Season 2
Fear Factor is a reality show in which contestants confront their fears and phobias in terrifying challenges where they have not just their own fears to overcome but also the competition from other even more tough-talking, crazier and possibly even psycho contestants.
South Africa has had three versions of the show: the original US version, which aired on M-Net; the first South African production, which followed the format of the US version and was broadcast on M-Net in 2002; and Fear Factor South Africa, the first season of which aired on e.tv in 2006.
The format of Fear Factor South Africa differs to the international version in that the contestants are housed together in a "boot camp" for the duration of the show, with one or more going home each week until one winner is left.
According to e.tv the idea behind the boot camp is "to increase the competition element of the show, build tension between contestants and more clearly display the contestants' personalities to the viewers."
Fear Factor South Africa 2 is a stunt-based show that tests contestants' ability to overcome their fears and to accept extreme challenges.
Challenges range from eating cockroaches and animal testicles, bicycling through sheets of glass, surviving fast-rising water while being chained inside a tank, fishing for nectarines in a tank filled with snakes, to lying in a coffin filled with rats.
During the call-to-entry phase thousands of applications were received from a wide cross-section of South Africans keen to compete in the show. Of these, 12 contestants were selected to participate in a range of stunts that were revealed only when the contestants arrived on location to perform them.
Contestants compete against each other to win a grand prize of R300,000.
Contestants stayed in a boot camp for the duration of the shooting of the series. The boot-camp was insulated and spartan, and contestants had to cope without any of their usual luxuries while psyching themselves up to attempt the increasingly terrifying stunts every day.
No alcohol, sedatives or cigarettes were allowed at the camp.
Lungile Radui takes over from Thapelo Mokoena as host of the second season, which is produced by Endemol South Africa.