Survivor is the reality television franchise that originated with the Swedish programme Expedition Robinson.
Expedition Robinson premiered in Sweden in 1997 and was created by television producer Charlie Parsons. Contestants were divided into tribes and placed in a remote location, where they competed in challenges, built shelters and voted one another out. The format combined outdoor survival with social strategy.
The American adaptation, titled Survivor, premiered on CBS in 2000. Jeff Probst became its longtime host, and the programme developed its own terminology, including tribal councils, immunity challenges and hidden immunity idols. Although the US show is the best-known version internationally, its underlying format came from Sweden.
The title Expedition Robinson refers to Robinson Crusoe, the fictional castaway whose name became associated with survival narratives. Many other countries adapted the format under titles connected with Robinson, Survivor or local equivalents.
Survivor is distinct from purely wilderness-based shows because success depends not only on physical endurance but also on alliances, voting blocs and jury management. The winner is selected by a jury of previously eliminated contestants.