December 26, 2024 07:04 AM

Survivor Cast Announcement: Lisa Whelchel, 'Facts of Life' Star To Join Season 25 in Philippines [VIDEO]

CBS made a cast announcement for Season 25 of Survivor in the Philippines. Lisa Whelchel, "The Facts of Life," actress will be one of the 15 new cast members that will join three returning players on the new season.

Whelchel, 49, is a Christian author, singer, and speaker, but she is best known for playing the wealthy Blair Warner on "The Facts of Life." Now, the 49-year old with three children is ready to take on "Survivor: Philippines."

There was some speculation that the child actor joined the show to revive her acting career as she said she wants to give acting another try now that her children are older, but she insists that she is just a big fan of the show and she was welcoming the challenge.

Whelchel admitted to having a tough time on the island, which is said to contain deadly snakes, be surrounded by shark infested water, and is often faced with strong storms. Whelchel admitted that it wasn't always fun on the show.

"I don't think 'fun' is the word I would use to describe my experience," Whelchel wrote on her website. "Those days on the island were the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. It pushed me to my extreme limits physically, mentally, spiritually, and especially, emotionally," she said in a statement on her website. "I'm so very grateful for the opportunity and I'm so glad I did it but I think it's like childbirth...I may need to put a few years behind me and some perspective in front of me before I would ever consider doing it again."

However in a later interview, she said there were more good moments than bad on the island.

Whelchel is just one of the six members of the Tandang tribe. Tandang, also known as Rooster, is the yellow tribe.

Another famous new cast member is 44-year-old former Major League Baseball player Jeff Kent. The second baseman was on five different teams during his career, but he was last with the Los Angeles Dodgers before retiring. He will be joining the red, Kalabaw, or Water Buffalo tribe.

CBS only announced the 15 brand new cast members, but they will also be joined by three cast member who were featured on previous seasons on "Survivor." These cast members had to leave the island for serious medical reasons. It is rumored that these returning cast members will by Jonathan Penner, Mike Skupin and Russell Swan.

For full cast information and more about the rumored returning cast members, click here.




'Facts of Life' Star Joining 'Survivor'
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