By Safiu Kehinde
Gulder Ultimate Search, the famous survival reality show, is set to return to screen after seven years of extinction.
The show, which took Nigeria’s broadcast stations by storm during the early 2000s, is created and sponsored by Nigerian Breweries. It started in 2004 and enjoyed stellar on-air dominance for 11 seasons, bagging the award of the most-watched reality TV series in Nigeria before closing its curtain in 2016.
According to The Guardian, Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc. has officially announced that the show would make its comeback with “The Age of Craftsmanship” as the theme for the 2021 edition.
The Corporate Affairs Director Nigerian Breweries Plc, Sade Morgan expressed her excitement over the return of the reality show.
“We are really excited to be bringing back the Gulder Ultimate Search to the viewing pleasure of Nigerians who have over the years continue to call for the return of the show. The planning team has put in place everything necessary to give the fans exactly what they enjoy about the show, and I’m confident that everyone will be pleasantly surprised and delighted with what we have in store,” she said.
According to Morgan, registration for the show will commence on September 1 till September 8, 2021. First screening session starts in September 13 at Abuja and Enugu while Lagos hosts the second screening which will kick-off on September 16.
The action-packed show will come on-air on October 16, 2021 and will run till December 18, when the grand finale will take place.
Going back to memory lane, the first edition of the show, which premiered in 2004, saw contestants camped in different parts of the country. They were left to struggle against themselves and the wild, in what can be described as the survival for the fittest.
In their quest for survival, an hidden treasure is kept at a strategic position and the contestants are saddled with the responsibility of finding this gem. The last person standing would end up being awarded with instant fame and fortune.
Speaking of fortune, the last edition of the show tagged “The General’s Helmet” saw the winner, Chinedu Ubachukwu, walked home with 10 million Naira and a brand new Ford Explorer Car.
The show also produced past winners such as Ugo Egwuagwu, Lucan Chambliss, Hector Joberteh (late), Dominic Mudabai, Michael Nwanchukwu, Kunle Remi, just to mention a few.
