

For more detailed information about SURVIVOR: REDEMPTION ISLAND and the castaways, log on to www.cbs.com/survivor.