CBS ANNOUNCES THE 20 CASTAWAYS COMPETING ON "SURVIVOR"

Special 90-Minute Season Premiere Airs Wednesday, Sept. 18

CBS announced today the 20 castaways who will compete against each other on SURVIVOR, when the Emmy Award-winning series returns for its 27th season with a special 90-minute premiere, Wednesday, Sept. 18 (8:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

The fall edition of SURVIVOR, themed "Blood vs. Water," will feature former players competing with - and ultimately against - their loved ones who share the same goal: to outwit, outplay, outlast and ultimately be crowned Sole Survivor. Will the returnees use their prior experience in the game to help their partners or will they leave their relatives alone to fend for themselves? Alliances and relationships will be tested and bonds will be broken when mothers, daughters, brothers, spouses and partners vie against each other in the ultimate competition, raising the question: which is thicker - Blood or Water?

This edition of SURVIVOR will feature the return of Redemption Island, where castaways who have been eliminated from the game can seek redemption and return for a chance to win the million dollar prize. The twist this season, however, is loved ones will be forced to choose whether to "save" their partner on Redemption Island and switch places with them, thus allowing their loved one to immediately re-enter the game, or leave them in exile to survive on their own.

The battle unfolds when these 20 castaways compete on SURVIVOR:

DATING
Tyson Apostol Rachel Foulger
Age: 34 Age: 33
Provo, Utah Provo, Utah
Former Pro Cyclist/Shop Manager Cocktail Waitress/Graphic Designer
Survivor: Tocantins, 2nd Jury member
Heroes vs. Villains, 6th Voted Out

BROTHERS
Aras Baskauskas Vytas Baskauskas
Age: 31 Age: 33
Santa Monica, Calif. Santa Monica, Calif.
Musician Yoga Instructor/Math Professor
Survivor: Panama - Exile Island, Winner

MARRIED
Rupert Boneham Laura Boneham
Age: 49 Age: 44
Indianapolis, Ind. Indianapolis, Ind.
Mentor for Troubled Teens Merchandiser
Survivor: Pearl Island, 2nd Jury member All Stars, 6th Jury member, Winner Fan-Favorite Heroes vs. Villains, 7th Jury member

MARRIED
Candice Cody John Cody
Age: 30 Age: 30
Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C.
Physician, Anesthesiology Resident Physician, Army Orthopedic Surgery
Survivor: Cook Islands, 5th Jury Member Resident
Heroes vs. Villains, 5th Jury Member

MARRIED
Monica Culpepper Brad Culpepper
Age: 42 Age: 44
Tampa, Fla. Tampa, Fla.
Former NFL Wife, homemaker Attorney and retired NFL player
Survivor: One World, 5th Voted Out

ENGAGED
Colton Cumbie Caleb Bankston
Age: 22 Age: 26
Collinsville, Ala. Collinsville, Ala.
Student Teacher Post Office Manager/Farmer
Survivor: One World, 6th Out - Medically Evacuated

DATING
Kat Edorsson Hayden Moss
Age: 23 Age: 26
Orlando, Fla. Springtown, Texas
Full-time Student/Sales Real Estate
Survivor: One World, 6th Jury Member

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER
Laura Morett Ciera Eastin
Age: 43 Age: 24
Salem, Ore. Salem, Ore.
Co-owner of Morett Construction Cosmetology Student
Survivor: Samoa, 3rd Jury Member

UNCLE AND NIECE
Gervase Peterson Marissa Peterson
Age: 43 Age: 21
Philadelphia, Pa. Chapel Hill, N.C.
Cigar Lounge Owner Student
Survivor: Borneo, 3rd Jury Member

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER
Tina Wesson Katie Collins
Age: 52 Age: 25
Robbinsville, N.C. New York, N.Y.
Motivational Speaker Hedge Fund Support
Survivor: Australia, Winner All Stars, 1st Voted Out

SURVIVOR is hosted by Emmy Award-winning host Jeff Probst and produced by SEG, Inc. Mark Burnett and Jeff Probst are executive producers.

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