Simon Mee has become one of Australian Survivor‘s most memorable and polarizing figures—a self-proclaimed “golden child” turned carpenter, known for fierce competitiveness, hilarious antics, and unforgettable strategic blunders.

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Now 35 and hailing from Brisbane, Queensland, Simon returns for his third shot at the $500,000 prize in Australian Survivor: Redemption (Season 12), which premiered on February 23, 2026, on Network 10.

This season, hosted by former winner David Genat, sees Simon as one of four returning players seeking redemption, alongside Brooke Jowett, Harry Hills, and Mark Warnock.

Born around 1989–1990, Simon spent about a decade thriving in marketing, media, and advertising before a bold pivot during the 2020 COVID lockdowns. At age 30, he left a comfortable corporate salary to apprentice as a carpenter (“chippy”), enduring four years of minimum wage to qualify.

Now a fully certified carpenter working on Brisbane residential builds and renovations, Simon credits the change with grounding him and boosting his physical strength—traits that shine in Survivor challenges.

At home, he shares life with his wife and young daughter, where reminders of his Survivor past (like his infamous idols) keep him motivated.

Simon’s Australian Survivor journey began in Brains v Brawn (2021, Season 6) on the Brawn tribe. A challenge beast with two hidden immunity idols, he believed he controlled the game—until a blindside by allies Chelsea Hackett and Dani Beale sent him home pre-merge on Day 25 (14th place).

He became the first player in Australian Survivor history to be blindsided with two idols, a historic “hapless” moment that defined his legacy.

He returned in Heroes v Villains (2023, Season 8) on the Villains tribe, lasting to Day 42 as the 6th juror (6th place).

Despite strong challenge performances, strategic misreads, alliance chaos, and a noted rivalry with George Mladenov earned him host Jonathan LaPaglia’s “most hapless” label. Yet his authenticity, humor, and competitiveness made him a fan favorite.

In Redemption (2026), Simon calls this his “final chapter in the trilogy.” Pregame interviews reveal self-awareness: lessons from past fumbles, better alliance-building (including potential ties with Harry Hills), and a drive to rewrite his story.

Living daily with failure reminders, he says redemption “means so much” as “statistically one of the worst players” yet refuses to quit.

Beyond the game, Simon stays connected via Instagram (@simon.mee89), where his bio reads “3 x @SurvivorAU Player… Just a Chippy giving it a crack.” He launched Snuff’d apparel post-Heroes v Villains—a merch brand inspired by “snuff your torch” eliminations, blending his Survivor humor with personal branding.

Whether third time proves the charm remains unfolding in Samoa, but Simon Mee’s journey—from corporate desk to toolshed, from blindsided flop to redemption hopeful—captures why fans adore him: raw, relatable, and relentlessly entertaining. Tune in to Network 10 or follow updates on Survivor communities to see if he finally claims victory.