It might look like we’re just lounging on the sofa with a big bowl of Wotsits balanced on our lap, but mentally? We’re joining The Summit contestants in scaling one of New Zealand’s biggest mountains (no, really, we are). And judging by the chatter online, we’re not the only ones — it feels like half the UK is climbing with us.
The series has quickly become the perfect follow-up to Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, offering just enough adrenaline and chaos to make us turn to our TV partner and declare, “Yeah, we could totally do that,” despite not having left the comfort of the sofa all evening. It’s also neatly filling the reality-TV gap left by The Traitors US while easing us through the post–Love Island: All Stars finale slump. Honestly, when it’s this cold outside, staying in and watching other people suffer through extreme weather feels like the ideal compromise.
If you’re already hooked — or thinking about jumping in — here’s when and where you can catch new episodes of The Summit, including tonight’s episode.
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What happens in The Summit?
Hosted by Ben Shephard, the series follows 14 contestants as they compete for a share of a £200,000 prize by attempting to scale one of New Zealand’s most formidable mountains. At the start of the challenge, the full prize pot is divided equally and carried in their backpacks — meaning every elimination literally costs the group money. If someone leaves the mountain, their share is removed from the total, raising the stakes with every misstep.
But this isn’t just a straightforward climb to the summit. Along the way, the contestants must trek through brutal terrain, battle unpredictable weather conditions, and complete physically and mentally demanding checkpoints designed to test endurance, teamwork, and trust. They’re guided — and occasionally hindered — by the mysterious Mountain’s Keeper, who controls twists, sets challenges, and decides when the group must make difficult decisions. Think of the Keeper as the show’s answer to Claudia Winkleman from The Traitors.
