‘The Challenge’ Season 37: Is ‘Spies, Lies, and Allies’ the Biggest Cast Ever?
The Challenge: Spies, Lies, and Allies dropped its first promo in mid-July. MTV has revealed the cast list, location, and theme for the upcoming season. It’s clear they are going big for season 37, but is this the biggest Challenge cast ever?
‘The Challenge’ is embracing the spy theme for season 37
When The Challenge: Spies, Lies, and Allies premieres in mid-August, host TJ Lavin will be back with a cast of 15 veterans and 19 rookies from around the globe.
According to Entertainment Weekly, the U.S “agents” will partner up with international “agents,” and then the game will evolve as the season progresses. The official MTV description confirmed the spy theme and also revealed the filming location.
“Set in the picturesque Mediterranean coast of Croatia, elite U.S. Agents join forces with an assortment of International Operatives, all armed with killer competitive instincts,” the description reads. ‘With the assignment constantly evolving, these agents will be tested both mentally and physically to win their share of one million dollars in this epic new chapter of The Challenge spy games.”
The ‘Spies, Lies, and Allies’ cast is not the biggest ever
With 15 veterans and 19 rookies, season 37 of The Challenge will see the most diverse cast ever. But the list of 34 competitors is not the biggest cast the MTV reality show has ever seen.
That honor goes to Seasons 6 and 9 — Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Battle of the Sexes and Battle of the Sexes. Which both featured two teams of 18, for a total of 36 competitors. Season 32 The Challenge: Final Reckoning featured 17 pairs, which equals the 34-person cast in Spies, Lies, and Allies.
Reigning ‘The Challenge’ champ Chris ‘CT’ Tamburello is one of the veterans competing
The returning players in The Challenge: Spies, Lies, and Allies feature two former winners and a number of fan favorites. Reigning champ Chris “CT” Tamburello is back for his 19th season and looking for his 5th individual win. The other former champ in the cast is Ashely “Millionaire” Mitchell.
The remaining women veterans in the cast are Tori Deal, Nany Gonzalez, Aneesa Ferreira, Kaycee Clark, Amanda Garcia, and Big T. The men include Nelson Thomas, Cory Wharton, Josh Martinez, Kyle Christie, Fessy Shafaat, Devin Walker, and Nam Vo.
The female rookie contestants include a ‘Survivor’ winner
Ten of the 19 rookies on Spies, Lies, and Allies are female competitors. They include a Survivor winner, competitors from international versions of Big Brother and Survivor. Plus, reality stars from international dating shows.
The female rookies are: Berna Canbeldek (Survivor Turkey), Bettina Buchanan (Paradise Hotel Sweden, Ex on the Beach Norway), Emy Alupei (X Factor Romania, Survivor Romania), Lauren Coogan (Love Island), Michaela Bradshaw (Survivor), Michele Fitzgerald (Survivor: Kaôh Rōng winner), Tacha Akide (Big Brother Naija), Esther Agunbiade (Big Brother Naija), Priscilla Anyabu (Love Island UK), and Tracy Candela (Love Island Germany).
‘The Challenge’ season 37 male rookies also feature a ‘Survivor’ winner
There are nine male rookie contestants competing on The Challenge: Spies, Lies, and Allies. And once again, one of the names on the list is a Survivor winner. The male rookies are Tommy Sheehan (Survivor: Island of the Idols winner), Emanuel Neagu (Survivor Romania), Gabo Szabó (Warsaw Shore), Jeremiah White (Love Island), and Hughie Maughan (Big Brother UK).
There’s also Kelechi “Kelz” Dyke (Too Hot to Handle), Logan Sampedro (Survivor Spain), Renan Hellemans (Ex on the Beach: Double Dutch Belgium), and Corey Lay (12 Dates of Christmas).
The Challenge: Spies, Lies, and Allies premieres on MTV on Wednesday, August 11, 2021. A sneak peek episode airing prior to the premiere on Monday, August 9, 2021.
