The host also names the show’s hottest location ever.

Jeff Probst addresses doubling over after calling Survivor 49 challenge

The host also names the show's hottest location ever.

By Dalton Ross

Dalton Ross is a writer and editor with over 25 years experience covering TV and the entertainment industry. *Survivor* is kind of his thing.

EW's editorial guidelines

October 30, 2025 7:00 a.m. ET

Jeff Probst hosting 'Survivor 49'. Credit:

We’re used to seeing *Survivor* players doubling over or collapsing after an exhausting challenge in intense heat. What we’re *not* used to seeing is that sort of activity from the *Survivor* host, but that’s exactly what happened this week on *Survivor 49.*

The scene was a day 11 reward challenge, before which the remaining players were redivided into three new tribes. The contestants then had to compete in a physically taxing challenge that involved pushing a heavy cart along a bumpy path, stacking sand bags, climbing ladders, knocking discs off poles, and then finally knocking down four bamboo targets.

But the players were not the only ones running on empty after the contest. Jeff Probst walked to the side after calling the challenge and immediately doubled over with his hands on his knees.

“Jeff, you out of breath, too?” asked Rizo Velovic.

“It’s no joke, man,” answered Probst.

“Welcome to *Survivor*,” Rizo responded, not able to pass up the opportunity of throwing one of Probst's most famous lines back at the host.

***Want to be kept up with all things Survivor? Dig deep and sign up for 's free Survivor Weekly newsletter to have all the latest news, interviews, and commentary sent right to your inbox. ***

Probst was asked about the oppressive heat that led to his post-challenge exhaustion on the latest episode of the *On Fire with Jeff Prosbt* podcast, and the host revealed that the particular spot where they ran that competition was partly to blame.

“The island where that challenge took place is the single hottest spot we ever shoot in Fiji,” Probst says on the podcast. “It might be the hottest spot in all of Fiji.”

And why is that? “I don't know why,” Probst continues. “And I've asked people on our team, and I never get a good answer. And I'm sure there's somebody listening right now saying ‘Probst, it's a basic barometric pressure thing.’”

But whatever the reason, the heat is suffocating in that particular challenge field (which is used for various competitions over the course of a season). “It is so dense [in] that one spot. It's like you're in a sauna and someone is pouring more water on the coals. And I'm not exaggerating.”

'Survivor 49' cast reveal their secret 'Survivor' crushes (exclusive)

Jeff Probst explains why no season 40 winners were asked back for 'Survivor 50'

It’s also a sweltering wake-up call compared to what precedes it. “Here's what happens,” explains the host. “You have this amazing boat ride. It's beautiful skies, the wind is blowing your hair back, you feel amazing. And then you step off the boat and walk into this dense forest.”

And then it becomes something of a competition among the crew to see who is going to mention it first. “The cliche is, everybody says, ‘Man, it's so hot today.’ And we all know we say it and we all try *not* to say it. ‘I'm not gonna say it today. I'm not gonna complain about the heat. I'm not gonna say anything.’ And then you walk in and you go, ‘But my God, it's hot! It's so hot again today!’”

While the host and showrunner has talked early and often about how debilitating the heat is this season, his *On Fire* cohost (and *Survivor: Cambodia* winner) Jeremy Collins has faced worse, and he’s been able to do the comparison himself.

“I've been to Cambodia,” Jeremy reminds Probst on the podcast. “And, to me, Cambodia is the hottest place on Earth. And I've been to Fiji. There's no way it's hotter than Cambodia.”

To that, the host agrees. “No, I think Cambodia was the hottest place we've ever shot. You win that.”

Check out more from Probst on the latest episode of *On Fire.*

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW TV”