A reality TV show touted as a unique opportunity to rebuild Victoria's tourism industry has drawn criticism from some viewers for scenes that seemed to be implausible.
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Hunted Australia is a reality TV show that challenges 18 participants, in groups of two, to operate as 'fugitives' on the run from a team of former professional investigators from Australian Federal Police, Australian Defence Force and British Intelligence.
'Fugitives' that are able to outmaneuver investigators for 21 days win a share of $100,000.
The Australian version of the original British series premiered strongly on Network Ten to 619,000 viewers on Sunday night which gave it a win across all major markets.
Hunted Australia features Wodonga Council deputy mayor Graeme Simpfendorfer who has been recruited for his experience as a former police detective.
Cr Simpfendorfer said he was pleased with the premiere's rating success.
"I'm absolutely rapt with the response [...] it's fantastic to see it come to life after waiting so long," he said.
But social media commentary about the high-stakes competition drew some howls online.
"[D]amn #HuntedAU seems very real & not fake at all," read 6 News Australia's Leonardo Puglisi's tweet.
"As a hunter my strategy would be to look for people being accompanied by a professional cameraman," read another tweet.
Meanwhile other Twitter users offered some tongue-in-cheek advice for the 'fugitives'.
Comedian Joel Creasey tweeted: "Omg #HunterAU is so fun. I'd just go to Revs and hide for months."
Another Tweeter said, "I'd definitely hide in an IKEA. Meatballs for days and you're never getting out of that maze."
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Visit Victoria chief executive Brendan McClements said the show was a unique opportunity to encourage other Australians to roam around the state and support its tourism recovery.
"We're all about doing things differently at Visit Victoria, so as soon as we heard the premise of this exciting new format, we wanted to be part of it," he said.
The third episode of Hunted Australia airs on Tuesday, July 19.
