{ "id": "epz709z1q9", "slug": "the-great-escapists", "title": "The Great Escapists", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted", "label": "Unscripted, reality, and web-native series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual", "label": "Documentary, docudrama, and lifestyle series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual.nature_science_documentary_series", "label": "Nature, wildlife, and science documentary series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual.nature_science_documentary_series" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.weu.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual", "label": "Western Europe · 2021 and later: Documentary, docudrama, and lifestyle series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual", "path": [ { "id": "geo.weu", "label": "Western Europe", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t2021", "label": "Western Europe · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t2021.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t2021.culture" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t2021.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t2021.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t2021.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t2021.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted", "label": "Unscripted, reality, and web-native series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual", "label": "Documentary, docudrama, and lifestyle series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual" } ] } ], "excerpt": "The Great Escapists is a 2021 Amazon Prime Video six-part reality-adventure series starring Richard Hammond and MythBusters' Tory Belleci, shipwrecked on a Panamanian island building inventions to escape; one season, ended.", "snippet": "The Great Escapists is a 2021 Amazon Prime Video six-part reality-adventure series starring Richard Hammond and MythBusters' Tory Belleci, shipwrecked on a Panamanian island building inventions to escape; one season, ended.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual.nature_science_documentary_series", "markdown": "# The Great Escapists\n\n**The Great Escapists** is a six-part reality-adventure series that premiered on Amazon Prime Video on 29 January 2021, starring [Richard Hammond](https://www.edgepedia.org/richard-hammond) of *The Grand Tour* and [Tory Belleci](https://www.edgepedia.org/tory-belleci) of *MythBusters* as two hosts shipwrecked on a desert island who use engineering and improvised inventions to survive and try to escape[1](https://tollbit.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/the-great-escapists-release-date-amazon/) • [2](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/the-great-escapists/umc.cmc.2j3ktrgdk5r8oi7dhmzqnc325). The pair play exaggerated versions of themselves, competing and bickering as they build machines from shipwreck scrap while trying to attract rescue or build their way back to civilization[1](https://tollbit.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/the-great-escapists-release-date-amazon/) • [3](https://www.whattowatch.com/features/the-great-escapists-stars-richard-hammond-and-tory-belleci-reveal-how-to-survive-on-a-desert-island-in-their-new-amazon-prime-show).\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Premiere | 29 January 2021, Amazon Prime Video; all six episodes released that day[1](https://tollbit.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/the-great-escapists-release-date-amazon/) • [4](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52819/the-great-escapists/episodes) |\n| Hosts | Richard Hammond (British, *Top Gear*/*The Grand Tour*) and Tory Belleci (American, *MythBusters*), who had never worked together before[1](https://tollbit.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/the-great-escapists-release-date-amazon/) |\n| Filming | San Jose Island, Panama, in January 2020; production required 65 people and 13 shipping containers over about seven weeks[1](https://tollbit.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/the-great-escapists-release-date-amazon/) |\n| Format | Unscripted series with a scripted story layer; Hammond described it as \"half-scripted, half-drama, half-fact\"[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/the-great-escapists/umc.cmc.2j3ktrgdk5r8oi7dhmzqnc325) • [5](https://virginradio.co.uk/the-graham-norton-radio-show-with-waitrose/26144/richard-hammond-graham-norton-the-great-escapists-amazon-prime-video-tory-belleci) |\n| Episodes | Ship Wrecked, Power Up, Ahoy There, Fireworks, War Games, Lift Off; average runtime about 42 minutes[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52819/the-great-escapists/episodes) • [6](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52819/the-great-escapists) |\n| Reception | IMDb 5.6/10 from about 3,000 votes; JustWatch user rating 23%[7](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/the-great-escapists) |\n| Status | One season; listed as ended[6](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52819/the-great-escapists) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Premise and format\n\nThe show opens with Hammond and Belleci shipwrecked in mysterious circumstances on a remote Pacific island. Rather than waiting for rescue, they use engineering and scientific know-how to secure fresh water, build shelter, move heavy objects, and construct what the series calls a paradise island playground, all while looking for a way home[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/the-great-escapists/umc.cmc.2j3ktrgdk5r8oi7dhmzqnc325) • [6](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52819/the-great-escapists). Belleci told the *Houston Chronicle* that basic survival is deliberately the easy part: \"We figure out water, food and shelter straight away. The real challenge is how do we deal with the boredom of being stuck on this island\"[8](https://www.chron.com/streaming/article/the-great-escapists-amazon-prime-tory-belleci-15909649.php).\n\nThe two hosts develop a rivalry rather than a partnership. Hammond, the self-described petrol head, tries to build a vehicle from scratch, while Belleci, the inventor, is more interested in explosives; the series features homemade weapons, booby traps, and the occasional explosion[1](https://tollbit.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/the-great-escapists-release-date-amazon/). Builds shown across the season include tricked-out soap box racers, a two-story shelter, an automatic fish-catching device, a pineapple cannon, and, in the finale, an attempt at flight[8](https://www.chron.com/streaming/article/the-great-escapists-amazon-prime-tory-belleci-15909649.php) • [2](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/the-great-escapists/umc.cmc.2j3ktrgdk5r8oi7dhmzqnc325).\n\nHammond explained the construction of the show on the Graham Norton Radio Show: the team wanted a successor to the silly-science style of *Brainiac* and *MythBusters*, so they put themselves on a desert island, built a story around the inventions, and produced something \"half-scripted, half-drama, half-fact\"[5](https://virginradio.co.uk/the-graham-norton-radio-show-with-waitrose/26144/richard-hammond-graham-norton-the-great-escapists-amazon-prime-video-tory-belleci).\n\n### Episodes\n\nAll six episodes were released on 29 January 2021[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52819/the-great-escapists/episodes):\n\n1. **Ship Wrecked** – the pair find themselves shipwrecked and begin building a paradise island playground[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/the-great-escapists/umc.cmc.2j3ktrgdk5r8oi7dhmzqnc325).\n2. **Power Up** – they use their science knowledge to bring power to the island[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/the-great-escapists/umc.cmc.2j3ktrgdk5r8oi7dhmzqnc325).\n3. **Ahoy There** – Belleci, determined to escape, joins Hammond in a bid for freedom[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/the-great-escapists/umc.cmc.2j3ktrgdk5r8oi7dhmzqnc325).\n4. **Fireworks** – Belleci makes distress signals while Hammond designs an automatic fish-catcher[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/the-great-escapists/umc.cmc.2j3ktrgdk5r8oi7dhmzqnc325).\n5. **War Games** – after Hammond fires off all the flares, the two wage machine-assisted war, complete with a pineapple cannon and a cut water supply[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/the-great-escapists/umc.cmc.2j3ktrgdk5r8oi7dhmzqnc325).\n6. **Lift Off** – reconciling their differences, the duo decides flight is their only option and builds an escape aircraft[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/the-great-escapists/umc.cmc.2j3ktrgdk5r8oi7dhmzqnc325) • [9](https://www.wunschliste.de/episode/1450738/the-great-escapists-abflug).\n\n## Production\n\nFilming took place on Panama's San Jose Island in late January 2020, with a crew of 65 and 13 shipping containers of equipment, according to Hammond in the trade publication *Broadcast*[1](https://tollbit.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/the-great-escapists-release-date-amazon/). The shoot lasted about seven weeks, and Belleci said the team wrapped a week before COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders were announced; had filming run longer, the production would have been stranded for real[1](https://tollbit.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/the-great-escapists-release-date-amazon/) • [8](https://www.chron.com/streaming/article/the-great-escapists-amazon-prime-tory-belleci-15909649.php). Despite the harsh conditions depicted on screen, the cast and crew stayed in a relatively comfortable island inn[8](https://www.chron.com/streaming/article/the-great-escapists-amazon-prime-tory-belleci-15909649.php).\n\nThe series was produced by Chimp Productions, with [Josh Jacobs](https://www.edgepedia.org/josh-jacobs) directing and Andy Gradwell as assistant director[9](https://www.wunschliste.de/episode/1450738/the-great-escapists-abflug). IMDb additionally lists Isla Mogo, Panama, as a filming location alongside Isla San Jose[10](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10948294/locations/). Amazon released a trailer in early January 2021 ahead of the premiere[1](https://tollbit.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/the-great-escapists-release-date-amazon/).\n\n## Cast\n\nHammond and Belleci appear as themselves, supported by [Joseph Balderrama](https://www.edgepedia.org/joseph-balderrama) as Interviewer #1 (six episodes) and Silvana Montoya as Interviewer #2 (three episodes)[11](https://www.fernsehserien.de/the-great-escapists). Hammond co-hosted [BBC Two](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-two)'s *Top Gear* from 2002 to 2015 before moving to *The Grand Tour* with [Jeremy Clarkson](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeremy-clarkson) and James May, and had earlier hosted *Brainiac: Science Abuse*[1](https://tollbit.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/the-great-escapists-release-date-amazon/). Belleci rose to fame on Discovery Channel's *MythBusters* and later appeared in Netflix's *White Rabbit Project*, the Travel Channel's *Thrill Factor*, and the Science Channel's *The Explosion Show*[1](https://tollbit.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/the-great-escapists-release-date-amazon/).\n\n## Reception\n\nThe series drew a lukewarm response. It holds an IMDb rating of 5.6 from roughly 3,000 votes and a 23% [JustWatch](https://www.edgepedia.org/justwatch) user rating[7](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/the-great-escapists). Common Sense Media called it a \"silly, contrived reality show\" that highlights STEM themes, creativity, and teamwork, while noting that much of the runtime is driven by over-the-top banter and that many of the supposedly random objects the hosts find are convenient tools and netting[12](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/the-great-escapists). The Screenwise review service gave it a 55% WISE score, judging the scripted format the main weakness of a premise with real engineering appeal[13](https://screenwiseapp.com/media/the-great-escapists-show).\n\nThe show ran for a single season and is listed as ended[6](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52819/the-great-escapists). It remains available on Amazon Prime Video, where it carries a TV-PG (US) or PG (UK) rating and a runtime of about 42 minutes per episode[7](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/the-great-escapists).\n\n## References\n\n1. [The Great Escapists release date: All the details about Richard Hammond and Tory Belleci's new Amazon show, Radio Times](https://tollbit.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/the-great-escapists-release-date-amazon/)\n2. [The Great Escapists, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/the-great-escapists/umc.cmc.2j3ktrgdk5r8oi7dhmzqnc325)\n3. [The Great Escapists stars reveal how to survive on a desert island, What to Watch](https://www.whattowatch.com/features/the-great-escapists-stars-richard-hammond-and-tory-belleci-reveal-how-to-survive-on-a-desert-island-in-their-new-amazon-prime-show)\n4. [The Great Escapists – Episode List, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52819/the-great-escapists/episodes)\n5. [Richard Hammond tells Graham Norton about The Great Escapists, Virgin Radio UK](https://virginradio.co.uk/the-graham-norton-radio-show-with-waitrose/26144/richard-hammond-graham-norton-the-great-escapists-amazon-prime-video-tory-belleci)\n6. [The Great Escapists, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52819/the-great-escapists)\n7. [The Great Escapists – streaming tv show online, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/the-great-escapists)\n8. [Amazon Prime Video's 'The Great Escapists' drops 'Mythbusters' host on a deserted island, Houston Chronicle](https://www.chron.com/streaming/article/the-great-escapists-amazon-prime-tory-belleci-15909649.php)\n9. [The Great Escapists – Abflug (01x06), TV Wunschliste](https://www.wunschliste.de/episode/1450738/the-great-escapists-abflug)\n10. [The Great Escapists – Filming & production, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10948294/locations/)\n11. [The Great Escapists, fernsehserien.de](https://www.fernsehserien.de/the-great-escapists)\n12. [The Great Escapists – Parents' Guide & TV Review, Common Sense Media](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/the-great-escapists)\n13. [The Great Escapists – WISE Score & Parent Review, Screenwise](https://screenwiseapp.com/media/the-great-escapists-show)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Unscripted, reality, and web-native series › Documentary, docudrama, and lifestyle series › Nature, wildlife, and science documentary series*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/the-great-escapists", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/the-great-escapists.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"The Great Escapists\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/the-great-escapists. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[The Great Escapists](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-great-escapists)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/the-great-escapists](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-great-escapists). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"The Great Escapists\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/the-great-escapists. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "The Great Escapists is a 2021 Amazon Prime Video six-part reality-adventure series starring Richard Hammond and MythBusters' Tory Belleci, shipwrecked on a Panamanian island building inventions to escape; one season, ended." }