Strength, speed, agility and endurance will have television audiences on the edge of their seats with the new series Australian Spartan filming now in Brisbane with support from the Queensland Government, announced Screen Queensland Chair Catherine O’Sullivan.

“Channel Seven’s Australian Spartan is filming in the specially designed Spartan Arena,” Ms O’Sullivan said.

“Australian Spartan will deliver an estimated expenditure of $3.6 million directly to Queensland, along with 200 jobs for Queensland crew.

“Queensland Government funding is supporting Australian Spartan through Screen Queensland, continuing Queensland’s successful run as a top destination for screen production,” Ms O’Sullivan said.

Inspired by the world-wide fitness phenomenon ‘Spartan Race’ and following on from the second hit season of the series in the United States, Australian Spartan will be one of the world’s most demanding team-based physical obstacle courses.

Australian Spartan, hosted by Sunrise presenter Edwina Bartholomew and Channel Seven sports commentator Hamish McLachlan, will be filmed in front of a live audience.

“Spartan will be next level. The location is incredible; the competitors are world class and the show will be something to behold,” Ms Bartholomew said. Expect to see everyone from Olympic and Commonwealth Games athletes, CrossFit champions, marathon runners to workmates and mother’s groups.”

Teams of three must join forces to race across a specially designed Spartan course engineered to challenge their determination, endurance and will. The extreme obstacles escalate to test the most outstanding athletes in the country. In the end, only one team will rise to become the ultimate Australian Spartans.

Australian Spartan is a Matchbox Pictures and Eureka Productions co-production for Channel Seven. The format rights for Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge are held by NBCUniversal International Formats and will be distributed worldwide by NBCUniversal International Distribution.

Australian Spartan will air in 2018.