The BBC risks being accused of dumbing down after selecting a lap-dancer, a sex-bomb ex-convent girl and a knife-mad ex-marine among 13 castaways for its new reality TV show

Sparks are set to fly on the Great Barrier island, 50 miles from New Zealand, when the programme debuts on Friday night. It is a million miles away from the set of the original series – screened in 2000 – the Outer Hebrides island of Taransay.

The 13 castaways swam ashore this week to start their three-month stint in terrible living conditions.

Shelter, food and water are limited and there are no beds. The sanitary conditions are best left unmentioned.

Presenter Danny Wallace said: “It will be a pretty grim experience for them – I guarantee that.”

Producer Jeremy Mills said that the island gave an initial sense of luxury. However, he added, “they won't know what's hit them. There's no electricity, plumbing or running water – and they'll have just one match to light a fire.

"We're only giving them Second World War standard rations, so they'll have to fish to eat well.”

The lost souls:

Jason Ross, 37, recovering drug and alcohol addict from Dover, Kent. The qualified carpenter and joiner has been clean for 18 months, after 25 years of substance abuse. He says: 'I died three times in intensive care. But I've been given my life back.'

Lucinda King, 27, event project manager from East Dulwich, South London. The ex-convent girl says she is disillusioned with city life. She says: 'Men see me as someone they would like to be with. They'd like to experience a night with Lucinda.'

Clare Hilley, 22, trainee pilot from Purley, Surrey. Has ambitions to become a Tory MP and is currently chair of Conservative Future, London south. Last year, she was the youngest candidate to stand in a local election in the UK and dislikes the 'uneducated and narrow-minded.' She says: "Margaret Thatcher said it like it was. She is one of my heroes.'

Hassan Kobeissi, 24, labourer from Newmarket, Suffolk. The non-practising Muslim claims to be a brilliant flirt and gets on better with women than men. He works out at the gym and enjoys swimming, running, fishing, boxing, tennis and golf. He says: 'I'm going to be on the other side of the world having the time of my life.'

Wendie Mitchell, 42, full-time carer, Stoke Newington, North London. The former skinhead is a mother-of-four who loves to 'go raving'. One of her biggest passions is ska music - she runs her own website and regularly dresses up in ska-style clothes. She is a counselling student and has spent the last year caring for her mother. She says: 'It will be nice to have 'me time'.

Joe Chicken, 33, occupational therapist, Stoke Newington, North London A socialist, vegetarian and member of a dolphin society, and says his ambition is to get his foot on the property ladder and find the love of his life. He says vanity makes him do 30 press-ups a day. He says:'I'm very emotional. I cry and kiss my friends, much to their disdain.'

Gemma Zinyama, 22, sales executive from Buckhurst Hill, Essex. Enjoys spending her money on hair extensions, clothes, false nails and nightclubs. She says: 'I've got no respect for social scroungers, I don't like really pushy people. I've not mixed with gays or lesbians.'

Alister Cooling, 24, unemployed writer from Seacroft, Leeds. A loner, he is single and lists his friends as TV, the computer and his Hi-Fi. University-educated Alister writes short science fiction and cites his influences as TV shows Buffy and Angel.

Kenneth Rose, 65, driving instructor and former glamour photographer from Maldon, Essex. Spent 22 years as a Colour Sergeant in the Royal Marines and describes himself as a natural leader. He is able to build shelters, kill animals, fish for food, navigate with a compass and administer first aid. He says: 'A man must have a knife to have a life. I know the basics of staying alive.'

Jonathan Shearer, 41, RSPB education officer and part-time cleaner, from Bonhill, Dunbartonshire. Has worked all over the world doing jobs from psychic to sewer digger and describes himself as a 'nomadic anarchist'. Says: 'Humans make me sad. When I go into a room with ten people, eight of them I'm not going to like.'

Francie Smee, 58, administrator from Oxford. Recently divorced after 20 years of marriage, she moved to a new home in a new town, started a new job as an administrator and made new friends. The deaf mother of three grown-up daughters starts a new skill every September. She says:'I'm noisy, bossy and up for anything.'

Alasdair Humberston, 19, part-time farmer from Harringworth, Northamptonshire. Describes himself as 'king of the ladies' and wants to become a venture capitalist earning millions. Was deputy head boy at his public school. He says: 'I'm as heterosexual as you can get.'

Erica Hurst, 22, lapdancer from Kearsley, Greater Manchester. Married this month after four-month romance, she regards herself as the life and soul of the party. The tomboy's motto is 'f** k it, you only live once'. She says: 'I can't stand judgmental people. If they judge me, I'll judge them right back.'

Castaway is due be shown on BBC1 at 9pm on Friday.