Australian Ninja Warrior

Australian Ninja Warrior
Company type	Television series
Industry	Entertainment, Sports
Predecessor	Sasuke (Japanese program)
Founded	July 9, 2017; 9 years ago
Founder	Endemol Shine Australia
Defunct	September 15, 2022
Fate	Cancelled
Headquarters	Sydney, Melbourne, Australia
Area served	Australia
Key people	Leila McKinnon, Jim Courier, Will McMahon, Woody Whitelaw, Rebecca Maddern, Ben Fordham, Freddie Flintoff, Shane Crawford, Nick Kyrgios
Products	Sports entertainment competition television series
Owner	Nine Network
Parent	Endemol Shine Australia
Website	www.9now.com.au/australian-ninja-warrior

Australian Ninja Warrior was a sports entertainment competition derived from the Japanese program Sasuke, debuting on 9 July 2017 on the Nine Network. The show showcased numerous contestants confronting progressively challenging obstacle courses aiming to reach the finals and earn the distinction of "Australian Ninja Warrior."

Created by Endemol Shine Australia, the series spanned six seasons comprising 57 episodes. Filming took place at various venues, including Cockatoo Island, Spotswood, Victoria, Melbourne Showgrounds, and Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park. Each episode typically lasted around 1 hour and 20 minutes, excluding commercial breaks. The presenting team featured Leila McKinnon, Jim Courier, Will McMahon, and Woody Whitelaw.

On 15 September 2022, the Nine Network officially announced the show's cancellation, confirming it would not be returning for a seventh season in 2023.

History

The program was first revealed in 2016, with contestant applications accepted until 9 September and filming scheduled on Cockatoo Island from November to December. The series received formal confirmation during Nine's November upfronts, initially hosted by Rebecca Maddern, who was later joined by co-host Ben Fordham and sideline reporter Freddie Flintoff. The inaugural season premiered on 9 July 2017.

Following the finale of season one, a renewal was announced with filming for season two occurring between December 2017 and January 2018; applications had closed on 3 September 2017. Nine Network confirmed the continuation and retention of hosts during their October upfronts. Season two began airing on 8 July 2018.

At Nine's October 2018 upfronts, season three was greenlit with the same hosting lineup. Production shifted to Spotswood in Melbourne, taking place from mid-November to early December. The third season premiered on 8 July 2019.

Season four was approved at Nine's October 2019 upfronts, moving production to the Melbourne Showgrounds in Ascot Vale. Due to restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic, audience attendance was limited to family members of competitors. Host Maddern underwent a temporary isolation period and was substituted by Shane Crawford for two heats before resuming her role. Mid-season, Flintoff exited because of travel limitations; Crawford then assumed hosting duties for the semifinals and finals. The fourth season launched on 26 July 2020. Ben Polson claimed victory as the first champion, receiving $400,000 and the title ‘Australian Ninja Warrior’.

On 16 September 2020, Nine announced a fifth season with casting open through November. Filming took place in Homebush, New South Wales. In June 2021, tennis professional Nick Kyrgios joined as a sideline commentator alongside Crawford; Flintoff did not return due to scheduling conflicts and travel constraints. Season five premiered on 20 June 2021.

The series secured renewal for a sixth season during Nine's September 2021 upfronts. In October, Fordham resigned as host; subsequently in November, Maddern departed from both the network and the program. By January 2022, Jim Courier and Leila McKinnon were announced as new hosts, with Will & Woody serving as sideline commentators. Season six began airing on 27 June 2022.

The show was officially cancelled by Nine on 15 September 2022 and did not continue into 2023.

Format

Participants tackle a demanding obstacle course to claim the title of Australian Ninja Warrior and secure a cash reward beginning at $100,000. Should no contestant conquer Mount Midoriyama during a season, the prize amount increases by $100,000 for the following season until a winner emerges.

Starting with season three, the format guarantees a $100,000 prize to the competitor who advances the farthest and fastest without completing the course, while the jackpot remains reserved for those who successfully scale Mount Midoriyama.

Series overview

Cast
Cast Member	Seasons
Cast Member	1 (2017)	2 (2018)	3 (2019)	4 (2020)	5 (2021)	6 (2022)
Ben Fordham	Host
Rebecca Maddern	Host
Freddie Flintoff	Sideline
Shane Crawford				Sideline
Nick Kyrgios					Sideline
Leila McKinnon						Host
Jim Courier						Host
Will & Woody						Sideline

Season 1 (2017)

The debut season aired from 9 July to 25 July 2017 on the Nine Network. Filming took place at Cockatoo Island in Sydney, featuring 50 competitors in each of six qualifying heats. The leading 18 from these advanced to the semi-finals. From three semi-final rounds, seven contestants progressed to the Grand Final. While nine participants completed stage one of the Grand Final, none managed to finish stage two.

Season 2 (2018)

This season began broadcasting on 8 July 2018 on the Nine Network and was also shot at Cockatoo Island. More than 300 contestants competed across six heats, with the top 20 from each moving forward to the semi-finals. Four semi-final rounds then produced eight finalists each. In the Grand Final, 24 athletes completed stage one; however, none succeeded in passing stage two.

Season 3 (2019)

Launching on 8 July 2019 on the Nine Network, this season was filmed at Spotswood, Victoria. It featured 200 competitors competing in five heats, with the top 18 advancing from each heat to the semi-finals. From three semi-finals, ten contestants advanced to the Grand Final. Eleven participants completed stage one of the Grand Final; five reached stage three but none finished it. Charlie Robbins earned the title "Last Ninja Standing," receiving $100,000 as the fastest competitor to reach that point. This was the first occasion a contestant reached stage three, although no official winner was declared since Mount Midoriyama remained unconquered.

Season 4 (2020)

The fourth installment premiered on 26 July 2020 on the Nine Network, with filming held at Melbourne Showgrounds, Melbourne. More than 140 ninjas competed across four heats; the top 16 from each advanced to two semi-finals. From these semi-finals, twelve competitors moved on to the Grand Final. Eight athletes completed stage one; four conquered stage two; and three finished stage three. Ben Polson became the first official Australian Ninja Warrior after ascending Mount Midoriyama in 25.56 seconds, claiming a $400,000 prize.

Season 5 (2021)

This season debuted on 20 June 2021 on the Nine Network and was recorded at Sydney Olympic Park, New South Wales. More than 200 ninjas took part across four qualifying heats, with the leading 20 competitors moving forward to the semi-final stage. Those who triumphed in the Power Tower either secured a direct spot in the Grand Final or earned a second-chance advantage, along with a prize of $200,000.

Season 6 (2022)

The sixth installment launched on 27 June 2022 via the Nine Network, with filming conducted at Qudos Bank Arena located within Sydney Olympic Park, New South Wales. A total of seventy-five ninjas competed through four heats, from which the top 18 advanced to the semi-finals. Winners of each Power Pool received an advantage heading into the semi-final round.

Viewership

Season	Episodes	Premiered		Concluded			Average Viewership		Network
Season	Episodes	Date	Premiere viewers (millions)	Date	Finale viewers (millions)	Final stage viewers (millions)	Viewers (millions)	Rank	Network
1	9	Template:Center	1.775	Template:Center	2.158	2.227	1.795	1	Nine Network
2	12	Template:Center	0.995	Template:Center	1.188	1.183	0.978	5
3	10	Template:Center	1.073	Template:Center	1.296	1.404	1.080	3
4	8	Template:Center	1.096	Template:Center	1.144	1.272	1.028	3
5	9	Template:Center	0.866	Template:Center	0.881	1.025	0.765	7
6	9	Template:Center	0.562	Template:Center	0.560	0.510	0.503	10

International broadcasts

On Australia Day, the UK-based game show channel Challenge revealed plans to start airing episodes of Australian Ninja Warrior beginning 18 February 2018.

In New Zealand, Australian Ninja Warrior is broadcast on Three. In 2021, UK network ITV scheduled Series 3 during a lunchtime slot, and in 2023, the series began airing on Dave.

ANW: State of Origin

This two-part special, announced in August 2020, debuted on 16 August 2020. It showcased the top four ninjas from each state competing on bespoke obstacle courses for a $100,000 prize.

The competition featured 20 returning athletes divided into four teams representing five Australian states. The Power Tower obstacle was incorporated into both episodes.

Ben Poulson from Team Western Australia emerged victorious over Ashlin Herbert of Team Victoria in the final round. The $100,000 prize was split evenly among the four team members, granting each $25,000.

Night 1

Night 1 presented a uniform course across three rounds with varying team sizes—groups of four, pairs, and individuals—on a nine-obstacle layout:

Snake Run
Propeller Bar to Single Rope Swing
6m Spinning Log
Salmon Ladder to Two Flying Shelves
Two Basket Tosses
Warped Wall
Barrel Rolls
Spider Jump
Chimney Sweep with Double Door to buzzer

The quickest teams at each phase advanced directly to Day 2. Following three stages, the two slowest teams selected one member each to compete on the Power Tower; the slowest competitor was eliminated.

Night 2

With South Australia out of contention, four teams competed through three rounds, with one team being eliminated after each round.

Round 1

Teams divided into pairs, each pair tackling Course A consisting of six obstacles. The team that cleared the fewest obstacles or recorded the slowest time across all twelve obstacles was eliminated. Western Australia’s Sam Goodall ran twice due to Zed Colback withdrawing for medical reasons.

Course A obstacles:

Rope Jungle
Spin Hopper
Two Bar Hops
Double Squirrel
Double Ferris Wheel
Wall Lifts weighing 20/30/40 kg

Team	Contestants	Team result
Western Australia	Ben Polson	rowspan=4 Template:Won
	Olivia Vivian
	Sam Goodall
	Zed Colback
Victoria	Zak Stolz	Runners-up
	Ashlin Herbert
	Charlie Robbins
	Mel Armstrong
Queensland	Rob Patterson	Eliminated Night 2
	Fred Dorrington
	Skye Haddy
	Ryan Solomon
New South Wales	Bryson Klein	Eliminated Night 2
	Jordan Papandrea
	Loki Kuroi
	Eloni Vunakece
South Australia	Rapheala Wiget	Eliminated Night 1
	Rhys Menzel
	Jarryd Sutton
	Nathan Ryles

Audience Ratings

The program achieved impressive viewership figures, with the first evening drawing 930,000 viewers and securing the third position nationwide. On the second night, the audience decreased to 777,000, placing it ninth in the national rankings.